Audi Is Done With Fake Exhaust Tips
If thereâs one deeply irritating trend in modern car design, itâs fake exhaust tips. Itâs always disappointing to see a sporty car with what looks like a set of chunky pipes, only to discover on closer inspection that they are, in fact, fake plastic units surrounding a much smaller pipe inside or, worse, theyâre completely blank, and the real thing exits underneath. Now, in a rather surprising move, Audi has sworn off fake pipes in its next generation of combustion cars.
The news was confirmed to Auto Express at the reveal of the new A5 and S5, which are also the new A4 and S4. Confusing, we know. These are the first cars to sit on the firmâs new Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) underpinnings, which will form the basis of its next generation of petrol- and diesel-powered cars.
The oval tips of the RS6 hide much smaller real units
Notably, the new models feature âhotâ â i.e. real â exhaust pipes, which are especially prominent in the form of the quartet of oval units seen on the medium-spice S5. A company spokesperson confirmed that âAll PPC cars will have âhotâ tailpipes, functional tailpipes.â
It comes as something of a surprise given how prevalent a design feature the fake pipe has become. Audiâs been a long-time offender, with the current RS6 and outgoing RS4 both featuring a pair of huge oval units that shroud much smaller real pipes. Itâs not even a new thing â the big chrome tips that exited the rear of the Lamborghini Miura were totally decorative.
The Lamborghini Miura’s exhaust tips were decorative to allow the car’sâŠ
There are various reasons for this. Safety is one of them, as anyone whoâs ever accidentally touched bare skin to a recently running carâs exhaust can attest. Itâs also an easy shortcut to making a car look more purposeful.
However, it turns out the vast majority of people, including Audi buyers, hate it, with the company citing âcustomer feedbackâ as the reason for its U-turn on fake pipes. The A5 and S5 are the first cars to benefit from this policy, with future PPC cars including the A6-replacing A7 and likely A8-succeeding A9 also set to get real, visible exits.
