The problem, if you can call it that, with four-cylinder engines is that they generally sound rather ho-hum, even in cars that far from under-powered, like the 252 PS (248 HP) all-new BMW 530i.
If you want to talk performance, this premium saloon in rear-wheel drive configuration (there’s an xDrive AWD, too) will get you from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 6.2 seconds. It will also max out at 250 km/h (155 mph), which, for most people, is more than enough. But even with that performance, the sound is nothing to write home about.
That’s where custom exhaust manufacturers like Armytrix come into play. They can help a “lowly” 2.0-liter four sound throaty, providing plenty of crackles and bangs, as you’d expect to hear in something with a lot more power and, probably, a higher cylinder count.
As we’ve seen before, the tuner’s Valvetronic exhaust helps the driver decide when the car should sound more aggressive via a smartphone app, so you can blend in with the crowd when you feel like it and make a statement when you’re in the mood. Sounds like the best of both worlds, right?
