There are enthusiasts who spend a fortune personalizing their cars to look unique and then are enthusiasts who simply let the stock look of their rides fool the onlookers and fellow motorists until they crank the engine. Ambadi Krishna, owner of this modified Tata Nexon 1.2 petrol XT, certainly belongs to the second category.
The compact crossover SUV has absolutely zero bodywork modification but all the money has gone into a comprehensive exhaust system update. The modjob has been executed by Zero Force, an Ernakulam-based aftermarket firm specializing in performance filters and exhaust systems.
The Nexon 1.2 Revotron turbocharged petrol engine’s stock exhaust system has been replaced with Zero Force unit, complete with valvetronic system. The valvetronic system takes advantage of the vacuum created in the exhaust system during engine’s air intake to operate the control module. The system allows the driver to remotely control the exhaust valve’s on-off setting which adjusts the loudness of the exhaust note. The system also allows for automatic operation which opens or closes the valve based on throttle position or preset rpm.
Combining a performance exhaust system with valvetronic system could offer better low-end torque and better power at higher end of the rev band (these two are mutually exclusive parameters in a regular exhaust system), provided the tuning of the system is spot on. As we can see in the video, the 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol motor takes to the aftermarket exhaust system really well. The exhaust note is just brilliant! Watch, errr, listen to it in the video below.
It’s not clear how much the Zero Force aftermarket exhaust system for Nexon 1.2 Revotron has improved the performance. In it’s stock avatar, the petrol compact crossover SUV is good for 110 PS and 170 Nm of torque. In the XT trim, the motor comes mated to a 6-speed manual transmission.
The total cost of the modification is Rs 39,000 of which Rs 25,000 is for the exhaust system and the rest is for the valvetronic system.
