She installs a custom exhaust system on her Lamborghini Aventador to sound like a Formula 1 car from the 1990s.

When it comes to Italian supercars, the Lamborghini Aventador immediately ranks among the absolute benchmarks. Its 6.5-liter naturally-aspirated V12 is a mechanical work of art in itself. However, for Emelia Hartford, the famous Californian automotive yachtswoman, the verdict was clear: the original exhaust system was too discreet, too limited for an engine of this calibre. Accustomed to building her own exhaust systems, Hartford decided to take a step rarely attempted on a road-going Aventador: graft a genuine Formula 1-inspired exhaust system onto it, without touching the engine itself.

The aim is simple: to recapture the metallic howl of the F1 V12s of the 1990s. To achieve this, Hartford has teamed up with Fi Exhaust to create an entirely bespoke system, the only one of its kind in the world. The original exhaust is completely disassembled, making way for racing downpipes, valves, heat shields and a set of hand-built tubes.

The heart of the device is based on a very specific architecture: a double X-pipe and a silencer positioned to maximize sound when the valves are open, while retaining a more "civilized" configuration when the valves are closed. An approach designed to liberate the V12's voice rather than to gain horsepower.

The moment of truth comes when the Lamborghini on its wheels. From the very first start, the change is radical. The sound volume explodes instantly, far beyond that of the original exhaust. But it's only as you climb the towers that the magic really happens. (Emelia's colleague takes the opportunity for an unexpected waxing session with the flames...).

The V12 starts screaming with a high-pitched, raging tone, immediately reminiscent of Formula 1 single-seaters from another era. Every time the throttle is applied, flames erupt from the rear, accompanied by a soundtrack as violent as it is spectacular.

It's hard not to imagine what this Lamborghini would sound like on a racetrack, V12 screaming at full throttle, echoing against the pit walls. If you close your eyes, the parallel with an old Formula 1 car becomes almost uncanny. On paper, this Aventador is neither more powerful nor faster. Yet it offers a raw sensory experience that has almost disappeared.