One of the safety complaints you hear most about hybrid cars is that they’re actually too quiet. While some miss the throaty purr of older engines, safety experts are concerned that pedestrian-car accidents will increase because of the quietness of a hybrid’s engine.
Today, automaker Infiniti announced the new Approaching Vehicle Sound for Pedestrians (VSP) – an audible warning system to help pedestrians hear a car when it’s approaching. VSP first will be available on the new 2012 Infiniti M35h, which is also the first-ever Infiniti hybrid vehicle.
VSP is a computer controlled system that links an in-car sound synthesizer with a speaker built into the front bumper. If a car gets close to a pedestrian, the person will hear a noise that varies from a high to a low frequency. Infiniti worked with cognitive and acoustic psychologists to develop this system and determine just the right sound to use.
The 2012 Infiniti M Hybrid debuted at the 2010 LA Auto Show and goes on sale at Infiniti retailers nationwide in early 2011.
2012 Infiniti M35h - First-ever Hybrid from Infiniti