Many modern vehicles are equipped with a sport mode, which intends to increase drivers' perceived sportiness of the vehicle, via e.g. power-train enhancement (PTE) or engine sound enhancement (ESE). However, to the best of authors' knowledge, no studies are available that investigated the individual or combined effects of PTE and ESE on perceived sportiness and driving behaviour. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of ESE, PTE and their combination on perceived sportiness and driving behaviour.
In a within-subject driving simulator study, thirty-two participants drove under five conditions: no enhancement (Off), PTE, ESE, PTE and ESE combined (PTE-ESE) and a control condition (Control) with a physically sportier car (i.e., more engine power and a sports car sound). PTE provided a more sensitive pedal-to-throttle mapping and ESE an engine sound associated with increased engine speed. Both implementations did not increase engine power. Perceived sportiness was measured using a questionnaire, whereas driving behaviour was retrieved from the simulator.
The results showed that ESE contributed significantly to perceived sportiness and perceived engine responsiveness, whereas PTE had no to limited effect. Furthermore, ESE created the impression of enhanced engine responsiveness, more so than PTE. PTE resulted in increased acceleration during acceleration from standstill, whereas driving behaviour was not significantly affected by ESE compared to Off. In addition, PTE significantly influenced control behaviour: it led to a decreased mean accelerator pedal depression angle and an increased mean throttle reversal rate compare to Off.
We conclude that ESE increases perceived sportiness to the extent it approaches the perceived sportiness of an actual sportier car without altering the driving behaviour or decreasing safety margins. The findings of this study support the use of ESE in sport mode. PTE should be further explored in an experimental setup that provides vestibular feedback.