Porsche’s Sports Exhaust

The other day, I wrote an article about whether you should get Porsche’s popular option, the “Sport Chrono Package.” Following that, this time I’d like to share some thoughts on the “Sports Exhaust System” option.

ポルシェの人気オプション スポーツクロノパッケージはつけるべき？

With the “Sports Exhaust” option, when you press the switch while driving, simply put, the engine sound becomes louder than usual. Looking at the official site, it says:

Activating the Sports Exhaust System allows each model’s unique sound to stand out even more. From the flat-six engine to electric drive, a rich and distinctive roar fills the air.

And indeed, that’s exactly how it feels.

Since the Sports Exhaust can be turned ON/OFF via a switch on the center console panel, you can keep it off when you want to drive quietly in the city, enjoying the usual engine sound.

By the way, I recall that Porsche’s online configurator used to let you listen to the engine sound with the Sports Exhaust installed, but that feature seems to have disappeared now. (Later, I was kindly informed that you can listen to the sound here.)

Also, when you add the Sports Exhaust, the muffler changes to specially designed sports tailpipes. You can choose between silver-colored or black tailpipes.

For example, here’s how it looks on the 911:

911 Standard

911 Silver-Colored Tailpipes

911 Black Tailpipes

And for the Panamera:

Panamera Standard

Panamera Silver-Colored Tailpipes

Panamera Black Tailpipes

By the way, the Crayon Panamera looks really cool… or maybe Crayon just looks great on any model. Incidentally, both our Boxster and Panamera have the Sports Exhaust, and their mufflers look like this:

Currently, the Sports Exhaust System option costs from 333,000 yen~ (varies by model).

So, How’s the Sports Exhaust?

Regarding this Sports Exhaust option, our family always makes sure to get it when purchasing. After actually driving with it, what I really like is that you can enjoy the engine sound by switching it ON or OFF depending on your mood and surroundings.

In the city, switching it OFF is perfectly fine, but when you want to really enjoy winding mountain roads, the normal sound feels a bit lacking. At those times, turning the Sports Exhaust ON lets you enjoy the drive with all your senses, including the engine sound.

Also, if you have the Sport Chrono Package option as well, you can feel how the engine sound becomes even sportier and more dynamic when switching modes to “Sport” or “Sport Plus.”

By the way, my husband says this about the Sports Exhaust:

Basically, the sound gets louder, exhaust flow improves, and the tone emphasizes deep bass. Plus, there’s a certain refinement to the sound. For the GT3 specifically, the manual says that while maximum torque doesn’t change, exhaust pressure is optimized, increasing torque in the low to mid RPM range. Since Porsche’s exhaust is variable, it’s not like some cheap aftermarket mufflers that just change the sound; performance is a key focus. Also, depending on the model, the effect of the Sports Exhaust varies. From what I know, late 987 and 997 models aren’t that loud, while 981 and 991 models get noticeably louder. The late 958 Cayenne feels a bit more subdued. The 971 Panamera is quite distinct. (This is just my personal impression.) Personally, this is one option I don’t want to give up. The volume and presence are great, but what’s really fun is how the exhaust changes in sync when switching to Sport or Sport Plus modes. It’s like the car transforms into a completely different beast, letting you enjoy it twice over. This is especially true for the Panamera Turbo. My brother’s previous Panamera Turbo Sport Turismo didn’t have the Sports Exhaust, and without it, even when switching to Sport or Sport Plus modes, it was hard to tell if anything changed, which felt a bit disappointing. Also, since the Sports Exhaust can be retrofitted, even if you don’t order it initially, you can add it later for a fresh change.

Heh, Porsche really has so many tempting options, it’s hard to decide! w