BMW IconicSounds: Can an EV Sound Better Than a Combustion Engine?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Many drivers resistant to electric vehicles have cited the same reason for sticking to gas-powered cars. Electric vehicles have no exhaust note. Many feel that the roar of an engine is a sacred part of driving. BMW is here to solve that feeling of loss and revolutionize the way we hear cars.

A Native Instruments Maschine Studio | Adam Gasson/Future via Getty Images

Iconic composer Hans Zimmer worked on the BMW IconicSounds project

Hans Zimmer is one of the most legendary names in music. He’s composed music for over 150 films over the course of his Academy Award-winning career. His work on films like Bladerunner 2049, Dune, and The Dark Night displays the talent he has for creating other-worldly sounds.

BMW hired Zimmer to develop the sound of its newest generation of EV vehicles. He worked alongside Renzo Vitale, Creative Director Sound at BMW Group. The two shared a vision and passion for creating something original.

The goal was to create a sound that gave drivers and even more exciting and joyful driving experience than gas powered cars ever had. BMW drivers are accustomed to the extraordinary. Electric vehicle drivers readily embrace new idea. Both will appreciate the unforgettable sound of a BMW EV.

What inspires the sound of an EV?

BMW iX3 EV | Andreas Gebert/Bloomberg via Getty Images

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BMW developed a melodic voice for it’s new EVs that is meant to convey all of the power and elegance of a well-engineered car. EV sound profiles have to alert pedestrians to the presence and speed of a car as well as give other drivers warning. This soundscape communicates so much more. It distills the next evolution of the automobile.

Many themes were tapped to draw inspiration for BMW’s IconicSounds. The team knew they wanted to create a sound that evoked the goosebumps iX3 drivers feel as they accelerate. They wanted to capture the essence of power, force, and explosion and create a sense of flowing energy.

Some familiar sound patterns emerge in the one-of-a-kind engine note. Drivers will immediately recognize the sounds of speed, power, and momentum, even if they sound alien. BMW IconicSounds captures the spirit of the automobile in its next evolution.

Can BMW make EVs sound better than ICE?

BMW logo | Spencer Platt via Getty Images

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The BMW iX3 sounds like no other car on earth. It sounds extraterrestrial, otherworldly, and strangely satisfying. The BMW IconicSounds development team set out to make a sound as satisfying as the roar of a gas-powered engine. They may have done something better.

The composition Zimmer helped develop would sound at home in a dystopian film. It captures the emotion and texture of the engine and exhaust sounds of driving without mimicking the sound of cars already in production. BMW created something unique.

IconicSounds instantly communicates to the listener what’s happening inside the car without sounding like shifting gears or revving engines. BMW has made the sound of energy in motion. But can it ever feel the same as the low growl of a combustion engine?

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Is the 2022 Honda Civic Available With a Manual Transmission?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The 2022 Honda Civic was recently revealed and with its new generation came a completely new look inside and out. Additionally, the 11th-generation Civic has an updated chassis and tech upgrades that improve its overall driving experience. But is a manual transmission one of them?

The 2022 Honda Civic comes in four different trim levels

2022 Honda Civic Sedan Touring | Honda

RELATED: The 2021 Honda Civic Hatchback Earns Its No. 1 Compact Hatch Title

For the 2022 model year, the Honda Civic is now available in four different trim levels: LX, Sport, EX, and Touring. Road and Track notes that the entry-level Civic trims will be outfitted with a 2.0-liter, naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine that produces 158 hp and 138 lb-ft of torque.

Opting for the higher EX and Touring trims will give you a more potent turbocharged, 1.5-liter engine that pushes out 180 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque. For anyone keeping score, these two engine choices are the same ones offered in the previous generation of Honda’s compact car, but they both have a little extra power.

Just as before, the power from both engines will be sent to the front wheels and they are both mated to a CVT transmission. Sorry, fellow enthusiasts, there is no six-speed manual transmission being offered this time around.

2022 Honda Civic Sedan Touring rear
2022 Honda Civic Sedan Touring | Honda

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Honda doesn’t want to save the manuals, but the CVT is good

2022 Honda Civic Sedan Touring interior
2022 Honda Civic Sedan Touring | Honda

Despite the fact that the new Honda Civic won’t be available with a manual transmission, there are some highlights to the car’s CVT. If you’re not familiar with it, a continuously variable transmission uses two pulleys and a belt, as opposed to transmission gears like a normal automatic.

One pulley connects to the engine while the other is connected to the transmission. The belt then transfers power in between them. While a normal automatic transmission has a fixed amount of gear ratios (i.e. six speeds), a CVT has an infinite amount of ratios, which “shift” the engine into the optimal RPM range at every speed.

The result is the feeling of having a single gear, or speed, that goes up to redline when you smash the accelerator. But it also allows the engine to cruise at a comfortable RPM when you’re on the highway. And although many driving enthusiasts will frown at the fact that they shift their own gears in the new Civic, the rest of the population will enjoy the car’s smooth acceleration and reliable CVT.

Do any of the Honda Civic models offer a manual transmission?

2022 Honda Civic Touring instrument panel
2022 Honda Civic Touring | Honda

We don’t have any official word yet from Honda, but MotorTrend thinks that the forthcoming Civic Hatchback could come with a manual transmission. There are also no details on the Civic Si and Civic Type R models yet either, but it’s safe to say that those two will come with a three-pedal setup like before.

