It's a little bit funny that this seems like they're trying to make a big deal out of this when it has been happening for years. I vaguely remember, when the newer Mustang GT500s and cobras came out, that they could/would tune your muffler to either sound like a new mustang, or like the originals depending on your preference. Also I think there is another new car, maybe also a ford, that you can pick what type of car you want your engine to sound like, and has a list of different awesome car models that it makes it sound like your little hybrid or whatever sound like. It's kind of amusing to IMO.
It's different, though - messing with the engine note via resonant exhaust goes back a hundred years and reflects engineering practice. That little porsche trick of piping the intake noise into the cabin is a little on the shady side but anyone buying a porsche can be expected to like it. Piping the engine note through speakers? That's just fakery. Besides, if you're gonna do that, why make it sound like a boring old V8? If you're piping an engine synthesizer into my cabin, I want my car to sound like a fuckin' tie fighter.
Better yet, make the engine noise an app. I'd like a soundscape variant that indicates all of my car's activities - acceleration, deceleration, gears, turn signals, headlights, wiper fluid, battery level, gas level, police radar, etc. Sort of like an automotive version of choir.io (warning: autoplaying sound).
I want my car to make the sound of an evil and sinister laugh that gets louder and more insane sounding the more I rev it up. You could even record custom sounds. I wonder how long it would take before they were outlawed?
I am aware, I think on the mustangs they were actually tuning your exhaust, whereas the new focus is just synthesized sounds via your speakers.