Meet the Brands Behind the Build: Exhaust, Airflow & Performance
There comes a moment in almost every garage when somebody says, “It just needs a little more sound.”
That is usually followed by an intake discussion, three open browser tabs and a shipping notification. We understand. At Merrick Motorsports, this is familiar territory.
In this installment of Meet the Brands Behind the Build, we are exploring ten exhaust, airflow and performance brands in our catalog, including Valvetronic Designs options for Corvette and BMW owners. These are real parts we carry, with photos and shopping links to help you start a properly planned upgrade.
This is a brand guide, not a matched package. The examples span different vehicles and are not meant to be installed together. Start with your exact year, engine, drivetrain and factory equipment, then confirm manufacturer fitment.
Borla: Give the Build a Soundtrack
For customers shopping exhaust sound as part of the driving experience, Borla belongs on the comparison list. Our catalog includes the Charger, Magnum and 300C R/T 5.7L Aggressive Catback Exhaust, whose listing title references 2005–2010+ applications.
Think of it as a starting point for an exact-fitment conversation, not permission to assume every 5.7L vehicle shares the same exhaust. Confirm the manufacturer’s supported model years, body style and system configuration before ordering.
Our recommendation: listen to clips of the exact system on the same engine, then consider cold starts and highway use. Twelve seconds of phone audio is not the same as living with an exhaust every morning.
EXPLORE BORLA 5.7L R/T CATBACK EXHAUST →
AWE Tuning: Pay Attention to the Configuration
AWE Tuning gives us a useful example of why the details after the brand name matter. We carry the Audi 8P A3 Front-Wheel-Drive Resonated Cat-Back Performance Exhaust.
The description specifies T304L stainless steel, 2.5-inch piping, 3.15-inch beveled tips and compatibility with the stock downpipe or a downpipe designed to connect to the factory exhaust.
This is the FWD, resonated listing. Do not substitute it for a different drivetrain or assume every A3 configuration fits. AWE’s explanation of its pipe sizing also makes a good point for any build: bigger is not automatically better. Choose the system engineered for the application rather than the largest number on the screen.
EXPLORE AWE AUDI A3 FWD RESONATED EXHAUST →
CORSA Performance: Sound Character Deserves a Conversation
Our CORSA Performance selection includes the 2017–2023 Dodge Challenger 5.7L V8 Xtreme Cat-Back with Dual Rear Exit and 3.5-inch Black Tips.
The product description highlights CORSA’s Reflective Sound Cancellation technology and its intended balance of aggressive acceleration sound and reduced cruising drone. Treat that as the manufacturer’s design description, not a promise that every driver hears the same thing in every modified car.
Confirm factory valve requirements, exact vehicle fitment and compatibility with any existing exhaust changes. The black tips give this example a distinct finish without needing the entire build to become a chrome display.
EXPLORE CORSA CHALLENGER XTREME CAT-BACK →
MagnaFlow: Put the Whole Application on the Workbench
MagnaFlow offers another exhaust direction in our catalog. One example is the Dodge Durango Dual Split Rear Exit Stainless Cat-Back Performance Exhaust, identified in the description as Street Series system 15068.
The description lists 2.5-inch main piping and polished 4-inch tips, with a moderate exterior and mild interior sound designation.
Check fitment before buying: the product title references 2011–2012 Durango 5.7L applications, while the description mentions broader years and engines. Have MagnaFlow confirm part 15068 for your exact vehicle rather than relying on the broadest wording.
That is not the glamorous part of shopping exhaust. It is, however, much better than discovering the mismatch with the truck already on the lift.
EXPLORE MAGNAFLOW DURANGO STREET SERIES EXHAUST →
MBRP: Choose the Material as Well as the Sound
Our MBRP catalog includes the 2013–2014 Ford Focus ST 2.0L EcoBoost 3-inch Cat-Back with Dual Center Outlet. This example uses T409 stainless steel and is described as part of the Armor Plus series.
The listing discusses mandrel-bent tubing and corrosion resistance, while also noting that winter conditions, salt air and road treatments can accelerate corrosion. In other words, material choice belongs in the conversation alongside sound and tip style.
Confirm the exact system application, included components and current warranty terms. Pick the exhaust for the car and the conditions it actually sees, not just the cleanest picture in the listing.
EXPLORE MBRP FOCUS ST T409 CAT-BACK →
aFe: Airflow Starts with the Right Filter
aFe gives our customers airflow options beyond simply choosing a louder exhaust. A featured example is the 2011–2023 Dodge Challenger/Charger 5.7L Pro 5R Air Filter listing marked for Shaker Hood applications.
The description specifies five layers of pre-oiled cotton gauze and cleaning and re-oiling with the appropriate aFe products. This is a filter listing, not a complete intake system.
Confirm the precise intake and hood configuration before ordering, especially where a title groups several models together. Choose filter media and maintenance requirements around your driving conditions. “I will clean it eventually” is not much of a maintenance schedule.
EXPLORE aFe 5.7L PRO 5R SHAKER APPLICATION FILTER →
K&N Engineering: An Oil-Free Intake Option
From K&N Engineering, we carry the 2017–2023 Dodge Charger/Challenger Hellcat Supercharged 6.2L V8 DRYFLOW Performance Air Intake System.
The listing describes a replacement intake tube and housing arrangement with oil-free synthetic filter media. That provides a different maintenance direction from the oiled aFe filter featured above, not a direct comparison between identical products.
