The Elroq sounds unique. Hear for yourself

Futuristic – sound of the Škoda Elroq

Both sounds have a shared base that forms the brand’s characteristic tonal signature. “This corresponds to our ‘holistic corporate sound’ strategy. In short, want everything associated with Škoda to sound subconsciously similar to the listener, whether it’s the sound of commercials, the sound of the infotainment system or the sound of the car itself,” says Miroslav Jaskmanicki from the design department.

Pleasant but alerting  

One important aspect of this mandatory warning sound is the need to balance two conflicting requirements. The sound must be sufficiently noticeable for pedestrians (while meeting strict legislative requirements), but at the same time it must not bother the car’s occupants. There’s no doubt the developers at Škoda have struck a perfect balance with the new Elroq.

“The sound called Futuristic is fully compliant with the legislation. The car’s occupants will hardly notice it, so their enjoyment of a quiet ride in an electric car won’t be diminished, while the character of the sound will clearly alert nearby pedestrians a Škoda is approaching,” adds Libor Přibyl.

Sporty sound of the Škoda Elroq

The Sport sound is more emotive, containing lower frequencies that are redolent of sportier driving. “The sound level is set above the requirements of the legislation in order to offer an acoustic experience to the car’s occupants when in Sport mode,” Pribyl says, explaining the difference.

Developed “by ear” 

Developing the new sound of the electric Elroq took several months and involved a team of eight people from three departments of Škoda Technical Development: Design, Vehicle Electrics and Overall Vehicle Verification.

Sketch of the Škoda Elroq

“We started with the first drafts of the individual tones that represent Škoda’s DNA. Then we added dynamics so that the sound is a more faithful imitation of a vehicle driving at speeds of up to around 30 km/h,” Orendáš explains. This initial development phase takes place entirely in the laboratory, with engineers and designers assessing different sounds and sound profiles to find the best solution, and doing so literally by ear. “During the development process, we have to take into account the requirements of the legislation, which defines not only the minimum sound level but also the frequency composition of the sound when the vehicle passes, and we also have to address the frequency shift. What’s more, these have to change depending on the speed of the vehicle in the same way that a conventional car’s sound changes depending on how it is driven,” adds Jaromír Žák from the vehicle verification department.

Škoda Elroq in camouflage 

Once the team has hit on a suitable solution, they put it in a prototype car and begin testing: first in the laboratory, then on a secret test track. Again, everything needs to be assessed: the sound must not be a nuisance to the surrounding area and people and it must comply with the legislative requirements. The final version of the sound is then put into service.