10 Car Brands With The Best Engine Performance

Jan 21, 2024

These automakers have not only produced some of the finest supercars in the world, but they have also made some of the best performance engines.

One of the best performance engines in the world is the Ferrari Tipo F163 CE V6. Ferrari's first try at a turbocharged street legal V6 engine is now the most powerful V6 engine in the world, producing a thundering 654 hp/. Ferrari equipped the V6 engine with a "Hot-Vee" format featuring its turbochargers between the cylinder heads allowing for a faster throttle response, and tighter package. The 2022 Ferrari 296 GTB develops a tire-shredding 819 hp and 546 lb-ft of torque when armed with a hybridized variant of the F163 V6. Despite its troublesome past, the V6 engine appears to be powering some of the most powerful performance cars in the world today.

With today's V6 high-performance engines posting similar figures to iconic V8 engines of old, a question arises. What are the best performance engines you can buy today from the most iconic automotive brands?

Today's MDH.NA 3.8-liter flat-six engine powers Porsche's most potent 911 model, the 2017 Porsche 911 GT2 RS, developing a whopping 691 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque directly to the rear wheels. Only 1,004 GT2 RS cars exist. For those who can hold their breath for long enough, four of them remain available at the bottom of the ocean!

The flat-six isn't the only incredible engine produced by Porsche. The German automaker currently manufactures a 350 hp four-cylinder engine, helped along by a BorgWarner turbocharger. The MA2 flat-four engine arrives in 2.0/2.5-liter displacements across the 718 Boxster/Cayman models. What makes the MA2 extraordinary is the plucky four-pot's ability to send the 718 Cayman S from 0-60 mph in 4.6 seconds!

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Talking about four-cylinder engines, the Mercedes-Benz M139L is the most powerful four-cylinder production engine in the world. The Mercedes engine produces an incredible 469 hp and 402 lb-ft of torque alone when matched to the 2023 AMG C63 S E Performance.

However, Mercedes is capable of an engine far more ludicrous. The M178 4.0-liter Biturbo V8 found tormenting the rear axle of the AMG GT Black Series can produce 724 hp! The AMG GT Black Series reaches 60 mph in 2.9 seconds and can achieve a quarter mile in 10.6 seconds thanks to the M178 V8 engine.

Mercedes-Benz manufactures the M178 V8 engine using a "Hot Vee" design, meaning the twin-scroll turbocharger onboard sits between the cylinder heads, allowing for a rapid response from the turbo from an equally compact package. Mercedes also operates with a dry sump lubrication system, allowing the M178 to sit lower to the ground, increasing the automobile's center of gravity. Despite its troublesome past, the Mercedes V8 remains a world-beating performer from the Daimler brand.

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The Ford 5.0-liter Coyote V8 engine arrived in 2011, powering the entire S550 generation Ford Mustang. The highly tunable V8 engine is an extremely reliable power plant from the Ford Motor Company. However, a heavily modified variant of the Coyote V8 is also the most powerful engine ever made by the blue oval.

The 5.2-liter Ford Predator V8 engine designed for the 2020-2022 limited production Shelby GT500 is the V8 engine in question. Ford armed the Predator V8 with a 2.65-liter roots-type supercharger, seeing the legendary hand-built V8 engine produce 760 hp and 625 lb-ft of torque. The Ford Shelby GT500 achieves a quarter mile in 10.6 seconds, allowing Ford's most powerful production muscle car to sit toe to toe with its Hemi-powered foe, just as it's iconic "Boss" predecessors of the past.

The Ferrari F140 V12 engine first cropped up in 2002, strapped to the legendary Ferrari Enzo. The sturdy V8-inspired aluminum V12 has since become the most powerful engine from Ferrari, powering icons such as the Ferrari LaFerrari, and the outgoing Ferrari 812 Superfast. The iconic Italian racing outfit tuned the F140-GA up to 819 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque aboard the 2021 Ferrari 812 Superfast Competizione. The 812 Competizione achieves 0-60 mph in 2.9 seconds thanks to the naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12 engine. Ferrari's Tipo V12 was the most powerful naturally aspirated V12 engine in the world before Cosworth showed up.

That's right – the Adrian Newey-inspired Cosworth RA is now the most powerful naturally aspirated V12 in the world. However, the Tipo V12 looks set to return beneath the hood of the Purosangue SUV – who knows what's to come?

McLaren launched their iconic M840TR twin-turbocharged V8 engine in 2017, powering the 720S. McLaren based the M840TR on their outgoing M838T, installing a lighter crankshaft and connecting rods, as well as completely replacing the intake manifold. In fact, McLaren claims 41% of the engine is new. The 720S achieves 0-60 mph in 2.8 seconds as the lightweight V8 engine sends 710 hp to its rear wheels. Weirdly, the McLaren M840TR remains loosely based on the 1982 Nissan VEJ30 engine developed for Group C racing.

