Somewhere around the late 1990s, automakers began experimenting with turning the sounds of their engines into signature elements of their brands. Audi and Volvo five-cylinder engines were noted for their signature warbling sound. The Subaru WRX’s signature boxer-engine rumble became easy to recognize. At the same time, the Nissan 350Z’s VQ V6 had a distinctive tonal howl that gave it away. The Ferrari 355 F1 became one of the first production cars with a bypass valve in the muffler that could open up additional breathing for its high-RPM wail. Right around the same time, Mercedes-Benz was selling V8-powered German muscle cars to American shoppers who loved a good V8 soundtrack.
