Electric cars are quiet and smooth, and Audi seems to be asking whether that is always a good thing. A newly published German patent application, DE 10 2025 107 436 A1, outlines ways to make EVs feel more dramatic by restoring some of the sensations their electric motors have removed.The filing is wide-ranging, with two sets of claims focused on making the EV experience more sensory and engaging. Its ideas span sound, vibration, drivetrain behavior, scent and visual effects, ranging from the intriguing to the downright strange.Sound and vibrationArtificial engine noise is nothing new, and it has become more common on EVs, whose cabins are so hushed that engineers must tackle tire and wind noise. According to Car and Driver, Audi's filing goes further by treating the smoothness of an electric motor as a flaw. It proposes linking the powertrain directly to the cabin, possibly through hollow steel, so motor vibrations reach the occupants. It also suggests using less of the sound deadening that currently muffles the motor's whir.black porsche 911 parked near white wallPerformance theatricsAnother concept would let the motor be disconnected from the driveline, so a driver could rev it while the car stands still, with the transmission in the equivalent of neutral. Most EVs use single-speed reduction gears, though a handful of Porsche, Audi, and Mercedes models have two speeds. The patent also floats a computer-simulated version of turbo lag, along with a temporary boost in power or torque that could be unlocked on request or when AI predicts the driver wants more performance.ScentsAudi also considers adding scent, a feature currently used mainly to make luxury interiors smell pleasant. The fragrance could change with driving conditions, turning calming in traffic and more stimulating on an engaging road. The patent mentions the "smell of electrosmog," which Audi compares to the smell of a toy train.SpectacleThe most theatrical ideas involve special effects. A sacrificial piece of metal dragged along the pavement could throw sparks during acceleration, at speed or under braking, though not every automaker would want that image attached to an EV. An electric arc like those from a Tesla coil could be placed outside the vehicle for onlookers, in the driver's field of view, such as on the center console, or both, and it would respond to accelerator-pedal position.Inside, windshield projections could create a warp-speed effect to heighten the sense of speed, or show calming scenery to help the driver relax. On the outside, electronically variable paint and an animated face or mouth could react to driving or conditions, and the patent suggests fenders turning red during sporty driving.A patent is not a promise, and nothing guarantees any of this will reach a production car. It does show Audi thinking about EV character beyond silence.