If you’re lucky enough to own a supercar, you’ll want to give it your love and attention. Not only because it’s your passion, but also because maintaining your motor improves the driving experience and its overall value. Beyond regular maintenance, it’s also tempting to upgrade your luxury car to supplement its performance, personalise it and make it unique.
A popular starting point is exhaust modification, as this is a relatively simple component to optimise. It’s also one of the more affordable car mods, especially in terms of value for money, as the changes increase performance as well as the look and sound of a car.
Plus, modifying your exhaust can give you a more emotive and dramatic experience with your car. The ability to turn heads as you take a drive is something that’s being lost when it comes to new regulations, too, and that’s part of the fun of souping-up your vehicle to look and sound how you want it.
When done well and with the right parts, exhaust modifications can provide you with a better car than what you started with. For any petrolhead exploring aftermarket exhausts or thinking about some modifications, this exhaust modification guide is for you.
How Do Exhaust Modifications Increase Performance?
The basic function of the exhaust is to safely carry the gases away from the engine. It’s also responsible for reducing vehicle emissions and noise.
An exhaust system has several components that work together. The manifold collects the gases, channelling them into the pipe. The catalytic converter is where the magic happens, as it changes harmful pollutants into less harmful emissions.
The gases then travel through more pipes to hit the muffler, which lives up to its name by muffling the noise from the engine’s exhaust.
When the gases leave the muffler, they head to the visible part of your exhaust: the tailpipe. Its job is to release the emissions. Each part has a role to play, and modifying any one of them can change how your exhaust system functions.
Popular options include changing the tailpipes to improve the look of your car and modifying the muffler for a different and enhanced sound’.
One of the main targets is improved performance. Choosing an aftermarket exhaust over your existing one can improve engine efficiency. An engine often requires some backpressure for proper functioning. However, by reducing the backpressure with an aftermarket exhaust, you can free up the power used to expel gases and use it for driving power instead.
A faster flow can mean louder sounds, which is why many exhausts aren’t optimised for extra power. By changing some elements of the exhaust system to make them less restrictive, you can improve performance and can achieve a different sound.
Performance Modifications
Before we get into the kits and other components of exhaust modification, it’s worth looking at these changes in the wider context.
For example, one reason for choosing to modify your exhaust could be to reduce the car’s weight to improve your overall performance, not just an increase in horsepower due to reduced back pressure.
You can also consider combining changes to your exhaust with other modifications for a larger project that aims to enhance your supercar in several ways. Planning exhaust modifications, engine tuning and intake upgrades together leads to a more significant power increase and boost in performance.
Upgrade Options For Exhaust Modification
Three specific terms are used to describe the types of modifications for exhaust systems. You can opt for the following options:
- Axle-Back Exhaust Set-Up (Stage 1)
- Catback Exhaust Set-Up (Stage 2)
- Full Exhaust Set-Up (Stage 3)
We will breakdown these exhaust set-ups in more detail later.
An axle-back exhaust only replaces components from the rear axle to the rear of the car, usually the muffler and the tailpipes or tips. On the other hand, a cat-back exhaust system means changing everything from the catalytic converter to the rear of the car. A cat-back is a more extensive modification, but both options can get you an improved look and sound and performance gains.
When it comes to materials for your exhaust mods, they’ll depend on your aims and budget. Carbon is a lightweight choice, but you’ll also find that stainless steel and titanium are durable, lightweight and attractive options. Ceramic-coated pipes are also an option as they stay looking sharp and retain heat rather than expelling it onto other vulnerable components.
Exhaust Kits
If you want to make a big change all at once, then you can choose an exhaust kit. They include everything you need to modify the system for improved performance. If you have the budget, time and inclination to change the whole system, then this is the best option. Popular suppliers include Novitec, Akrapovic and Capristo.
Since all the parts come from one manufacturer, you can expect improved performance, better quality and improved longevity when compared to replacing individual elements. The most popular aftermarket kits are a race exhaust system or a sport exhaust. They both offer gains, but the race option is typically louder than the sport, as in most cases this includes catalytic replacement pipes or ‘decats’.
Catalytic Converter
Catalytic converters do the essential job of making emissions less harmful. They remove the toxic elements of nitrogen monoxide, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide and convert them into inert gases.
An aftermarket converter can improve flow and reduce exhaust back pressure. You can find standalone sport catalysts to combine with other modifications. Alternatively, you can use them with the original exhaust system.
Depending on if you have a single or dual exhaust system, you’ll need one or two converters. High-temperature heat protection is a must.
Headers (Exhaust Manifolds)
The manifolds or headers collect the spent exhaust gases from your engine. When modifying with aftermarket manifolds, you can expect a specific type of bend, called a mandrel bend, which leads to better shape and structural integrity, allowing gases to move more freely. The improved flow through the header reduces back pressure and improves performance.
Some options come with downpipes and catalytic converters. While they’re more expensive than just replacing the manifold, it means you’ll have enhanced flow through all three components for higher performance gains.
