Ford Focus ST’s Sound Symposer amplifies engine sound in the cabin (w/ Video)
Ford’s new Focus ST is turning out to be quite the performance hatchback. Ford says that its engineers developed something called a Sound Symposer, which is capable of amplifying the sound produced by the engine. The system features a pipe on the dashboard panel that leaks sound into the cabin so it can be easily heard by the driver.
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Check out the Top 10 things you need to know about the Ford Focus ST.
Under heavy acceleration, an electronically-controlled valve opens up to double the volume level of the engine into the cabin. Under normal cruising conditions, the valve remains closed, so the cabin remains quiet.
Ford of Europe’s vehicle sound quality expert Bjoern Boettcher says that “if you take away the symposer you get close to zero engine noise in the cabin under acceleration – it’s that effective.”
Let’s not talk about taking it away.
Refresher: Power for the 2013 Ford Focus ST 5-door hatch will come from FoMoCo’s 2.0 liter EcoBoost 4-cylinder turbo making 247 horsepower with a peak torque of 265 lb-ft. Mated to a 6-speed manual transmission, the Focus ST runs from 0 to 62 mph in 6.5 seconds with a top speed of 155 mph. Prices start at $24,495.
– By: Omar Rana
Source: Ford (via WCF)
