The popularity of hybrid cars has not gone unnoticed by tuners. British company Milltek Sport has started offering exhaust systems for mild hybrid, self-charging hybrid and plug-in hybrid models to improve the sound experience.
While most aftermarket exhaust systems tend to be louder, Milltek Sport's aim was to minimise the noise when switching from electric to petrol and keep it subtle at low engine speeds. According to the tuner, hybrid models also require special care to manage the heat from any adjacent batteries.
Milltek Sport Managing Director, Steve Pound, explained: “We don’t want the crossover between electric and ICE power to be any more prominent than it is, so we increase the focus on designing our exhausts to sound better under higher load situations and be more subtle lower in the rev range. While a performance exhaust is traditionally louder than a factory system, it’s not just about adding noise but ensuring a more distinctive, sportier sound. With our hybrid applications, customers continue to experience the benefits of localised, electrified driving while enjoying a more engaging experience on the open road.”
Two SUVs - the Ford Puma ST with 1.0 EcoBoost mild hybrid and the Cupra Formentor with 1.4 TSi e-Hybrid powertrain (PHEV) - are the first electrified models to benefit from a Milltek Sport exhaust. Next up will be the Range Rover Sport P460e Hybrid (PHEV) with an exhaust system currently in development.
The Ford Puma, currently the UK's best-selling model, has been featured in a demo video where we can hear the new exhaust. Milltek Sport's exhaust also features larger dual tailpipes and is made from "highly durable aircraft grade stainless steel".
Milltek Sport says that exhaust applications on traditional internal combustion vehicles remain the core of its business. However, the tuner acknowledges the increased "appetite for hybrid vehicles" among UK car buyers.
Source: Carscoops