Downpipe
The downpipe does exactly what it says and directs the gases away from the manifold. They travel down toward the catalytic converter and the rest of the exhaust system. It’s useful to know about them as they’re part of the flow and need to connect to your other parts.
It’s not particularly common to choose to change only the downpipes in your exhaust, as they’re part of the bigger picture. Downpipes are in the same place as catalytic converters, which means that you can change it to either a sport cat or a decat (the latter would then be referred to as a downpipe).
Muffler
One of the key components we’re keen to explore in our exhaust modification guide is the muffler, also sometimes referred to as a silencer. It’s responsible for reducing the engine exhaust noise. They usually have several tubes, chambers or materials that act to muffle the sounds as they pass through.
When purchasing aftermarket parts, you might look for a louder muffler. The overall aim is to produce better sounds and tones, which can sometimes mean louder. The idea is to strike the right balance without creating too much back pressure that reduces the car’s power.
Crossover Pipes
If you have a dual exhaust system, you’ll likely also have crossover pipes. They help to evenly distribute the flow of gases between the two exhaust pipes. They come in different shapes, often called X or H pipes, depending on the configuration of your system. In recent years, many top exhaust manufacturers have adopted the X-pipe design. This is because merging the two exhaust gas streams at the centre of the ‘X’ has been shown to enhance the exhaust tone while preserving more power compared to H-pipes or straight crossover pipes.
A smooth flow and even distribution of gases leads to lower back pressure, which is the main aim of modification for performance. These pipes usually sit near the manifold to split the gases earlier in the system.
Tailpipes
One of the most sought-after exhaust modification options is the tailpipe because it’s the visible part of your supercar. The entire pipe runs from the muffler to the rear of the car. A small change to this element can make your car unique, and since they’re part of the flow, they can also increase power. In some cases, these are purely aesthetic and provide the owner with a smart and sportier finish to the rear of their exhaust.
Depending on your aims, you can change the whole pipe or add a finish to the tips. Tuning parts include end tips or tailpipes in different styles, colours and materials. Chrome or polished tips are popular, as are stainless steel tailpipes or carbon tailpipes, which can reduce weight, too.
How Do These Parts Come Together?
When it comes to choosing which exhausts set-up you should go for, as a rule of thumb the more you change on the exhaust the more transformative the sound is. Some start with a valve remote kit only, and while this doesn’t include any change to the exhaust parts allows the operator to open the exhaust valves at all times.
Let’s break down the 3 stages of supercar exhaust tuning by approaching a Ferrari 812 SuperFast Exhaust. This is our most popular exhaust modification, while the stock car sounds nice, a new system completely transforms the driving experience.
Supercar Exhaust Set-Up Stages
Stage 1 – Axle-Back Exhaust System
The stage 1 or ‘Axle-Back’ exhaust simply incorporates a new sport muffler as well as a valve remote kit. In most cases we recommend valved to allow for control of the sound in and around towns and for motorway driving.
This set-up changes the tone of the exhaust, but won’t provide extra volume. In most cases owners will be wanting more from the system.
Watch video showing the Ferrari 812 with Stage 1 Exhaust
Stage 2 – Cat-Back Exhaust System
The stage 2 ‘Cat-Back’ exhaust additionally changes the middle resonator pipes on top of the stage 1. In most cases we use an ‘X-Pipe’ as this crashes the banks of pressure together, improving scavenging at low RPM therefore adding a much crisper and less muffled sound. This is where you really start to see a different in the tone and pitch of the car from the stock exhaust as well as an up lift in overall volume.
Watch video showing the Ferrari 812 with Stage 2 Exhaust
Stage 3 – Full Exhaust System
The stage 3 ‘Full Exhaust’ is the ultimate set-up and most transformative option for the 812 or any supercar. This utilizes the replacement of the original catalytic convertors for high flow sport catalysts or straight through decats. Not only does this provide the car with some increased low RPM HP and Torque, but here is where we get a real change and increase in volume. Along with the valved rear silencer and remote kit, owners of this set-up can turn the car from relatively ‘normal’ and ‘stock’ sounding to sound like a 00s formula 1 car at the click of a button. Since the release of Novitec’s system for the 812 it has been by far one of the most popular and compelling exhaust solutions for any Supercar ever!
Watch video showing the Ferrari 812 with Stage 3 Exhaust
Considerations for Modified Exhaust Systems
The final note of our exhaust modification guide is what to consider before going ahead with your mods. It’s best to work out your aims first, so think about whether performance, appearance, sound or all three are priorities.
Getting high-quality genuine parts is crucial, as you’ll want longevity and a warranty. With a number of different set-ups or ‘stages’ available for your car, it’s important you consult our tuning department first as they will advise you best based on your relationship with the car and what you want to achieve.
To discuss your Supercar exhaust give us a message or call on: +44 7494 526 462
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