GM claims that nearly nine out of 10 women would rather talk to a guy in a hybrid than a Porsche

With all the hype about electric cars and hybrids we've been hearing lately, you may be thinking that being "green" and "economically responsible" would turn women on. After all, General Motors claims that nearly nine out of 10 women would rather talk to a guy in a hybrid than a Porsche.

But apparently the General's claims didn't convince everyone that econoboxes were sexy.

Hiscox, a high end British insurance company, was curious to know how people respond to sound of high-end luxury cars, so Steve Langan, managing director of Hiscox UK, commissioned a study to find out exactly what kind of affect the exhaust tones of a high end exotic car really did have on people.

To test the theory that high-performance cars get people hot, David Moxon, the psychologist who conducted the study, had 40 participants (20 men and 20 women, all from professional backgrounds, aged between 22 and 61 years of age), listen to recordings of the exhaust sounds of a Maserati, a Lamborghini, a Ferrari, and a Volkswagen Polo. Each participant was exposed to a variety of recordings of car engine sound tracks for 30 seconds.

All of the women that participated in the study reported getting a sexy, tingly sensation from the sound of the sports cars, especially the Maserati. The guys, on the other hand, were drawn to the Lamborghini.

Of course, a tingly feeling isn't actually scientific proof... but testosterone levels are.


Science Proves Exotic Cars Turn Women On

A loud noise is likely to have an arousing effect on a person’s physiology, but this can be pleasant or unpleasant. By testing the saliva of participants, clinical researchers were able to measure testosterone levels.

Testosterone levels are an accurate measure of a persons sexual arousal. The more a person's testosterone levels increase, the more sexually aroused they are.

A testosterone measure was taken from each participant before the research began and then compared with the final sample taken once the research was complete. After the test subjects heard the exotic cars engines racing, their reactions were measured via salivary testosterone (the levels of the hormone, testosterone, secreted in their saliva).

The results showed:

The Maserati had the biggest impact on women with 100% of the female participants showing a significant increase in testosterone secretion
60% of male participants showed an increase in testosterone in reaction to the Lamborghini
50% of male participants showed an increase in testosterone in reaction to the Maserati

Everyone had higher testosterone levels after hearing the exotic's engines revving, but the women's testosterone levels were off the charts!

Despite nearly 60% of female participants admitting they were nowhere near as passionate about cars as their male counterparts, the women actually exceeded the men when it came to experiencing driving excitement, showing that their preferences were overshadowed by their basic instincts.

“We saw significant peaks in the amount of testosterone in the body, particularly in women," Moxon says, noting that even women who said they had no interest in cars were turned on. "Testosterone is indicative of positive arousal in the human body so we can confidently conclude from the results out today that the roar of a luxury car engine actually does cause a primeval physiological response.”


But what about General Motors claim that nearly nine out of 10 women would rather talk to a guy in an economic, fuel efficient hybrid?

When Moxon conducted the same saliva test on the men and women after they listened to the exhaust tunes of the VW Polo, the econo-box left everyone colder than a January day in Nome. Not only were both men and women completely turned off by the sound of the VW, it actually lowered everyone's testosterone level! In fact, 100% of female participants showed a decrease in testosterone in reaction to the VW!


Steve Langan, Managing Director of Hiscox UK commented: “We knew owners of luxury cars felt a connection with the sound of their vehicles, many of our customers turn the music down when they start their ignition. We have now scientifically proven the physical attraction people feel when it comes to cars. We are amazed by the results. Luxury cars do quite literally turn heads.” "We have now scientifically proven the physical attraction people feel when it comes to cars."


But does driving a high end sports car send the right signals?

Through the joint efforts of researchers at three universities - Rice University, the University of Texas-San Antonio (UTSA) and the University of Minnesota - studies confirm that men who spend money on flashy items are looking for sex. The study was published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

According to UTSA's Jill Sundie, lead author of the paper, "This research suggests that conspicuous products, such as Porsches, can serve the same function for some men that large and brilliant feathers serve for peacocks,"

Men who are interested in short-term sexual relationships flaunt flashy products to charm potential dates.


But the researchers said women are onto them!

The study showed that women found the Porsche-driving men more desirable as dates... but not as marriage material.

"Women inferred from a man's flashy spending that he was interested in uncommitted sex," said the study.

That led study co-author Daniel Beal to the conclusion: "Many men might be sending women the wrong message."


The wrong message?

One study says that the sound of an exotic sports car, especially a Maserati, gets women sexually aroused, and another study says that women assume men that drive Porsches are only interested in uncommitted sex, but still found those men more desirable to date.

Maybe those men driving Maseratis and Porsches are sending the exact message they intend to!


So Mr. Beal's conclusion is many men that drive Porsche's are sending the wrong message. My conclusion is I think I'm going to see if I can find a Porsche or Maserati for sale cheap!