It looks like Mercedes-AMG will have to make changes to its entire model range to make it compatible with the new acoustic norms adopted in March earlier this year. The regulation, which bears the European Commission seal, obligates all car manufacturers to reduce the noise level produced by their cars from 78 dB to 68 dB before 2026.
The company has already implemented the new norms in its latest A 45 S and CLA 45 S. Both sports cars are much quieter on the street than their previous-gen counterparts. Despite this, the driver and passengers get to enjoy the full engine soundtrack thanks to sound amplifiers located inside the cabin. Also, while the amps are electronic, the exhaust vibrations are real, delivered to the interior via a finely-tuned system of acoustic channels.
The new tech will spread to all Mercedes-AMG vehicles sold worldwide, since designing multiple acoustic profiles for the same car model is expensive and not viable, the company states.
The Mercedes-AMG A 45 S and CLA 45 S debuted early this month packing 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engines rated at 421 hp (314 kW).