What Do Cats and Car Engines Have in Common?

What do cats and car engines have in common? (Featuring Bert.)

A few weeks ago, I had a birthday. No, I’m not telling you how old I turned—but my husband asked what I wanted. And I’m notoriously hard to shop for. Back in March, we lost our older cat, Georgia, to cancer, and I mentioned maybe it was time to adopt a kitten. My remaining cat, Callie, is what we lovingly call spicy, so introducing a kitten usually goes better than adding another adult cat to the mix.

So, on the morning of my birthday (which, by the way, was excellent timing on my part), I brought up the kitten idea. My husband—bless him—immediately said, “Well, shouldn’t we get two so they can bond?” And that, friends, is how we came home with Belle and Bert.

Belle & Bert

Belle is a dainty brown tabby with a quiet, refined little purr. Bert is a giant tuxedo floofball—technically a Norwegian Forest Cat—who purrs like an American V8 with a crossplane crankshaft. Seriously, this cat rumbles. Check him out...

Bert - The Cat Who Purrs Like a Crossplane V8

Naturally, because I’m The Car Chick and my husband is both a master mechanic and a sound engineer, we started comparing the sounds of our kittens to engine types. Belle? A silky inline-four. Bert? Full-on muscle car.

So that got me thinking: Why do different engines sound so different? Why can gearheads identify a car just by its exhaust note? Let’s talk about it.

Why Do Cars Sound So Different?

First, let’s geek out for a second—don’t worry, there’s no math. Sound is just air pressure waves traveling to your ears. How fast those waves vibrate determines pitch. A faster wave = higher pitch. Slower wave = lower, deeper sound. That’s the science-y bit.

When it comes to car engines, several things shape their sound:

1. Number of Cylinders

Let’s talk cylinder count—the building blocks of an engine’s personality. When you hear someone say a car has a V6, a four-cylinder, or a V8, that number refers to how many little combustion chambers (a.k.a. cylinders) are packed into the engine. More cylinders usually mean more power and a deeper, smoother growl. Fewer cylinders tend to give you better fuel economy but a lighter, higher-pitched sound. Think of it like a rock band: a V8 is your thunderous drummer and bass combo, while an inline-four is more of a solo acoustic act. It's why a Mustang GT sounds rich and rumbly while an Alfa Romeo Giulia hums along a bit more smoothly— just like Bert versus Belle.

2. Engine Configuration

When we talk about how many cylinders a car has—like an inline-four, a V6, or a V8—we’re not just talking horsepower and fuel economy. The engine layout also plays a huge role in how a car sounds. Whether the cylinders are lined up in a row (inline), angled like a “V,” or laid flat like a boxer doing pushups, the configuration affects the rhythm, smoothness, and overall personality of the engine note. It's why a Subaru sounds totally different from a Mustang, even if they’re both going the same speed. And yes, it matters to us motorheads—because a car should sound as good as it drives.

There are a few common engine layouts:

• Inline: Cylinders all in one row. Common in smaller cars—like my Mini Cooper, Maggie.

• V-shaped: Two banks of cylinders in a “V” shape—like V6s and V8s.

• Boxer (Flat): Opposing cylinders lay flat, like in Subarus and Porsches.

3. Firing Order

Even if two cars have the same engine layout, they can sound totally different based on the order the cylinders fire. The firing order of an engine is the specific sequence in which each cylinder fires, creating the power pulses that drive the car forward. Think of it like the rhythm section of a band—get it right, and the engine runs smoothly with a satisfying beat. Get it wrong, and it’s like a drummer tripping over their own sticks.

In a typical inline-four engine, like the one in a Mazda3 or Hyundai Elantra, a common firing order is 1-3-4-2. This staggered pattern balances the forces inside the engine and keeps vibrations in check, which results in a smoother sound and feel. But change that firing order—even in the same engine layout—and the whole character of the engine can change. A V8 engine, such as a Chevy small-block, might use a firing order like 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2, producing that unmistakable deep, throaty growl we associate with American muscle cars.

