I observed the VW Arteon to the right on the road yesterday. I scanned its features with some bewilderment, as I never really payed much attention to this model. To be honest, I knew nothing about it.
What caught my attention was the minimal attention to the exhaust. It had those rectangular exhaust tips, which didn’t draw much attention. They were maybe a gunmetal finish. I also noticed some indentations inside and a small tailpipe hole. This begged the question – Are tailpipe deletes the new style?
As an alternative energy enthusiast, of course I would think of the shame of having a tailpipe, but look at this image of the new Z06 vs, the old Stingray:
Can you see how dark and unspectacular it is? I can remember a phase when sedans were less sporty looking and had perhaps no bumper cutout at all (Malibu). Then, chrome exhaust tips stuck out a little. Later, a sheared off tip matching the lines of the bumper was a big deal. Now, we have some detail beneath the bumper and chrome is too gaudy.
Yes, I think exhaust tips are no longer the virtue signal they once were on new cars. They lack sophistication, as we all know the convenience and drawbacks of the plateaued ICE platform.
As EV convenience and infrastructure improve, I’ll bet exhaust will become the mark of crude un-refinement. Something akin to smoking, as that’s literally what they’re doing. I say good riddance!