What Are the Top 10 Exhaust Tips On Sale Today?
Aesthetically, there is a lot to consider when analyzing a car’s design. Most people probably focus on a car’s grill or even the profile. But for a certain group of people the tailpipes have an allure all their own. Here are what our editors consider the 10 best examples of exquisite exhausts on the market today.
1. 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder
The “top pipes” of the new 918 Porsche Spyder aren’t what sparked us to create this list, but they certainly earn the top spot without much debate. Unlike most tailpipes, these are mounted directly above the supercar’s engine. Porsche says the design keeps hot gasses away from the engine by using the shortest possible route. That may be true, but the wow factor is off the charts, too.
2. 2015 Dodge Viper
In the lexicon of exhaust pipes there are probably none more unusual than those that pipe out hot emissions to the side of the car. The redesigned Dodge Viper has ’em, though, and it is the subtlety of these side pipes on such an otherwise audacious sports car — no matter what color — that really stirs our hearts.
3. 2015 Lexus RC F
There are a few cars on this list with quad pipes, but Lexus gets a few extra nods because of the offset layout of the four on the all-new RC F coupe. They’re not as exotic as the center-mounted tri-pipes of the LFA supercar from the Japanese luxury automaker, but for a somewhat attainable sports coupe, they’re pretty spectacular.
4. 2015 Nissan Nismo GT-R
The shiny quad pipes on the perfectly dangerous-looking GT-R are worthy of this list on their own, but when Nissan gives the Nismo treatment to a car, it’s usually something unique. Instead of four separate circles, the duo on each side is contained in single, split oval. This exudes more of a “race car” look to the Nismo versus a street-car look to the GT-R. If you’re getting a GT-R, though, you really can’t go wrong.
5. 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C
The first Alfa Romeo to be sold in the U.S. in decades is an elegant sports coupe that exudes European flair. The same can be said for the dual tailpipes on either side of its slickly styled rear lower bumper. The pipes have two concentric circles, a look common in automotive fashion years ago but one that you rarely see today.
6. 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
There are quad pipes and there are center-mounted pipes, but the redesigned Corvette Stingray has the best of both worlds: center-mounted quad pipes. Whether you get the basic Corvette or the new Z06 version with its extra oomph, you still get these four pipes all lined up in a row right below those two famous flags.
7. 2015 Dodge Challenger Hellcat
This list focuses on how tailpipes look, and to tell you the truth, the pair on the ridiculously powerful Challenger Hellcat don’t really scream 707 horsepower. That is, until you rev the engine. Perhaps they speak to the potential for this to be a sleeper. Dressed in gray or black paint, no one will know what is hiding under the hood. And no one will be able to tell when sitting behind you at a stoplight either. Until the light turns green.
8. 2014 Jaguar F-Type V-8
When Jaguar decided to evoke the past for its new F-Type coupe and convertible, it did a masterful job of incorporating modern styling into an iconic look. Its exhaust is no exception, especially on the V-8-powered models, which focus two straight pipes on either side of the rear of the car. It’s another vintage touch that offsets the rather futuristic design.
9. 2015 Hyundai Veloster Turbo
Who doesn’t love a center-mounted exhaust pipe? Certainly not our editors, who voted for the Veloster’s affordable version over the new Mini Cooper S Hardtop, which also sports one. If you want to make an affordable sporty car stand out, this is the way to do it.
10. 2014 Ram 1500
Ram made huge leaps forward when it redesigned the workhorse 1500 pickup truck a few years ago. It’s a better truck all around, but the company went above and beyond with the tailpipes. The nicely plated, round twin pipes are well done on their own but what Ram did to really set the 1500 apart was design a curved lower lip in the chrome bumper so the pipes nestle against it. Who knew a truck could be so … elegant?
Cars.com photos by Evan Sears and Stephen Pham; Porsche and Nissan manufacturer images
