2008 Mitsubishi Evolution GSR - Exhaust System - Modified Magazine

The New Era Of Affordable Titanium Exhaust Systems Is Here.
Description
We've all seen (and probably drooled over) titanium exhaust systems found on some of the best time attack machines in Japan. The angled cuts and precise welds are a sight to behold. Unfortunately, the cost of one of these systems is in excess of $2,000 to $3,000 - out of the average consumer's price range.

Tomei has seen the need for an affordable, lightweight, purpose-built performance exhaust system in the market, and after long periods of testing and development, its ExpremeTi exhaust is finally here. The system weighs in at a scant 9.7 lbs, 35 lbs lighter than the stock exhaust. A reduction of that much weight is simply impossible with a conventional aftermarket steel system.

However, weight savings is only one part of the many advantages to Tomei's ExpremeTi system. Titanium is a very strong and durable metal. It's also highly resistant to heat and corrosion, meaning the piping and muffler won't fatigue or wear out even under intense track conditions. Tomei has also gone to great lengths to ensure that the Titanium used in its exhaust system is high grade yet affordable for the average consumer.

The 3-inch muffler has been built with maximum flow in mind, and with the use of long-thread fiberglass it provides excellent sound reduction and copes with high temperatures much better than the conventional short-thread fiberglass packing. Titanium is incredibly difficult to weld, yet one glimpse at the welds on the piping and you'll see that they're all impeccable -an excellent sign of quality. Instead of flanges, a slip-fit design is used to ensure a leak-free environment and secure fitment. The optional test pipe is also made of full titanium and further reduces weight by 12 lbs over the factory catalytic converter. With both the ExpremeTi exhaust and test pipe, a massive reduction of 47 lbs over stock is achieved.

The MSRP of the ExpremeTi exhaust system is $1,290, a bargain considering the cost and involvement to make such an exhaust system. When you consider the solid performance gains and weight reduction, this is the only system on the market of its kind. Currently, it's only available for the EVO X, but more applications are coming: Subaru WRX and STI, Genesis Coupe, Nissan 350Z and 370Z, S13, S14, S15, RX7, Skyline and more.

Results Our EVO X project car was the perfect candidate for this exhaust because it already had an upgraded intake, intercooler and reflash. With the stock exhaust and catalytic converter, the EVO turned the rollers to 298 whp and 331 wtq on Garage GT's dyno dynamics dynometer with a correction factor of 1.15. This is a low-reading dyno, so for reference, a stock EVO X makes 225 whp. We then bolted up the Tomei ExpremeTi test pipe and exhaust system, and the results were nothing short of impressive. With no tuning or turning up the boost, the system picked up an instant 27 whp and 3 ft-lbs of torque. The dyno chart shows power and torque come up dramatically in the mid- to upper-rpm range. The exhaust also allowed the turbo to spool several hundred rpm quicker, as you can also see on the next page [1].

We then decided to test the system with Cobb Tuning's high-flow catalytic converter because not everybody wants to run around on the street with a test pipe. The ExpremeTi exhaust managed to make 316 whp and 326 ft-lbs of torque [2] - also great numbers for just bolting on an exhaust system. For the final test, we installed the silencer to see how much power it would rob. After 5300 rpm, power dropped off to 317 whp compared to the 325 whp without it installed [3]. That's not too bad at all, and considering how quiet the system gets with the silencer, it's worthwhile to have it in for the street and uncorking it for the track.

Speaking of sound, the ExpremeTi system is loud (as you would expect) with the test pipe and silencer out. With a cat installed, it quiets down quite a bit; throw the silencer in, and it's hardly noticeable during daily driving. Tomei did an excellent job setting up this system for pure performance that you can still enjoy and drive on the street. For a sound clip of how the system sounds in various states visit youtube.com/watch?v=SItZOzBMbJA.

We haven't come across another titanium exhaust that has been priced this cheaply (yes, $1,290 is cheap for this exhaust) and built so well, but Tomei has managed to do what seemed impossible. This system really is worth every penny and more - from how lightweight it is to the performance gains, to the quality of fitment and aesthetics. The ExpremeTi has set the benchmark in all those categories. We highly recommend it.

Test Mule
'08 Mitsubishi Evolution GSR
Engine
2.0-liter 4B11 turbocharged 4-cylinder
Relevant Mods
AEM intake, AMS intercooler and hard piping, RRE reflash

Key Features
Exhaust system weighs 9.7 lbs
3-inch single-exit design for maximum exhaust flow
Everything is included (bands, gaskets, springs) for a bolt-on install
Exhaust bolts up to stock catalytic converter if test pipe isn't being used
Includes silencer for quiet street driving