Carmakers will have to cut sports car noise

Mercedes-AMG CLA45 S — be quiet, now.

The snarly sound of most sports-oriented cars is one of the attractions to buyers, but the EU figures that doesn't help the quality of life of those on the street who have to hear it, writes Brian Byrne.

So a new regulation aims to trim back the current maximum permitted noise levels from cars. At the moment that is 74 decibels, but the regulation will have it down to 68 decibels by 2026.

Carmakers are taking note. One option is to have artificial exhaust notes, working through the car's audio speakers. But the Mercedes-Benz AMG division is staying natural, routing the sound directly into the cabin before muting it as the exhaust expels through the tailpipes.

So, for pedestrians and cyclists and other audio-unprotected road users, the 'snap, crackle and pop' of the super sports cars will in future be only in their Rice Krispies.

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