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The upcoming Nissan Z is one of the most exciting new enthusiast cars around. This attractive sports car is offered in a 6-speed manual transmission and a 9-speed automatic option. In addition to the different driving characteristics of each transmission, Nissan was forced to attach a quitter exhaust to the Z manual transmission in order to bypass strict noise regulations.
When automakers build cars, they have to consider the endless rules and regulations that their vehicles have to meet before they are sold to the public. In the case of sports cars like the Z, things are even more difficult as automakers work to balance excitement and fun with legal obligations. Even the attractive Z with its twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 has to follow the rules.
All new vehicles must pass noise regulation tests before being sold worldwide. In America, the state of California has the strictest guidelines, meaning they control the sound of every stock vehicle sold in America.
The California test is based on a test made by the Society of Automotive Engineers SAE J1470. The basic test requires the car to pass through the microphone. The test begins when the test vehicle is at 31mph. The vehicle must then accelerate at full speed until it reaches its peak power RPM.
The problem lies in the fact that the manual and automatic vehicles tested are different. Manual transmission vehicles should start this test in 2nd or 3rd gear, which means they will hit the red line during testing and make a lot of noise. For automated vehicle testing, the text specifically states that they must accelerate and open the throttle as quickly as possible without triggering a forced kick or downshift. Instead, the automatic accelerates slowly in either gear allowing it to hit 31mph but not so fast that the transmission drops to a lower gear while keeping noise levels to a minimum.
This is why the new Nissan Z is louder with the automatic transmission when compared to the Z manual transmission. Luckily Z manual transmission owners can easily fix their exhaust with aftermarket options.
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