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Formula 1 engines will still sound good in the wake of the current V8 era, the governing FIA has insisted.
The unique noise produced by powerful high-revving engines has been an issue each time the regulations substantially changed, including when V8 engines became mandatory at the abolition of the V10 era for 2006.
But the proposed switch in 2013 from V8 to 1.6 litre four-cylinder turbo engines caused unprecedented angst, including from Bernie Ecclestone and the majority of his race circuit promoters, who threatened to boycott F1 if the cars sounded like "tin cans rattling".
A compromise has been reached in the form of a 1.6 litre V6 turbo engine, producing 15000rpm rather than the 12000 proposed for the inline-four rules, to debut in 2014.
NEW ENGINES
In a media document , the FIA denied the rev increase for V6s was in deference to the sound debate.
"This parameter has been updated from 12000 to 15000rpm to allow engineers more flexibility in power and energy management," read the statement.
"However, as a consequence of the new architecture and the change in rev-limit, the engine will sound different, but will remain representative of formula one," claims the FIA.
The governing body also insists that the V6 engines will not use more fuel than under the defunct four-cylinder plan.
"The fuel flow limit will stay the same," read the document. "The challenge will be even bigger than originally planned and will therefore enhance the technological lead of formula one."
The unique noise produced by powerful high-revving engines has been an issue each time the regulations substantially changed, including when V8 engines became mandatory at the abolition of the V10 era for 2006.
But the proposed switch in 2013 from V8 to 1.6 litre four-cylinder turbo engines caused unprecedented angst, including from Bernie Ecclestone and the majority of his race circuit promoters, who threatened to boycott F1 if the cars sounded like "tin cans rattling".
A compromise has been reached in the form of a 1.6 litre V6 turbo engine, producing 15000rpm rather than the 12000 proposed for the inline-four rules, to debut in 2014.
NEW ENGINES
In a media document , the FIA denied the rev increase for V6s was in deference to the sound debate.
"This parameter has been updated from 12000 to 15000rpm to allow engineers more flexibility in power and energy management," read the statement.
"However, as a consequence of the new architecture and the change in rev-limit, the engine will sound different, but will remain representative of formula one," claims the FIA.
The governing body also insists that the V6 engines will not use more fuel than under the defunct four-cylinder plan.
"The fuel flow limit will stay the same," read the document. "The challenge will be even bigger than originally planned and will therefore enhance the technological lead of formula one."