Engine sound guides
Explainers on why engines sound the way they do, and opinionated lists of the best-sounding cars, with recordings you can play as you read.
The best sounding cars
Our picks for the best sounding cars, from the Lexus LFA's V10 to the Mazda RX-7's rotary, with the acoustic reason behind each one. Play every clip here.
The best sounding V12 engines
Our picks for the best sounding V12, from the Ferrari 812 Superfast to the Pagani Zonda R, with the acoustic reason behind each. Play every V12 here.
The best sounding V8 engines
Our picks for the best sounding V8, from the flat-plane Shelby GT350 to the S65 in the BMW M3 E90, with the acoustic reason for each. Play every clip.
Flat plane vs cross plane V8
Flat plane vs cross plane V8 explained: crank layout, per-bank firing, vibration and why one burbles while the other wails. Compare real recordings.
Rev limiter: what it is and why it sounds like that
What a rev limiter is, fuel cut vs ignition cut, soft vs hard limiters, why it sounds like bouncing and why you shouldn't sit on it. Hear it in the app.
Engine sound: why every engine sounds different
What shapes an engine sound: cylinder count, firing order, crank design, exhaust length, turbos and intake, explained simply with real cars to play.
