With the world gravitating toward more fuel-efficient and electrified powertrain options, we think it’s a timely opportunity to step back and appreciate the best cars currently available in Australia that come powered by a V8 engine- before it’s too late.
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Request a quoteWith that in mind, let’s unpack the top 10 best cars with a V8 engine, which includes a range of everything from supercars to luxurious executive vehicles and even practical family movers.
Ford Mustang
The words Mustang and V8 are close to synonymous, and while Ford does in fact offer a turbocharged four-cylinder EcoBoost engine in the base model Mustang, it is very much sticking by the V8 for the range-topper.
In its latest form, the Ford Mustang GT comes powered by a 5.0-litre V8 producing a massive 339kW of power and 556Nm of torque which is thrown to the rear wheels via your choice of a six-speed manual or a ten-speed automatic transmission.
The end result is a 0-100km/h sprint in 4.3 seconds.
For those looking for even more speed, the Ford Mustang Mach 1’s engine is tuned up to 345kW/556Nm, and gains Ford’s MagneRide suspension system for even more speed in the corners.
Lamborghini Urus
The Lamborghini Urus has fast become the backbone of Lamborghini’s bottom line, with the high-powered SUV combining a comfortable five-seat package with a monstrous V8 unit.
Powering the Lamborghini Urus is a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 unit that produces a massive 478kW of power and 850Nm of torque, making the Urus one of the most powerful SUVs currently available in the world.
The Urus’ V8 engine tortures all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission that helps it rocket to 100km/h in just 3.6 seconds and onto a top speed of 305km/h.
BMW M5
With BMW moving to a twin-turbo inline six-cylinder for its M3 and M4 performance saloons, the M5 is one of the last of the company’s high-powered sedans to come powered by a V8 engine.
Thankfully for buyers, though, it’s also the most potent iteration of BMW’s V8, which pumps out 460kW of power and 750Nm of torque in the M5 Competition, and 467kW/750Nm in the M5 CS.
This results in a 0-100km/h time of just 3.3 seconds for the standard M5, dropping to three seconds flat for the M5 CS.
Power is thrown to all four wheels via an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission, with the M5 gaining adaptive M suspension, a limited-slip differential and upgraded brakes to match the insane speed.
Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG
A direct competitor to the M5 is Mercedes’ E63 AMG, which for a number of years came powered by a very well-known 6.2-litre naturally aspirated V8.
In its latest form, Mercedes-Benz has opted for a pair of turbochargers, rather than sheer displacement, to improve upon its already-impressive power figures, with the E63 AMG producing 450kW of power and 850Nm of torque.
This translates to a rapid 0-100km/h sprint of 3.4 seconds - not bad for a luxurious five-seater sedan.
While we’ve mentioned the E63 AMG specifically here, you could include any of Mercedes’ range-topping AMG takes on the C-Class or S-Class sedans, the GT sports or even its high-powered SUVs like the GLE63 AMG or the iconic G-Class.
McLaren 720S
The V8 engine has been a key pillar of McLaren’s production car revival, with almost every member of its lineup, with the exception of the Artura, coming powered by various versions of the same V8 block.
The 720S is a fabulous supercar that combines its immense power with some seriously clever suspension hardware that makes it incredibly agile on a circuit, and packs a mighty punch thanks to its twin-turbocharged V8 engine.
The 720S produces 530kW of power and 770Nm of torque from its twin-turbo V8 that is sent to the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission that helps the 720S sprint from 0-100km/h in just 2.9 seconds.
Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT
While some were quick to label Porsche’s choice of moving into the SUV world as boring, there’s certainly nothing boring about its high-powered Cayenne flagships which come packing a devilish V8 engine.
The Cayenne Turbo GT is powered by a twin-turbocharged V8 unit producing 471kW of power and 850Nm of torque, which sends the large, luxurious SUV to 100km/h in just 3.3 seconds and onto a top speed of 300km/h.
Porsche also offers its twin-turbo V8 unit with a hybrid drivetrain that increases power once again to a barely-believable 500kW/900Nm and makes it one of the most powerful SUV packages anywhere on the road.
Ferrari F8 Tributo
We couldn’t have a list of the best V8 engines on sale in Australia without a mention of one of the world’s most famous names, Ferrari, whose F8 Tributo comes powered by a potent, mid-mounted V8 engine.
The F8 Tributo’s 3.9-litre twin-turbocharged V8 produces an immense 530kW of power and 718Nm of torque, making it one of the most powerful V8s on sale, which terrorises the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
The F8 Tributo hits 100km/h from a standstill in just 2.9 seconds, and has no problem hitting its top speed of 340km/h.
GMSV Chevrolet Corvette
Chevrolet’s latest-generation Corvette has turned heads for a number of reasons, namely the massive change from its front-engine layout to a mid-engine platform that its European rivals have been using for decades now.
The change has been profound for the Corvette’s cornering and agility, while the already-insane performance of its V8 engine has once again been updated, with the 6.2-litre V8 producing 369kW of power and 637Nm of torque.
Power is thrown to the rear wheels with the help of an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission that helps the Corvette sprint to 100km/h in just 2.9 seconds, and onto a top speed of 313km/h.
Jaguar F-Pace SVR
The Jaguar F-Pace has become one of Jaguar’s best-selling vehicles here in Australia, and while it continues to offer an entry-level F-Pace with a very sensible turbocharged four-cylinder, the SVR, with its V8 engine, remains the flagship SUV.
The F-Pace SVR comes powered by a 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine that produces 405kW of power and 700Nm of torque, which is sent to all four wheels and helps the F-Pace hit the 100km/h mark in four seconds.
Inside, the F-Pace SVR retains the large, comfortable and premium cabin of its more affordable siblings, while adding an active sports exhaust system, 21-inch forged alloys and a sporty styling package.
BMW X5 M50i
For those in need of a large, practical and incredibly powerful SUV package, BMW has you covered with the M-division’s take on the X5 platform, the M50i and the M Competition flagship.
Both variants come powered by BMW’s 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 which produces 390kW of power and 750Nm of torque in the M50i, increasing to a stratospheric 460kW in the M Competition variant.
Power is channelled to all four wheels via an eight-speed ZF transmission that helps this family-mover sprint to 100km/h from a standstill in 4.3 seconds in the M50i, dropping to just 3.9 seconds in the M Competition range-topper.
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