Exhausts dont just channel gas, they are a car’s self expression, as seen in the best designs of Lexus, Koenigsegg, Bugatti, and Mercedes-Benz.
The car industry does not get enough credit for its creativity. While it is true that car makers are bound by rules and regulations for emissions and crash safety, much of the creative freedom of days past in the automotive world remains. The best examples of this creativity are when the designers and engineers have to compromise, and few areas demonstrate this better than a car’s exhaust.
An exhaust system is crucial to a car’s performance, and it must meet emissions standards to get the green light for production. But an exhaust is also one of the most soulful and artistic elements of a car. An exhaust creates personality and self-expression. An engineer may devise an exhaust that is efficient yet soulless, and a designer may imagine an exhaust so emotional that it would hinder performance. The compromise between each party’s ideas is where the creative spirit shines, and where, sometimes, brands hit the jackpot. Here are five of the best-looking exhaust designs ever put on a factory car.Lexus LFA
The Lexus LFA is famous for many things. Its creators, obsessed with perfection, drove the project to its limits. The tumultuous gestation of the LFA proved to be wholly fruitful, and it has become a legend of modern Japanese carmaking. Its heart is a naturally aspirated V10 whose voice is brought to life by its exhaust system.
The upside-down triangle of tailpipes looks cool, but it’s the philosophy that makes it legendary. Yamaha, famous for their expertly crafted concert pianos, was contracted by Lexus to build the LFA’s exhaust system. Yamaha’s goal was to craft an exhaust system that would create what they called an interactive loop between car and driver.
When crafting a musical instrument, Yamaha’s philosophy was that it should respond to every subtle touch, giving the performer precise audible feedback so they enjoy their music to the fullest extent and adjust their inputs as needed. The exhaust system includes ducts that carry engine noise into the cabin, giving the driver the full tonal range of the LFA’s song.Koenigsegg Regera
Christian Von Koenigsegg and his team of wizard-like engineers are known for their record-breaking cars. Koenigseggs are utilitarian in their own strange way, with the utility being a merciless and persistent chase instinct towards tunnel vision speed.
