Fast Car Magazine Honda S2000 Gets a Custom Exhaust by EMP Performance

Back in 2016, EMP Performance had the opportunity to work with Fast Car Magazine on a particularly exciting project: creating a completely custom exhaust system for their competition Honda S2000.

The S2000 was being prepared as a competition car and, with the finished vehicle eventually being offered as a prize, it needed an exhaust system that looked as good as the car itself and delivered the right sound to match.

For EMP, it was a great opportunity to work on one of Honda's most iconic performance cars and demonstrate exactly what can be achieved with a genuinely bespoke exhaust system.

A 260-mile trip to St Albans

Fast Car Magazine made the journey from Bristol to EMP Performance in St Albans, covering around 260 miles for the exhaust installation.

The S2000 arrived early in the morning and the team got straight to work discussing what would work best for the car.

Rather than simply selecting an off-the-shelf exhaust, the decision was made to build a custom 2.5-inch cat-back system, finished with twin back boxes and distinctive 3.5-inch Japanese-style exhaust tips.

The aim was to create something that suited the character of the S2000, both visually and acoustically.

A bespoke Powerflow stainless steel system

The exhaust was constructed using 2.5-inch T304-grade stainless steel Powerflow pipework.

One of the major advantages of a custom system is the ability to design the pipework around the individual car rather than trying to make a pre-designed system fit.

The S2000's exhaust was built to measure, incorporating free-flowing sections and mandrel bends before being carefully TIG welded together.

The result was a system that looked every bit as good underneath the car as it did from behind.

Getting the Japanese look right

The details were important on this particular build.

The twin back boxes were positioned at an angle to give the car a more authentic Japanese performance-car appearance, while the large 3.5-inch tips provided the finishing touch.

One of the standout features of the build was the custom Y-piece where the exhaust splits towards the two rear boxes.

Rather than hiding the fabrication away, the layout was designed so that the Y-piece and rear exhaust components could be seen from behind the car, putting the craftsmanship of the system on display.

For a car being built for the modified car scene, those details make a big difference.

And how did it sound?

A custom exhaust on an S2000 needs to do more than simply look good.

The finished system gave the Honda a much more purposeful exhaust note, with the sound of the car becoming a major part of its character.

Fast Car's original feature certainly suggested the new exhaust wasn't going unnoticed, with the S2000 attracting plenty of attention as it made its way through St Albans.

For a high-revving Honda like the S2000, getting the balance between appearance, exhaust flow and sound is an important part of creating the right system.

From EMP Performance to competition prize

Perhaps the most interesting part of the project was what happened next.

The S2000 was being used as part of Fast Car Magazine's competition campaign, with the finished car appearing at a number of major UK automotive events during 2016.

The car was eventually offered as the competition prize, meaning that one lucky enthusiast would get to drive away with an S2000 featuring its bespoke EMP Performance exhaust system.

It's a great example of how modified cars can bring together different parts of the automotive scene — from magazines and events to specialist workshops and, ultimately, enthusiasts.

A project we're proud to look back on

The Fast Car Magazine S2000 is a particularly memorable EMP Performance project because it showcases what custom exhaust fabrication is all about.

The system wasn't simply selected from a catalogue. It was designed around the individual car, fabricated from stainless steel and finished with details chosen specifically to suit the S2000's styling.

Projects like this are also part of EMP Performance's history of working with enthusiast cars and building exhaust systems for people who want something different from a standard replacement.

Today, EMP continues to offer custom exhaust fabrication and modification in St Albans, alongside servicing, repairs and other performance and automotive work.

If you're considering a custom exhaust for your own car, get in touch with EMP Performance and tell us what you're looking to achieve.

The Fast Car Magazine S2000 build

The finished Honda S2000 went on to appear at several major car shows as part of Fast Car Magazine's competition campaign.

It's a great throwback to the UK's modified car scene in 2016, and a reminder that a well-built exhaust can be just as much a part of a car's identity as its wheels, bodywork or engine modifications.

Read Fast Car's original article here:

https://www.fastcar.co.uk/car-builds/fast-cars-honda-s2000-gt-part-three/