TOPGEAR TOP 9
TVR Sagaris
Mad-looking car. Mad-looking exhausts.
TVR’s raucous and outrageous 4.0-litre straight-six motor was liable to burn the ankles of onlookers, and the fingers of drivers when the savage power overwhelmed the rear tyres.
Dodge Viper
Because each bank of cylinders had its own manifold and exhaust, if you stand by the side of a Viper while it revs, you’re only being treated to the sound of five cylinders, hence why the 8.3-litre Dodge can make a noise curiously akin to an Audi Quattro.
Mercedes-McLaren SLRAnd there you were thinking side-exit pipes were just for show and style. McLaren routed the SLR’s out just aft of the front wheels – at great complication and expense – so the car’s flat floor and rear diffuser were not compromised aerodynamically.
Caterham Seven
Nerd point: how can you tell if a Caterham Seven uses the old K-Series engine, or a newer Ford powerplant? For one thing, note where the exhaust exits. For Rover engine cars, the passenger gets deafened. On Duratec models, the driver is the one who scolds their shins when clambering in and out.
Shelby Daytona CoupeWhat’s better than a side-exit exhaust? Yep, two. Now try two each side for best results. Especially when they’re singing the song of a 390bhp 4.7-litre Ford V8. Only six originals were built in the Sixties, and command a multi-million dollar premium when they occasionally pop up for auction.
Mercedes-AMG G63
An SUV does not require side-exit pipes. Vulnerable to off-road clouts, not to mention in prime position for scaring nervous child passengers,