As driving enthusiasts ourselves, we’re sad to see an omission of the manual transmission on the regular Civic. Especially since the Toyota Corolla still offers one.

However, we can’t blame Honda considering most car buyers nowadays would rather have an automatic transmission, there’s no point in spending more time and money engineering a car with a transmission that 95% of the population doesn’t care for.

The post Is the 2022 Honda Civic Available With a Manual Transmission? appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

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Truck Bed Pools Will Destroy Your Truck and Hurt Your Wallet

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Public pools will open soon, but the thought of having your own private pool party seems more appealing. However, backyard inflatable pools are in high demand this time of year, and large in-ground pools are very expensive. This leads some people to consider: why buy a pool when they can just use their truck beds?

Given the fact that trucks can haul so much and have wide cargo beds, it seems like an obvious solution. Some trucks also have cooled drink storage boxes and premium audio systems to make for a proper tailgate party. Still, the experts at DualLiner caution that doing this is a nightmare for your truck.

How do you make a truck bed pool?

Anyone with a tarp and a garden hose can easily make their truck into a portable pool. All you do is line the truck bed with the tarp and fill it up with water. Some people also use heavy-duty duct tape to keep the tarp secured to the cargo box.

It seems like a feasible idea, since many truck beds can hold up to 80 cubic feet of cargo space. However, DualLiner’s study proves that water is heavier and denser than most people think at 62 pounds per cubic foot. By comparison, a cubic foot of redwood only weighs 28 pounds and a cubic foot of asphalt weighs 45 pounds.

DualLiner tested several trucks on their ability to hold cargo boxes full of water. The Ford F-150’s bed can hold over 81 cubic feet, with a payload capacity of 1,560 pounds. However, filling this bed up with water would add over 5,000 pounds to the truck’s weight. 

The Ford F-250 and F-350 also aren’t equipped to handle that much water. Even more startling, half the trucks used in DualLiner’s test aren’t even built to hold half a bed of water. Trying to force your truck to carry more than it can hold puts massive stress on the truck’s suspension.

Many people also don’t consider the added weight of swimmers inside the truck bed. People and water together are equally dense, so five people won’t stretch the total payload too much. 

Still, DualLiner estimates that most people keep 20 percent of their bodies out of the water. Considering that, you can add at least 175 pounds to the mass of the truck bed pool.

How badly can water damage your truck?

Too much water itself can lead to premature rust and corrosion, especially if you’re not draining the bed sufficiently. On a lengthy vehicle like a truck, repair costs can easily exceed $1,000. However, damaging the suspension is the biggest issue with truck bed pools.

According to Costhelper, replacing a non-luxury vehicle’s suspension can cost as much as $5,000. Replacing just the shock absorbers might be $1,500, while just repairing the joints might only cost $350 apiece. If you notice your truck drifting around turns and excessively jiggling, your suspension is probably damaged.

Which trucks could comfortably accommodate bed pools?

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If your heart is truly set on a truck bed pool, only two pickups can do the job. The heavy-duty Ford F-450 Dually and Ram 3500HD Dually can stand the weight, but cost over $60,000 on the used market. New versions of these trucks with upgraded towing capacities can retail for over $90,000.

It might seem like a fun idea, but the long-term risks of truck pool beds greatly outweigh the rewards. Trucks can do a lot of things, but being a pool just isn’t one of them. You’re better off using yours for a tailgate party by the beach or lake.

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The 2021 Nissan Altima Already Has One Active Recall

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The 2021 Nissan Altima is an excellent option for many buyers because of its affordable price points and everything it offers for the cost. The latest model year is modern and sporty, with a handful of trim levels and options to give the car a touch of luxury and sport. For the cost of the spunky sedan, it has everything to offer that you might expect, but the new Nissan Altima also already has one recall owners are dealing with.

Nissan Altima | Michael Brochstein, SOPA Images, LightRocket, Getty Images

What is the recall for the 2021 Nissan Altima?

The word ‘recall’ by itself is enough to strike fear into the hearts of many consumers, but that doesn’t mean they are all dramatic and dangerous. For the 2021 Nissan Altima, there is currently an active recall for the tie rod ball joint, which can come unattached while driving and cause a steering malfunction.

To fix the issue, the manufacturer has a rather simple solution. If your car is affected by the recall, simply bring it in to the dealer and they will secure the ball joint properly, or replace the part entirely if the technician feels it is necessary.

A Nissan Altima on display at the New York International Auto Show
The Nissan Altima | Spencer Platt, Getty Images

How many Nissan Altimas will be affected by the recall?

The recall itself doesn’t apply to every single Nissan Altima that has been sold or will be on the road. According to Consumer Reports, this active recall for the 2021 Nissan Altima is estimated to only affect 2,407 vehicles. This is only a small percentage of the model year, but it can still be frustrating to owners who are affected by the recall.

As usual, it’s important to remember the important, basic facts about recalls, like how the cost of the recall is covered by the manufacturer, meaning that the 2021 Nissan Altima recall will only cost owners a bit of their time and energy.

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An otherwise well-rounded sedan

Regardless of this minor hiccup, the 2021 Nissan Altima is still an impressively well-rounded car for the price. Perhaps that is why it received not only a high score from Consumer Reports but also the website’s recommendation.

It receives special remarks for controls and fuel economy, which is marked at offering an overall offering of 31 mpg, and its standard automatic emergency braking.

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Regardless of the somewhat annoying recall, only a small number of cars are affected, meaning that overall the car is still an excellent and reliable option.

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