Re:Why does this remind me... (Score 1)

Actually, it wasn't Volvo like the others were saying. The system you are talking about was developed by Saab, and it is the Trionic engine management system found in every Saab 9-3 and 9-5 today. Trionic works by passing a small current through each spark plug to determine the composition of the combustion chamber and adjusts a variety of things (timing, mixture, etc.) in the engine to yield the cleanest and most efficient burn. Exactly like you said, they hooked up an old (maybe mid-60s) car's exhaust to the intake of a new Saab, and within 60 seconds, the exhaust emissions were back to normal.