2018 Ford Mustang GT Active Exhaust Modes on Display (Video)

The 2018 Ford Mustang GT is the first to come with the optional Active Performance Valve Exhaust system. We have talked about this system quite a bit here on TorqueNews – including the “good neighbor mode” that many of our readers clearly do not like – but until now, we haven’t had a good side-by-side example of the four different settings.

The video above was created by the folks at AmericanMuscle.com, one of the nation’s leading aftermarket suppliers for the Ford Mustang. With the help of AM video hostess Stephanie, we get an explanation of how the system works, how the tone of each mode differs on a hard pull and how the volume level varies from one more to the next.

How the Active Performance Valve Exhaust Works
The Active Performance Valve Exhaust system in the 2018 Ford Mustang GT is a $900 option and it adds a set of uniquely-valved mufflers. Those valves open and close based on the mode chosen and a handful of input parameters, including RPM range, throttle input and vehicle load. At light throttle and low speed, the valves don’t open or don’t open as much, but when you floor it, the valves open all of the ways for the most exhaust sound possible. It is a true active exhaust system, constantly adjusting to driving style, but the 2018 Mustang GT also has four different modes, giving the driver the ability to adjust the sensitivity and the volume of the system.

https://www.torquenews.com/106/5-shelby-gt350-mustang-drive-modes-broken-down/amp

Active Performance Valve Exhaust in Action
The 2018 Mustang GT Active Performance Valve Exhaust modes are Quiet, Normal, Sport and Track. Quiet is what Ford calls “good neighbor mode”, while each of the other three modes are progressively louder. To find out how much louder, AmericanMuscle used a decibel meter to measure the exhaust volume while revving in a stationary position.

Also, since the active exhaust works more under vehicle load, the driver speeds away from the camera after each session of revving, allowing us to hear the different modes in action. In addition to just hearing how much louder each mode is under hard throttle, we can also hear how quickly the exhaust valves open when the driver climbs into the throttle.

Crank up your speakers and enjoy!

Patrick Rall is a professional writer and photographer with a passion for all things automotive. Patrick has been sharing his automotive expertise in automotive journalism from Detroit for more than a decade covering the Big Three. Having grown up in his father’s performance shop, he spent extensive time at the oval track and drag strip – both driving and wrenching on various types of vehicles. In addition to working as a writer, Patrick previously worked as an automotive technician before moving on to a business office position with a chain of dealerships, and this broad spectrum of experience in the industry allows him to offer a unique look on the automotive world. Follow Patrick on Facebook, Youtube and Twitter.