Invidia Cat-Back Exhausts & Pipes Unlock Your Car's Hidden Potential

If you own a Subaru WRX, STI, Honda Civic, Mitsubishi Lancer EVO, or a Scion FR-S, chances are you have become acquainted with the name Invidia. Known throughout the performance car community, Invidia is manufacturer of aftermarket exhaust systems and pipe setups. As you might expect, Invidia exhaust systems and pipes are designed to replace stock exhaust parts in favor of increasing horsepower, torque, and tone. Many of Invidia’s parts are used by racers who compete in sanctioned events and those who participate in off-road demonstrations. There are two reasons for that. One is because most Invidia test pipes and down pipes bypass OEM emissions systems (they have plenty of cat-delete pipes available). The other reason is due to the fact that Invidia exhaust parts are intended to up performance to a higher level than a street car would necessitate.

Invidia Exhaust Systems

Invidia Q300 Catback Exhaust System

Invidia offers four primary styles of catback exhaust systems and each one is model-specific. The N1, Q200, Q300, and Gemini Dual Exhaust are the core Invidia exhausts you will find most often. Cat back exhausts run from the catalytic converter to the back of the car. The goal of a good cat back system is to lessen the restriction caused by the stock exhaust. In most cases, OEM exhausts utilize slim tubing for the pipes constructed of aluminum. For an everyday driver, this isn’t a bad thing. But for someone who is trying to squeeze every little drip of horsepower out of their car it is a major hindrance. You need wider diameter piping that moves exhaust flow out quicker with less restriction holding back performance.

The exhaust tone from an Invidia catback is noticeable right away. It’s not something that is subtle. It is also a unique sound. Some aftermarket exhausts are a bit more ferocious or piercing. Invidia catback exhausts rumble before building to a menacing yet smooth note that carries as the RPMs climb.

Invidia exhausts are made of stainless steel. Stainless steel is the material of choice for many aftermarket exhaust components because of its obvious durability. However, steel is especially important when it comes to parts such as exhaust pipes. Aluminum is first off, easier to dent or chip. For a fashionable exterior accessory, that isn’t as big of a deal. Exhaust pipes are a different story. If an exhaust pipe or part becomes crimped, pinched, dented or dinged, it is corrupted and will not function properly. With stainless steel, those nuisances are not something to worry about. Stainless steel also presents a nice finish for drivers who display their cars at professional car shows and the like.

Invidia Pipes

Invidia High-Flow Front Pipe

All you can really say about Invidia pipes is that they sure offer a lot of them. Test pipes, down pipes, up pipes, x pipes, over pipes…they make ‘em all. One of the company’s specialties is crafting cat-delete pipes. Any kind of exhaust pipe component that is intended to take away your car’s catalytic converter brings about a tricky situation. It’s a knife that cuts two ways. If you’re at all schooled in performance parts, you already know that your stock cat chokes down performance due to the conversion process. But you certainly also know that in most jurisdictions your car will not pass state motor vehicle inspection. In areas where the local law enforcement is especially vigilant, you also run the risk of being pulled over incessantly and fined. That is why Invidia pipes by and large are designed for competitive racers or drivers who go off-road.

However, the benefits from an Invidia test pipe or over pipe are hard to ignore. Before we start a great debate over just how much horsepower and pound-feet of torque is actually increased, the important thing everyone can agree on is that there is significant improvement over the OEM system. And if you are going to overhaul the original exhaust, parts like test pipes and down pipes are a must-have.

So, if you zip around in a sporty turbo compact head over to UltraRev to check out Invidia exhaust parts that are available for your ride. We offer catback systems and pipes for the Subaru WRX, Subaru STI, Mitsubishi EVO, Scion FR-S, Honda S2000, and more. 

DC Sports Promises High Performance Quality & Results

DC Sports is an interesting company. Founded by twin brothers Darrell and Darrick Contreras, DC during its inception was akin to a mad scientist’s lab. Not that it was all experimental, because the parts the Contreras brothers were trying to improve upon were already in existence (by and large). What made the early days of DC so unique is that both Darrell and Darrick were highly intelligent, motivated individuals. The reason this is unique is pretty easy – when passion is the ambition there can be no failure. This wasn’t a startup with dollars in its eyes and a bubble to burst. The Contreras siblings had a mission, and that was to develop high-performance parts for sports compact cars that would make a difference both on the track and on the street. But in order for that to happen, Darrick and Darrell had to know what they were doing and moreover, prove it to others.

Once enough buzz was generated, DC started building a following and their level of respect within the industry began to grow. The pivotal moment for DC Sports was in 1987, when they were approached by American Honda to design and build a header for the 1988 Honda CRX competition car. The header was a hit, the company was formed, and next thing they knew, DC was developing additional products for other models in the Honda lineup. It’s a different story, an interesting one. Which makes where DC Sports stands in the auto industry today even more compelling.

Nowadays, DC Sports is one of the big boys when it comes to high performance parts and accessories. The eclectic mix of drivers into DC Sports gear is like going to a Chili Peppers concert – you see people of all backgrounds there. But with that being said, DC Sports is known for churning out performance car accessories geared more towards a competitive segment. After all, soccer moms aren’t usually on the market for strut bars or cold air intake systems. But there is more than one reason DC Sports has such a solid reputation (being under the Pilot Automotive banner doesn’t hurt, certainly). DC doesn’t skimp. They don’t manufacture products out of “metal” or double-welded aluminum. For all of their products that require meaningful structural fortitude, DC Sports goes with stainless steel. Look at their lineup of headers. All of their headers and exhaust workups use stainless steel and are CNC-machined. That may not seem like a big deal, you may even expect it out of that kind of product line, but consider this: There are plenty of foreign companies pulling the proverbial wool over consumer’s eyes with cheap metal exhausts spray-painted with chrome. It happens all the time.

But as much as we can talk about the type of materials the company uses to construct their lineup, it all comes down to how their gear actually performs. DC Sports exhaust headers are among the leaders for competitive drivers and serious customizers to the point where there is almost a cult. Drivers are loyal to the DC Sports and that is quite a compliment given the amount of competition the brand has. And it’s not just exhaust headers. DC Sports Strut Bars and Chassis Braces are also perennial hot items. The best part is, none of this is a coincidence. When you have a company constantly attempting to improve upon what it already does as good or better than everyone else you are always going to see results.

At UltraRev, we hear from drivers all over the globe. We keep our ears to the ground to see what people like, what they are talking about, and who they trust. Pilot Automotive and DC Sports seem to always pop up. That is why we are happy to carry their products. DC Sports performance car accessories like exhaust headers, mufflers, strut bars, and cold air intake systems are an important fabric to the driving public (especially all the racers out there). If hitting the road with greater intensity is your goal and you want sincere quality to back it up, UltraRev has the DC Sports performance parts to get you where you want to go.