Ford uses large empty volumes in or around their air cleaner boxes in their "beefy" vehicles, it gives them a distinct sound. For instance, my lexus has the same size engine as a Mustang GT, but it does not sound like a mustang GT at all, because the dual air cleaner boxes are maybe 3% larger than the filter that goes in them. On my ford turbocharged f-150 the air cleaner was like one of those 3 gallon shop vacuums in volume, with a 1.5" thick air filter. Smaller engine (by a whole liter!), but much growlier and beefier.
Mercedes did a neat thing with the exhaust on the C63, where you could flip a switch and switch between "neighborhood" and "open road" exhaust profiles. I think it's one of the best sounding cars ever made.
i owned one. it was quite loud. Not as loud as the 240SX i took the muffler off to have a shop look at it up the road, but still, pretty loud.
I still drive a 4.6L V8, though. Just not american.