Car to be fitted with engine ringtones

Electric car buyers could soon be able to choose downloadable car tones for their engine to play, claims leading motor engineers.

Electric cars make a fraction of the noise a petrol fuelled car does, which will cause problems for pedestrians especially if they are blind, when trying to judge how fast an approaching car is travelling.

As a result, car manufacturers are developing artificial noises that will be able to be played out of a set of waterproof speakers, which will be positioned behind the radiator.

The Department for Transport is currently investigating the risks quiet electric cars pose to vulnerable pedestrians. In Japan, the Government made it compulsory for electric vehicles to produce a 'car like' sound, which gets louder as the car accelerates.

Lotus Engineering are currently working on a range of possible noises, as each company wants each model to have its own distinctive sound. Colin Peachey, the group chief engineer for controls and electrical as Lotus, said before long customisation could go even further and be reminiscent of a personalised mobile ringtone.

"The system is totally customisable either by territory or individual. You could have Star Trek sound for the US market and Doctor Who for the UK," he told the Daily Telegraph.

"If you take it to its extreme it could be like ringtones for mobile phones. If someone wanted the sound of the car in the latest James Bond film, they could have that," he added.

Engineers said that other motorists are unlikely to be annoyed by such car ringtones as the sound would be directional, only travelling in front of the car.

Shaun Eagelton, Surrey, Ford Mondeo

Kevin Marriott, Nottingham, Mini Cooper