The naturally aspirated big block engine is slowly become extinct and it is all because of emission standards, fuel consumption and the next generation car buyer (the younger generation from the video/computer gaming community) who buys just on horsepower and torque figures only. They do not mind having a ‘sound pipe’ in the cabin resonating a fake V8 tune. We on the other hand still want that raw power with a REAL V8 roar when the engine spins.
Porsche has finally caved-in and the new 911 gets a 3-liter turbocharged engine. The Cayman and Boxster get 2-liter engines……like in the Audi TT. Ford installed a 2.3 EcoBoost engine inside the Mustang…….in the Mustang of all cars. BMW has a 3-Series with a twin turbo 4-cylinder and this same engine is shared with the 5-Series. Then we lost the V8 BMW M5 to a turbocharged version.
Mercedes has their latest E-Class with a 4-cylinder turbocharged engine this engine is shared across the range with different horsepower ratings. The Mercedes E300 does not have a 6-cylinder engine anymore.
So, if you are still a motorhead with a need to get behind the wheel of a naturally aspirated V8 engine, what do you buy new today? Well not much but we have some options for you.
Good news is Ford will sell you a right hand drive Mustang with a V8 engine. Thank god for some motoring sanity. Aston Martin still has the 4.7-liter V8 Vantage in its showroom. However, the next generation Vantage is twin turbo powered. The same situation goes for the previous Porsche Panamera GTS with its 430bhp V8 power. The next generation ditches this V8 for a turbo charged monster.
The only Japanese car manufacturer with guts is Lexus and they have the Lexus RC F with its 5-liter 467bhp V8 engine on sale. If you are lucky, there still might be some old stock Lexus GS F sedans for sale using the same 467bhp V8.
Maserati keeps it real with the most entertaining V8 in its GranTurismo.
Then there is Ferrari’s V8. Sitting neatly in the Ferrari 458 Speciale, this 597bhp engine is the last of the all natural power fed engines.
Yes, there are some V10 and V12 car still on sale. But we wanted to look at just the V8’s. Our favorite engine configuration and some say the best sounding when taken in the ‘boil’.
