As automotive interiors become quieter, car makers and suppliers are focusing on methods and materials to produce more acoustically pleasing vehicles.
Increasingly, automotive interior noise levels and the "acoustic signature" of a vehicle -- the way the car sounds to its occupants under various operating conditions -- are becoming competitive differentiators for automakers. A sports car driver wants to hear the throaty roar of a powerful engine under heavy acceleration, for example. And for high-end vehicles, interior acoustics that enable easy conversation between front seat and back seat passengers can provide a higher perception of quality and luxury.