Ixoost turns sports exhausts into audio systems

They have more than four cylinders and dispose of their exhaust gases via wildly curved pipe constructions: the engines of more expensive automobiles. An Italian manufacturer gets the Lamborghini and Co. exhaust systems and uses them to build stylish audio systems.

Matteo Panini had an idea that went well with his Italian hometown of Modena: he wanted to convert the exhaust systems from highly potent sports cars to modern music systems with a docking station for smartphones. After all, Modena is at the heart of the Italian sports car industry: Maserati is at home here, Maranello as the seat of Ferrari is less than 17 kilometers away and Lamborghini’s home town of Sant’Agata Bolognese is reached after a 21 kilometer drive. The first thing Panini tried on the exhaust systems of Formula 1 cars – with success.

The specialists at Ixoost are based on solid aluminum blocks that are milled to the correct size and shape using five-axis milling machines. Then place the electronics and tailpipes there. The customer can choose the tailpipe system, the color, the metal surface, the leather used and the type of screws used. Then a specialist assembles the desired system by hand.

As noble as possible

Stylistically, Ixoost is based on acoustic horns, the controls are designed in a retro style and are intended to recall the crankcases of motorcycles from the 1960s and 1970s. The manifolds serve as a sound box for the woofer. Some areas are covered with leather – according to Ixoost, the design is based on the interiors of racing Berlinettas.

For the sound itself, Ixoost uses speakers specially developed for use in combination with real exhaust systems and an active 270-watt subwoofer.

In the meantime, the small Italian company has audio systems based on exhaust systems from several sports car manufacturers in its program. For example, the Esavox system is based on an original Lamborghini exhaust system. It becomes an audio system with the help of a carbon monocoque chassis, with an adjustable bass reflex, passive dampers and adjustable ceramic feet. The power button sits in proper style under a small red protective flap – as in the current models from Lamborghini. The 53 kg virtual 6.1 surround system has an output of 800 watts.