Confirm your exact Hellcat application, factory equipment and compatibility with existing modifications. We are featuring the construction and configuration here, not promising a horsepower figure or installation time for your car.
EXPLORE K&N HELLCAT DRYFLOW INTAKE →
Injen: Look at the Intake as an Assembly
Our Injen selection includes the Evolution Roto-Molded Air Intake System with SuperNano-Web, whose title lists 2020–2022 BMW M240i, M340i, M440i and xDrive applications.
The description discusses integration with the factory air scoop, but its application wording is not identical to the title. Have Injen confirm the exact part for your chassis, engine and model year rather than assuming every B58-equipped BMW uses the same intake.
For a planned build, this is a chance to consider the complete housing, tube and filter arrangement instead of shopping only by filter color or how dramatic the engine bay will look with the hood open.
EXPLORE INJEN BMW EVOLUTION INTAKE →
COBB: A Subaru Exhaust Example from Our Catalog
COBB adds another vehicle platform to this guide with the 2002–2007 WRX/STi Catback Exhaust in our catalog.
This listing is an exhaust, not a tuning device. Its description is brief, so confirm the exact Subaru application, materials, included hardware, connection requirements and compatibility with your existing exhaust before ordering. We are not filling in missing specifications with garage folklore.
That is a useful rule for any performance purchase: a familiar brand name does not replace checking the specific part.
EXPLORE COBB WRX/STi CATBACK EXHAUST →
Valvetronic Designs: Corvette and BMW, with More Than One Volume Setting
Sometimes you want the car to announce itself. Sometimes you want to leave the driveway without conducting a neighborhood roll call. Valvetronic Designs brings valved exhaust options into our catalog for both Corvette and BMW builds.
The appeal is sound control, but the details are application-specific. A C8 Z06, a Stingray and a BMW F-chassis do not share one universal solution.
Corvette C8 Stingray and E-Ray: Titanium with Factory-Style Control
The Chevrolet Corvette C8 Valved Sport Exhaust System listing describes Grade 5 titanium construction, a large-cross-section X-pipe and OEM-style electronic valves with factory Z Mode integration.
Listed fitment: 2020–2026 Corvette Stingray with Performance Exhaust and 2024–2026 Corvette E-Ray. This is not the Z06 system below.
Valvetronic describes a more expressive open-valve setting and a more subdued closed-valve mode. Listen to application-specific sound clips before ordering rather than treating those descriptions as a guaranteed cabin experience.
Plan the installation: the listing requires a GM-dealer valve relearn and AFM simulators, and calls for disconnecting the battery before transferring valve actuators. Confirm the required modules, what is included and the current installation procedure with Valvetronic and your installer.
SHOP VALVETRONIC C8 STINGRAY / E-RAY EXHAUST →
Corvette C8 Z06: A Separate System for the Flat-Plane Build
The Corvette C8 Z06 Valved Sport Exhaust System is listed for 2023+ C8 Z06 applications. Its description discusses titanium construction, side mufflers for closed-valve operation and integration with OEM exhaust-valve controls.
The listing describes 4-inch burnt titanium tips or reuse of the factory outlets. Confirm your selected configuration and included tip arrangement rather than assuming every photo represents every option.
Valvetronic recommends working with a GM dealer on the valve-relearn procedure and replacing the specified installation gaskets. Have the exact model year and current installation requirements verified before booking the job. The Z06 already has a distinct voice; choose the system because you want that particular sound, not because somebody promised a magic horsepower number.
SHOP VALVETRONIC C8 Z06 VALVED EXHAUST →
BMW F-Chassis: A Valved Axle-Back with Application Details That Matter
The BMW F30 / F22 / F36 / F32 Valved Sport Exhaust System is an axle-back, not a complete front-to-rear exhaust. Its Version 2 description highlights T304 stainless steel, electronic valves, a cast Y-pipe and revised muffler internals.
The application list includes selected F30 3 Series, F32/F33/F36 4 Series, F22 2 Series and F20 models, including specified xDrive applications. Examples include 2016–2018 F30 340i and 2017–2019 F22 M240i. Confirm the exact chassis, engine and year, not just the badge on the trunk.
Installation notes: the listing flags minor mid-pipe modification for B58/B46 applications, an adapter and possible welding for four-cylinder cars, and diffuser requirements for certain configurations. Cars without factory valves need the appropriate electronic exhaust-valve harness for in-car control. Confirm which additional parts and modifications apply to your car.
The BMW intake featured above is a separate catalog option, not a verified companion package for every application covered by this exhaust.
SHOP VALVETRONIC BMW F-CHASSIS AXLE-BACK →
Build the Combination, Not Just the Shopping Cart
Borla, AWE Tuning, CORSA Performance, MagnaFlow, MBRP, aFe, K&N Engineering, Injen, COBB and Valvetronic Designs give our customers different starting points for exhaust and airflow projects.
Decide what you actually want: a different exhaust character, a particular finish, an intake configuration or a serviceable filter. Then verify the exact application and how it works with the rest of the vehicle. Do not assume that combining products adds their advertised gains together.
Before ordering, confirm any applicable road-use, noise and emissions requirements for the exact product and vehicle. This guide does not establish approval for any particular location.
Explore the linked parts at Merrick Motorsports, compare the details and build around the driving experience you want.
And listen to the cold-start clip before ordering. Your neighbors may not have volunteered for the project.
Featured products are representative examples, not a complete brand directory or a verified package. Photos may show additional components. Confirm current availability, exact manufacturer fitment, package contents, installation requirements and current specifications before purchase.