AWE Audi R8 4.2L Coupe/Spyder (2014-15) SwitchPath™

AWE designs and manufactures performance exhaust systems in the USA. Many applications offer a choice between Touring Edition and the more outspoken Track Edition.

Touring systems use 180 Technology, developed to counter unwanted cabin drone. AWE exhausts let drivers choose a sound character that suits their preferences, with available configurations varying by vehicle model.

AWE resonators direct sound waves into carefully positioned reflection chambers. Their return to the main exhaust stream is timed to create a 180-degree phase shift that cancels problematic frequencies. Chamber dimensions and port positions are matched to each vehicle’s acoustics rather than using a universal configuration.

History and development. Todd Sager founded AWE in 1991, starting in a converted stable. The business initially focused on European vehicles, particularly Volkswagens, before applying that experience to additional manufacturers and vehicle segments.

The business today. AWE now also serves American performance cars, trucks and off-road vehicles. Exhaust design, testing and production remain associated with its Pennsylvania facilities, while distribution combines online sales and a partner network. Its catalogue includes both restrained and more direct sound configurations for different driving preferences.