No joke: New Porsche patent for even more sound fun in the tunnel
A beautiful exhaust note is and always will be a great joy. The right sound can transform even the most ordinary drive into something memorable. Even more so when a tunnel is involved.
You probably know the exact sequence of events when a tunnel is approaching: windows down, shift down a gear or two, floor the accelerator, and listen to your chosen vehicle scream towards the light at the end of the tunnel. Porsche understands this little sinful vice, too. So much so, in fact, that the Zuffenhausen-based company has patented its own tunnel driving mode.
And yes, we too had to quickly check the calendar to see if it wasn't April 1st. CarBuzz has uncovered a new Porsche patent from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) that will likely elicit a quiet "Damn right! " from most of us. This Porsche patent describes a mode in which your vehicle uses its onboard camera system to detect an upcoming tunnel.
Once the tunnel is detected, the vehicle essentially takes the same steps you would in that situation. The windows lower, a lower gear is engaged, and your ears prickle with anticipation. But since we're still dealing with a Porsche, things go a whole step further.
When it's cold outside, the car raises the temperature slightly to keep you warm. We assume that tunnel mode does the exact opposite when it's very hot outside. It's also perfectly clear that the system preemptively switches the vehicle to sport mode. If your Porsche has an active exhaust, the flaps open as wide as possible. And if you're driving a convertible, the car reminds you to slow down or stop so it can lower the roof.
Source: Chris Rosales / Motor1
Admittedly, all of this is a bit silly... but also absolutely wonderful. In fact, it shows a very cool, carefree side of the sports car manufacturer, which certainly can't hurt in the current situation.
Interestingly, the tunnel mode isn't just for combustion engine vehicles. There are also provisions for electric vehicles. How does that work? Well, basically, you simply get more electric sounds. Since Porsche will be incorporating artificial engine sounds derived from its more powerful gasoline vehicles, there will naturally be more of those.
On the other hand, Porsche includes a tunnel mode function specifically designed to reduce noise. Not everyone wants to hear a shrill signal in an enclosed space. In this case, the exhaust flaps close, a more relaxed driving mode is selected, and presumably the windows close as well.
Right now, the tunnel mode is just a string of words and technical diagrams at the patent office. But quite obviously, someone is sitting in an office in Stuttgart thinking about how and when to bring it to market. It's kind of silly—but it's definitely the right kind of silly.
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