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Premium vehicles deserve a premium exhaust system. With that in mind, Flowmaster has introduced its new top quality Signature Series exhaust systems, aimed at owners of today’s high-value trucks and SUVs.
“Customers spending $90,000 on a truck want a high-end exhaust to go with it,” says Mark Emerson of Flowmaster. “We’ve always had different sound levels and multiple exit options to choose from. But many customers have been with us throughout their journey as automotive enthusiasts, right from when they were kids fitting their first aftermarket mufflers. They’ve grown, had families, and are now buying brand-new premium vehicles. With the Signature Series, the Flowmaster range can continue to cater to their needs.”
The new Signature Series of emissions-compliant, cat-back and axle-back exhaust systems are made from some of the highest quality materials available, and they’re crafted using premium manufacturing methods. This quest for the best starts with Flowmaster’s use of 304 stainless steel, which contains more chromium and nickel than the more commonly used 409 grade. The company’s confidence in this product’s durability means these kits are offered with a limited lifetime warranty.
After the pipes are bent to the correct profile, they’re polished to give a uniform, brushed-metal finish free from tooling marks. The premium appearance of the Signature Series is further enhanced by black chrome exhaust tips and the use of TIG welding, in place of the regular MIG welding, during production at Flowmaster’s facility in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
“Hand TIG welding provides better heat control and greater precision,” says Emerson. “This results in a more stylish, upscale look.”
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“We’re increasingly finding that, with the complexity of modern engines, including downsized and turbocharged units, we’re having to modify the mufflers and different aspects of the kits to maintain a good performance tone,” Emerson explains. “We’re not just designing them to maximize the performance benefits, we’re also making sure we give the customer a quality sound.
“Making something loud is easy. But there’s a difference between good loud and bad loud. Especially with the Signature Series, we wanted to make sure it’s comfortable for the consumer on the interior, too. Something aggressive might sound great outside, but if it’s droning or there’s a lot of resonance on the inside, the truck’s not comfortable for people to ride in, and the owner will quickly get rid of the exhaust if that’s the case. We take extra time to test each system and make sure that we’re canceling out those frequencies that could get into the cabin and annoy occupants.
“We measure where the sound frequencies are at certain RPMs when the vehicle is under load,” continues Emerson, who has 25 years of experience in the performance exhaust market. “We test on the dyno and on the road to see where the benefits are, but also to monitor negative frequencies that people don’t like. What was the situation where that frequency appeared? Were we going up a hill, for example? Was it under load? We then work to cancel this out while retaining a good sound overall.”
The design, development, and testing of the Signature Series was completed in-house by Flowmaster engineers. The team used its fleet of new and older test vehicles to verify that the same performance benefits were available after switching the material from 409 stainless steel to 304, and to fine-tune the muffler or pipe designs as needed.
From launch, Signature Series will be available as complete kits only – cat-back or axle-back, depending on the application, and including all hardware for an at-home installation using the factory hanger locations – for the following vehicle applications:
Future releases will include kits for the 2024 Toyota Tacoma, 2025 RAM 1500, and some Jeep models.
“Going forward, every time we have a platform release for a new vehicle, the Signature Series will be included alongside our Outlaw, American Thunder, and FlowFX systems,” Emerson confirms. “That will cover the bases for all different types of customers and provide an additional choice for drivers who want a premium-level exhaust system.”