The firing interval—the time between each cylinder firing—also plays a big role in sound. Even intervals produce a smooth, refined exhaust note. Uneven intervals, however, can give an engine a rougher, more erratic tone. That’s what gives motorcycles like Harley-Davidsons their legendary (and annoying) “potato, potato, potato” sound. With just two cylinders firing at uneven intervals, the result is a distinctive chug that’s as iconic as the brand itself.

4. Crankshaft Design

The design of the crankshaft and how the pistons connect to it also play a major role in shaping an engine's signature sound. In V-type engines, the two most common crankshaft configurations are crossplane and flat-plane. Crossplane crankshafts are typically found in American muscle cars and produce that deep, lumpy rumble we all associate with classics like the Mustang GT or Dodge Charger. That’s because the firing intervals are uneven, creating a staggered rhythm that gives the engine its growly character.

Flat-plane cranks, on the other hand, are more commonly used in high-revving European sports cars, like Ferraris. They have a more even firing interval, which leads to a sharper, higher-pitched sound that almost screams at higher RPMs. While they may not have the same guttural bass as a crossplane V8, flat-plane crank engines respond more quickly and tend to be lighter, making them a favorite in performance-tuned applications. Each design has its own unique tone and trade-offs—kind of like choosing between a cello and an electric guitar.

It’s Not Just the Engine—It’s the Exhaust Too

The exhaust system is like a musical instrument for the engine. Bigger pipes = deeper sound. Shorter pipes = more aggressive bark. Mufflers, resonators, and baffles all shape the tone.

That’s why race cars sound so loud and raw—many of them run with straight pipes and no mufflers. Think of a Ferrari on a racetrack versus a Honda Accord on your street. (And let’s be honest, if you’ve ever heard a “fart can” on a Civic at 2 a.m., you know what I’m talking about.)

Best and Worst Sounding Cars (In My Opinion)

Okay, let’s get to the fun part.

🔥 Best Sound Ever: Lexus LFA

If you know, you know. The Lexus LFA was a limited-run supercar with a 4.8L V8 that sounded like pure music. Lexus engineers spent a decade perfecting its exhaust note. They even piped the sound into the cabin with surround-sound precision. Only 500 were made—and yeah, it’s that good.

Take a listen. Go ahead—I’ll wait. 👂

Original Source: https://www.lexus-lfa.com/

💩 Worst Sound Ever: Nissan VQ V6

Technically, this is a great engine. Reliable. Punchy. But that sound? Buzzier than a swarm of bees on Red Bull. It's got a tinny, nasal tone that just doesn’t scream “performance.” A lot of Z car and Infiniti G35 owners immediately swap the exhaust just to fix the soundtrack.

And don't even get me started on the worst offenders: teenage boys with $80 fart cans on their Civics. I respect the hustle, but those wet-fart exhausts are not winning any sound design awards.

And About Diesel Engines…

They get a bad rap sound-wise. All that clatter and rattle? That’s because diesel engines don’t use spark plugs. They ignite fuel via high compression—and that makes a lot more noise. But hey, they weren’t built to sound pretty. They’re workhorses.

What’s Your Favorite Car Sound?

Whether you’re a sucker for a classic muscle car rumble, a screaming Italian sports car, or just love the sound of your own daily driver, engine tone is a huge part of the driving experience.

Let me know in the comments what your favorite engine sound is—or your least favorite.

You can also check out more pictures of Belle and Bert on my socials. Because yes, kittens and cars absolutely belong in the same blog post.

🎧 Want to hear the full episode? I go even deeper (and yes, there's audio of real car sounds). Listen to this episode of The Straight Shift podcast for all the rumbles, purrs, and WTF-worthy noises that make us love (or hate) certain cars.

Until next time—drive safely and maybe give your car a little purr of appreciation.