McLaren Artura With Novitec Exhaust Sounds Much Better Than Stock

Even though Macca isn’t abandoning the V8 anytime soon, the British automaker is forced by current and future regulations to improve its fleet average fuel economy and emissions. The V6 in the Artura is a response to said regulations, a 120-degree sixer that sounds bland at full chatter.

It's hard to understand why McLaren couldn’t produce a sonorous V6 à la Ferrari’s 120-degree lump, but nevertheless, the aftermarket is much obliged to improve said engine’s aural punch.

Enter Novitec, a German tuner that specializes in exotics from the likes of Lamborghini, Ferrari, and – of course – McLaren. The Artura in the featured clip boasts the Power Optimized Exhaust System Race, which comes in three flavors: stainless steel, Inconel, and Inconel with 999 fine gold plating.

Said exhaust further boasts a so-called Novitronic module, a small device that averts potential error codes on vehicles equipped with valved exhaust systems. The black-painted supercar also runs catalytic converter-replacing pipes, along with stainless-steel tailpipes in black. Glossy and matte carbon-fiber exhaust tips are available as well, along with rather unsavory gold-plated outlets.

Does it sound better than stock? It sure does, but there’s a catch. Without catalytic converters, the Artura before your eyes isn’t road legal. Also remember that cats have been mandatory since January 1993 on every new car sold in the European Union. That’s not all, though. Under Regulation 540/2014, the European Union drastically limits noise levels for cars, vans, buses, and trucks.

Rather than cat-deleting pipes, a set of sportier cats would be more appropriate for the Artura. The peeps at Novitec do sell less restrictive catalytic converters. Once again, prospective customers are offered a 999 fine gold-plated option. Money doesn’t buy taste, does it? What’s more, who in their right mind would spend extra on gold plating for parts that aren’t readily visible on a car?

Novitec doesn’t mention what kind of gains Artura owners can expect from its race-style exhaust, cat-replacing pipes, and sports cats. Given that the V6 breathes out better than stock, there’s no denying the black-painted vehicle in the video below produces a little more than McLaren’s official estimates of 671 hp and 531 lb-ft (720 Nm).

Sweet numbers, but not good enough to fend off the Artura’s only rival. The Ferrari 296 also packs a 120-degree sixer, a configuration that enables better packaging and a lower center of gravity.

Also a plug-in hybrid, the 296 also redlines at 8,500 revolutions per minute. However, it makes a scarcely believable 819 hp and 546 lb-ft (740 Nm). Even though it’s more powerful and torquier, the 296’s engine delivers peak power and torque later than the Artura. More specifically, 8,000 and 6,250 rpm as opposed to 7,500 and 2,250 rpm.