An exhaust system for an internal combustion engine includes a catalytic
device within an exhaust path of the engine, wherein the catalytic device
includes a housing with a catalyst carrier. A length of the catalyst
carrier along a longitudinal axis, measured along a downstream flow
direction of exhaust gas within the exhaust path, is substantially the
same or a shorter than the upstream distance traveled by a reverse flow
of exhaust gas during an exhaust gas pulsation within the housing. With
this type of configuration, due to reciprocating movements of the exhaust
gas caused by the pulsations, the same exhaust gas passes through the
catalyst carrier multiple times. Thus, an increased number of heat
exchanges take place within the catalyst carrier, which rapidly increases
the catalyst temperature after a cold engine start.