The Mustang GT350 R is unquestionably one of the best-sounding American supercars ever manufactured, but these V8s have a deeper growl.
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Overview
V8 engines are among the most popular sounding powertrains among petrolheads, even outperforming larger, more powerful units like V10 and V12 engines seen in high-end supercars like McLarens. V8 noises range from deep, rumbling V8s seen in old muscle cars to throaty aggressive V8s found in German power-mills!
Here are the top 10 best-sounding V8-powered automobiles of all time, ranging from old racing legends to fresh new sports cars.
10. Ferrari 458 Speciale
The 458 Italia was and most likely will be Maranello’s final naturally-aspirated V8-powered supercar. But we’re not here to speak about the base model 458, we’re here to admire the 458 Speciale and its 605-hp 4.5-liter mid-mounted naturally aspirated flat-plane crank V8.
It was not just a powerful motor, but it also screamed into eternity with a redline of 9,000 rpm! The icing on the cake was that, unlike the 458 Italia, the Speciale only had two massive exhaust outlets in the middle of the rear bumper, allowing for a roar like this to exist.
9. Ford GT40
If you’re even somewhat interested in racing, you’ll understand why the Ford GT40 was such a significant vehicle, but if you’re not, here’s a quick summary: Ford crushed Ferrari with the GT40 II in the 1966 LeMans when everyone thought Ferrari was untouchable.
The GT40 has gone through five versions, with the exception of the current Ford GT automobiles, and each one is powered by a raspy old-school naturally-aspirated V8 engine.
8. BMW E90/E92/E93 M3
Normally, M3s are equipped with classic straight-six engines, such as the one seen in the current G80 M3 Competition, but back in the day, BMW only offered one M3 with a V8, which was the E90 M3.
Of course, the designation differed depending on whether the vehicle was a sedan (E90), coupe (E92), or hardtop convertible (E93), but they all had the same insane naturally-aspirated 4.0-liter V8 engine with 414 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The secret to its magnificent scream, just like the Ferrari, resides in its redline, which is just below 8,300 rpm.
7. Mercedes-Benz W204 C63 AMG
Some believe that the C63 AMG, which was built between 2007 and 2015, has the finest exhaust grunt of any German car ever made, and listening to it, it’s easy to understand why. The heart throbbing beneath the hood of this AMG is a naturally-aspirated 6.2-liter V8 (despite the label on the side indicating 6.3) that produces between 450 and 480 horsepower.
Unfortunately, this is likely to be the last naturally-aspirated AMG car ever made, as even the new C63 is expected to be equipped with a four-cylinder engine supplemented by an electric motor, and even the newest C43 isn’t as raw as its predecessors.
6. Aston Martin V8 Vantage
When you talk of Aston Martin, you don’t instantly think of wonderful exhaust notes; instead, you think of elegance and subtle performance. However, in 2005, Aston Martin introduced the V8 Vantage, a more affordable Aston.
It didn’t come with the famed DB9’s huge V12 engine, but rather a 4.3-liter quad-cam V8 engine with 380 horsepower, which subsequently grew into a 4.7-liter V8 with 420 horsepower.
5. Jaguar F-Type SVR
Throughout the 2000s, Jaguar had a major change of heart, abandoning the concept of a sports car in favor of luxury sedans such as the XF and XJ, but that all changed in 2014 when they introduced the F-Type, and two years later we got to see the beautiful SVR edition.
This is the only car on our list to not have a normally aspirated engine; it was equipped with a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 that produced 567 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. When people talk about the F-Type SVR, they like to use terms like raw, roars, burbling, and even animalistic, and once you hear this cat growl, you’ll understand why.
4. Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale
The 33 Stradale exemplifies our thesis that size does not always matter. This work of art was not propelled by a massive 8.0-liter V8 engine, but rather by a modest 2.0-liter V8. However, since it was so compact, it was able to rev up to 10,000 rpm and create 230 horsepower and 152 pound-feet of torque.
Keep in mind that the 33 Stradale was manufactured between 1967 and 1969, therefore the power was incredible at the time. Its one-of-a-kind engine not only made a sensational sound, but it also helped the Alfa become the king of the one-kilometer drag race, finishing in just 24 seconds, quicker than competitors like the Lamborghini Miura.
3. Porsche 918 Spyder
Turbocharged engines don’t normally spring to mind when people think about sublime-sounding engines, but what the Stuttgart experts came up with in the early 2010s shocked everyone. On paper, the Porsche 918 Spyder sounds like a divine machine: a plug-in hybrid supercar driven by a 4.6-liter turbocharged V8 engine that delivers 875 horsepower to all four wheels.
It was able to attain a high speed of 214 mph and a 0-60 time of 2.4 seconds as a result of this, but what about the sound? The Porsche 918 Spyder sounds like a V8-powered spaceship because its exhaust ports are situated so close to the engine, just above it.
2. Dodge Challenger SRT Demon
You’ll love the Dodge Demon if you appreciate supercharger whines and automobiles that pop wheelies when launched. Let me toss some numbers out there: The 808-horsepower supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V8 feeds all of its power to the back wheels, and it generates 840 hp and 770 lb-ft of torque when fueled with 100-plus-octane race gasoline.
When done correctly, the SRT Demon could race down the quarter-mile drag strip in as little as 9.65 seconds and hit 60 mph in only 2.1 seconds from a standstill. While all of this is enough to earn the Demon legendary status, the Demon’s infernal sound is where it truly shines.
1. Lexus LC500
The Lexus LC500, the most current car on our list that is still available for purchase today. The LC500 is the spiritual heir to the underappreciated V10-powered LFA, but instead of a 9,000 rpm V10, the LC500’s roar comes from a naturally-aspirated 471-hp 5.0-liter V8 engine hidden beneath its hood.
There is one drawback: despite its supercar aesthetics and powerful engine, the LC500’s performance numbers are a little underwhelming: It accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds and tops out at 168 mph. There is, however, a ray of hope at the end of this gloomy tunnel: the LC500 lacks a soft limiter and does not automatically upshift while accelerating, so you can push the car to its redline for days.
Also Read: 10 Celebrities That Own Rare Vintage Cars
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