According to science, the reason you feel the pounding thump of blood and a mainline rush of adrenaline from the sounds of the Mustang's new active valve performance exhaust is because of prehistoric DNA. No joke. It's an autonomic response that allegedly traces back to ancient humans who became conditioned to react quickly to loud and powerful sounds, which more than likely indicated a predator or some other kind of environmental danger.

More specifically, it's the basis of our fight-or-flight brain chemistry that's been hardwired into our minds and bodies over time. Because of this, sound engineers are able to tap into the biological artifact to elicit emotional responses to everything from cell phones to car exhausts. Ford's audio designers carefully create and shape sounds that tap into primal desires for action and adrenaline. "We're probably the few engineers here who do not have to design to a number or a specification," said Hani Ayesh, Ford exhaust development engineer. "Instead, we work to identify that signature sound DNA that connects drivers to the emotional expectation they have for a specific car."

The job is heavily dependent on computational analysis to properly design an effective active exhaust system using controllable valves. It works kind of like a pipe organ, where a mechanical stop is used to divert airflow to change the sound. Like the Mustang GT, the 310-horsepower EcoBoost Mustang gains Ford's active valve performance exhaust to bring a throatier, bassier rumble to the turbocharged four-cylinder. Owners can cycle between exhaust notes with a click of a switch on the center console Look for it to become available on 2019 2.3-liter equipped EcoBoost Mustangs later this summer.