Despite the engine's confusing heritage, the M840TR found powering the tarmac-shredding McLaren Elva roadster is the most powerful production engine ever made by the British racing outfit. The M840TR produces 804 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque, sending the open-top roadster from 0-60 mph in 2.8 seconds!

The original Lamborghini V12 engine saw a 50-year lifespan from Ferruccio's original 350GT until the 2009 Lamborghini Murcielago LP-670-4 SV. The iconic screaming V12 performance engine came into this world as a 3.5-liter V12 Ferrari killer, and left in similar fashion, producing 661 hp from its 6.5-liter bulk.

Despite the long life of their original V12 engine, Lamborghini is already on their second flagship V12 since the original's demise in 2011. The 2023 L545 V12 performance engine is about to undertake the heavy burden of the Lamborghini flagship, the Revuelto. Lamborghini figures suggest an 814 hp ICE unit mated to three electric motors, amassing a further 187 hp. The 1,004 hp Revuelto is the most powerful production flagship from the Lamborghini brand, sporting an astounding 0-60 mph in 2.5 seconds! The L545 will rev as high as 9,500 rpm as Lamborghini continues their love affair with the screaming V12 engine format.

American automakers are responsible for some of the worst V8 engines ever. However, the Big Three also produce the most insane V8 engines at the same time, such as the Chevrolet ZZ632/1000, which is the most powerful engine to ever arrive from the General Motors brand. Chevy's ludicrous 10.3-liter V8 engine weighs a hefty 680 lbs thanks to its monstrous size and forged internals.

The $39,000 crate engine develops an equally large 1,004 hp at 6,600 rpm and 876 lb-ft of torque at 5,600 rpm. The Chevrolet ZZ632 features RS-X Symmetrical Port Cylinder Heads, meaning each cylinder produces the same amount of power thanks to identical intake ports featured on each barrel. As of 2023, Chevrolet COPO has sold out of their limited-run COPO Camaro muscle cars armed with the burly V8 high-performance engine.RELATED: 10 Reliable Chevrolets We'd Buy Over A Toyota Any Day

The outgoing third-gen Hemi V8 engine is getting one last laugh. The D170 Hemi V8 performance engine will feature on the indestructible 2023 Dodge Challenger, producing 1,025 hp and 945 lb-ft of torque as the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 rockets from 0-60 mph in 1.66 seconds! The D170 engine makes the reliable Dodge the world's most powerful muscle car and crosses the quarter mile in 8.91 seconds at 151.17 mph, as certified by the NHRA.

Dodge equipped the high-performance 6.2-liter V8 engine with a 3.0-liter supercharger featuring a 105 mm throttle body, allowing it to increase boost by 40% over the Challenger Hellcat Redeye. Dodge also utilizes "aerospace-specification" high strength steel studs and bolts when assembling their best performance engine of all time, ensuring it can handle its E85-induced rage.

This supercar is named after Christian Von Koenigsegg's father, Jesko. The bespoke power plant powering the Jesko Absolut is a 5.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine capable of 1,603 hp and 1,106 lb-ft of torque! The Jesko arrives with components typical of the Koenigsegg brand, such as their exclusive FreeValve technology, allowing the engine to run without camshafts allowing unlimited variable valve timing and lift, as well as their Light Speed Transmission (LST) capable of slipping between all nine gears in under a second!

The Jesko V8 engine utilizes a carbon fiber intake manifold and titanium connecting rods. The Swedish brand installed a dry sump lubrication system, assisting with the hypercar's low center of gravity. Koenigsegg's 300+ mph hypercar also features the world's lightest V8 crankshaft, weighing just 28 lbs. The $2.8 million Koenigsegg Jesko sold out after its 125-unit production run in 2021.

The only production W16 engine in the world arrives from Volkswagen. The 8.0-liter 16-cylinder engine has powered both the Bugatti Veyron and Chiron hypercars ever since its debut in 2005. However, the most powerful variant is the 1,578 hp Bugatti Chiron SuperSport 300+. The 300+ is precisely that, a 304 mph street-legal monster displaying the best of the burly performance engine.

The 16-cylinder configuration takes inspiration from the Volkswagen VR6 engine design, hence the WR16 name. Of course, the WR16 is a performance engine with enhanced components such as a forged steel crankshaft and titanium connection rods, among other reinforcements. However, the most iconic feature is the "quad-turbo" setup which sees the French automaker fit four turbochargers onto the WR16 performance engine, allowing the Chiron to maintain its place among the most powerful production cars in the world.

Sources: Mercedes Media, Fastest Laps, Koenigsegg Chicago, Top Speed, Lamborghini

An automotive writer based in the UK, suffering with an unhealthy obsession for cars and Formula One.​​​Providing commanding content that attracts attention and entertains all at the same time is key.At the weekends, you can find him Driving past Williams Racing making high pitch V10 noises with his mouth.... daring to dream...