The popularity of hybrid models doesn’t go unnoticed by tuners. UK-based Milltek Sport has started offering exhaust systems for models with mild-hybrid, self-charging hybrid, and plug-in hybrid powertrains, intending to improve the sound experience.
While most aftermarket exhaust systems usually go for a louder sound, Milltek Sport was to minimize noise during the switch from electric to gasoline and keep it subtle at low engine speeds. According to the tuner, hybrid models also require extra care in managing 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.”
More: Milltek Sport Gives The Lotus Emira The Soundtrack It Deserves
The first electrified models that benefit from a Milltek Sport exhaust are two SUVs – the Ford Puma ST with the mild-hybrid 1.0 EcoBoost, and the Cupra Formentor with the 1.4 TSi e-Hybrid powertrain (PHEV). The next will be the Range Rover Sport P460e Hybrid (PHEV) with an exhaust system currently under development.
The Ford Puma, currently the best-selling model in the UK, was showcased in a demo video, where we can hear the new exhaust. Milltek Sport’s exhaust also adds larger dual tailpipes and is made of “highly durable aircraft-grade stainless steel”.
Milltek Sport says that exhaust system applications in traditional ICE-powered vehicles remain the core of its business. However, the tuner acknowledges the increased “appetite for hybrid vehicles” among UK car buyers.
