Partnership for the sound of the future: Hans Zimmer is now official composer and curator for BMW IconicSounds Electric

Santa Monica/Munich. In June 2019 at the #NEXT Gen in
Munich, Hans Zimmer and BMW Sound Designer Renzo Vitale presented
their jointly developed e-sound for the BMW Vision M NEXT. In Santa
Monica Hans Zimmer has now officially announced his partnership with
the BMW Group to further develop BMW IconicSounds Electric. Hans
Zimmer: “We have the unique opportunity to turn electric driving in a
BMW into a magnificent experience with outstanding sonority. I am
really looking forward to the challenge of shaping the sound for
future electric BMW’s. Developing the sounds for the BMW Vision M NEXT
together with Renzo Vitale was already an inspiring, new experience
for me.”

 

Jointly developed sound to enter series vehicles already in 2020

Prior to the Los Angeles Auto Show, Hans Zimmer and BMW Sound
Designer Renzo Vitale gave exclusive insights into their previous
collaboration at Hans Zimmer’s studio in Santa Monica. In this exact
studio, where Hans Zimmer usually composes his famous scores for
Hollywood movies, the two jointly developed the e-sound of the BMW
Vision M NEXT. Furthermore Zimmer and Vitale revealed their most
recent co-creation: The sound signaling readiness for driving in
purely electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles of the BMW brand. The
sound will enter series vehicles already in 2020. Renzo Vitale: “Sound
Design gives us the opportunity to evoke positive emotions in our
vehicles. This new start-sound triggers joyful anticipation of the
electric drive, when the customer enters his vehicle and presses the
Start/Stop button.”

 

BMW IconicSounds Electric

The silence of driving electrically is often cited as a major
advantage of electric mobility. However, as the range of electrified
models increases, a gap in the emotionality of the driving experience
arises for the driver. Under the brand name “BMW IconicSounds
Electric” a visionary sound offer will be created for future
electrified vehicles from BMW. Stefan Ponikva, Vice President BMW
Brand Experience: “Over the years, the sound of our vehicles has
enthused and accompanied millions of people. We are very excited about
the exceptional chance of creating the sounds for BMW’s electric
mobility together with Hans Zimmer. Thereby we can charge future
emotions of our customers worldwide anew and redefine sheer driving pleasure.”

As composer and curator of BMW IconicSounds Electric Hans Zimmer will
contribute his expertise to various projects for sound creation for
electrified BMW vehicles worldwide. The variety of projects may
include sounds for vision vehicles and concepts, series vehicles,
composition of sound signs, but also sound creation for communicative
occasions focusing on the acoustic-emotional character of electric mobility.

 

BMW Group has been developing sound for electric mobility for
around ten years now

In 2009, with the introduction of the MINI E test fleet, acoustic
engineers from the BMW Group were already working on artificially
generated sound, which was intended to contribute to the better
perceptibility of vehicles with barely audible drivetrains. Since the
launch of the BMW i3, customers have therefore been able to choose
acoustic pedestrian protection as optional equipment.

The sound of the acoustic pedestrian protection has since been
further developed in line with new legislative requirements and is now
gradually being rolled out as standard in all plug-in hybrids and
all-electric vehicles from BMW (requirements for acoustic pedestrian
protection as well as operating times vary worldwide). The aim in the
development was to fulfil the important warning function without
disturbing pedestrians. At the same time, the customer should continue
to enjoy a high level of acoustic comfort in the vehicle.