It’s basically the same mechanism as reading. Most of the time when reading a language you are proficient with, you do not read each letter, you recognize the general “shape” of the word, maybe the first and last letter.
Even with letters, you’re just recognizing a symbol and linking it to a concept.
Hearing wise is similar to how you know that you are speaking to your mother or friend vs. a stranger, or the sound your ringtone makes or how you might be able to tell which family member is coming up the stairs or into the house by the sound of their steps or the way they open the door or the timing of when they take off their coat or shoes or where they hang their keys.
Every engine makes a slightly different sound in general based on the design of the engine and related systems. Some engines tend to be very distinct and it can be easy to tell certain types of engine by their characteristic sounds like an 8cyl vs. a 4cyl or a boxer engine vs. a rotary engine.
When you combine a glimpse of the car, especially for a distinct car or one you know well, you only need about as much time to recognize it as you might to recognize a letter or a persons face.
When you hear the car you may be able to identify the motor specifically- especially for a distinctly sounding car, but perhaps a general idea like “this is an 8cyl” or such. When you combine the sound and a glance you can often identify a car. So say that perhaps two cars might look similar at a glance but one has a 12cyl and one an 8cyl or the exhaust note differentiates them or the intake noise etc.
but much like most of us can tell people apart, a glance and some sound is often enough if you are familiar to be able to distinguish.
Even with letters, you’re just recognizing a symbol and linking it to a concept.
Hearing wise is similar to how you know that you are speaking to your mother or friend vs. a stranger, or the sound your ringtone makes or how you might be able to tell which family member is coming up the stairs or into the house by the sound of their steps or the way they open the door or the timing of when they take off their coat or shoes or where they hang their keys.
Every engine makes a slightly different sound in general based on the design of the engine and related systems. Some engines tend to be very distinct and it can be easy to tell certain types of engine by their characteristic sounds like an 8cyl vs. a 4cyl or a boxer engine vs. a rotary engine.
When you hear the car you may be able to identify the motor specifically- especially for a distinctly sounding car, but perhaps a general idea like “this is an 8cyl” or such. When you combine the sound and a glance you can often identify a car. So say that perhaps two cars might look similar at a glance but one has a 12cyl and one an 8cyl or the exhaust note differentiates them or the intake noise etc.
but much like most of us can tell people apart, a glance and some sound is often enough if you are familiar to be able to distinguish.