German auto shop Life Motorsport is offering a software mod for the exhaust system of the latest Ford Focus ST hot hatch. Fittingly named Pops & Bangs, it adds character to the engine soundtrack.
Impressively enough, the stock exhaust components remain untouched. The program monitors the engine status at all times and only kicks in when the conditions are met, i.e., when the engine is warm enough and revved up to a certain level. It then interrupts ignition in tiny steps while the fuel injection continues. When the ignition finally fires, it produces a popping sound associated with sports cars.
The company claims that this simple tweak can drastically change the way your car sounds without any far-reaching hardware mods. Just how reliable or safe it is remains an open question, though, and we are concerned about potential warranty issues.