When you think of sporty V-8s, the likes of the Chevrolet Corvette, Ford Mustang, and Chevrolet Camaro instantly spring into your mind. They are some of the first cars nearly everyone looking to purchase a V-8 considers - and for good reason. They are excellent cars to drive, have V-8 engines that produce spine-tingling symphonies, and are pop culture icons.
Perhaps the one downside with mainstream V-8s is the lack of exclusivity. For those willing to ignore popular V-8 sports cars, there are excellent options for you to choose from. These cars range from sporty sedans from Europe and underrated sports car icons of yore to sleeper cars from the recent past. Here are 10 V-8 sports cars you’ve overlooked but shouldn’We have compiled this list of underrated V-8 sports cars by consulting specialist sites like Edmunds, Car and Driver, and Motor Trend.
10 2003 Jaguar S-Type R
Top Speed 155 MPH
The 2003 Jaguar S-Type R seemed designed to compete with the Mercedes E55 AMG and the BMW M5 of the time. It had bucketloads of power, which facilitated impressive acceleration. However, the feeling was that with engine mapping tweaks, the S-Type R could have gotten to 60 MPH well before 5.3 seconds. The Jag, therefore, lost round one to the Merc and the M5.
Specifications
| Engine | Supercharged 4.2-liter V-8 |
| Engine Output | 390 horsepower and 408 pound-feet |
| Transmission | Six-speed automatic |
| Drivetrain | RWD |
| 0-60 MPH | 5.3 seconds |
| Top Speed | 155 MPH (Electronically limited) |
The Jag’s advantage over its German rivals was its suspension. Its Computer Active Technology Suspension varied the suspension to improve cornering sharpness and to reduce dive and body roll while retaining plushness. Unlike the Merc and the BMW, the S-Type R provided exceptional track performance without compromising occupant comfort.
9 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK55 AMG
Top Speed 155 MPH
In 2003, customers could get a CLK with a 215-horsepower V-6 or a 5.0-liter V-8 producing 302 horsepower. Those with deeper pockets and the need for more power, however, opted for the CLK55 AMG. The vehicle featured a 5.5-liter V-8 stuffed with 362 hand-built horses and 376 pound-feet.
Specifications
| Engine | 5.5-liter V-8 |
| Engine Output | 362 horsepower and 376 pound-feet |
| Transmission | Five-speed shiftable automatic |
| Drivetrain | RWD |
| 0-60 MPH | 4.9 seconds |
| Top Speed | 155 MPH (Electronically limited) |
Mercedes crammed a boat load of driver assists into the vehicle’s system - brake assist, automatic slip control, and electronic stability control, among others - to aid in track performance. As a bonus, the CLK55 was one of the most gorgeous cars of the early 2000s. With the windows rolled down, the B-pillar-less CLK55 AMG looked as sexy a car as you’ll ever see.
8 2011 BMW 550i
Top Speed 155 MPH
Equipped with a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V-8, paired with an eight-speed automatic gearbox, the BMW 550i was faster than the manual-shod 550i to 60 MPH by about 0.3 seconds. However, both cars passed a quarter-mile simultaneously, traveling at just shy of 110 MPH. The base 550i was cheap and came with a host of standard equipment, including automatic climate control and adaptive headlamps.
Specifications
| Engine | Twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8 |
| Engine Output | 400 horsepower and 450 pound-feet |
| Transmission | Six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic |
| Drivetrain | RWD |
| 0-60 MPH | 5.1 seconds |
| Top Speed | 155 MPH (Electronically limited) |
Driver aids, including the Dynamic Handling package, Sport Pack, Driver Assistance package, and Cold Weather Package, were optional extras that increased the BMW’s cost. However, most drivers could probably do without most of the costly extras. Arguably, the package with the most to offer was the Sport Pack: it improved the car’s looks, suspension, and aerodynamics.
7 2002 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
Top Speed 160 MPH
In its last year of production, the Firebird Trans Am featured a 5.7-liter V-8 derived from a Corvette, which launched the vehicle to 60 MPH in five seconds. To get 15 more horsepower from the engine, a specially tuned suspension, high-performance tires, and power steering cooler, drivers could opt for the WS-6 performance package.
Specifications
| Engine | 5.7-liter V-8 |
| Engine Output | 310 horsepower and 340 pound-feet |
| Transmission | Four-speed automatic or six-speed manual |
| Drivetrain | RWD |
| 0-60 MPH | 5.0 seconds |
| Top Speed | 160 MPH (Electronically limited) |
The 2002 Daytona 500 pace car was a Firebird Trans Am Collector Edition driven by Jay Leno. In terms of performance, the Collector Edition and the Trans AM with the WS-6 performance package were identical. ‘Collector Edition’ was essentially an aesthetics package that gave the car leather seats, painted wheels, a painted roof, and embroidered headrests, among others.
6 2014 Lexus IS F
Top Speed 170 MPH
The Lexus was unfairly considered an underdog to its German rivals despite having the performance to match and potentially beat them. Under its bulging hood was a 5.0-liter V-8 that combined direct and port fuel injection to produce 416 horsepower, 371 pound-feet, and a magical V-8 rumble.
Specifications
| Engine | 5.0-liter V-8 |
| Engine Output | 416 horsepower and 371 pound-feet |
| Transmission | Eight-speed shiftable automatic |
| Drivetrain | RWD |
| 0-60 MPH | 4.6 seconds |
| Top Speed | 170 MPH |
Directing power to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission, the 2014 Lexus IS F cleared 60 MPH in 4.6 seconds. Lexus opted not to redesign the IS F like the regular IS. Regardless, the minor revisions on the IS F - a widened body, a carbon-fiber rear wing, and new LED fog lights - gave the vehicle an aggressive stance.
5 2006 Maserati Coupe
Top Speed 177 MPH
Styled by ItalDesign, the Maserati Coupe was a stunning machine. It was Maserati’s first vehicle offered in the United States following the company’s salvation by Fiat and Ferrari. The car featured a Ferrari-made V-8 mated to either a traditional six-speed manual or an automated-clutch manual dubbed Cambiocorsa (Ferrari-speak for ‘racing gearbox).
Specifications
| Engine | 4.2-liter V-8 |
| Engine Output | 390 horsepower and 333 pound-feet |
| Transmission | Six-speed manual |
| Drivetrain | RWD |
| 0-60 MPH | 4.8 seconds |
| Top Speed | 177 MPH |
At its price, the Maserati Coupe was an excellent option for drivers who wanted to avoid German mainstream coupes like the Mercedes-Benz CL500. The Maserati’s combination of Italian styling and horsepower with an F1-fast transmission and adaptive suspension made it a worthy adversary to its German rivals.
4 2006 Pontiac GTO
Top Speed 178 MPH
The fifth-generation Pontiac GTO was essentially a restyled Holden Monaro. It was an unremarkable car with a 350 horsepower V-8. To transform the vehicle into one worthy of the GTO badge, Pontiac bolted the brilliant LS2 V-8 on the car’s chassis in 2005. Sporting an engine producing 400 horsepower and an equal amount of torque, the GTO started drawing the attention of the car world.
Specifications
| Engine | 6.0-liter V-8 |
| Engine Output | 400 horsepower and 400 pound-feet |
| Transmission | Four-speed automatic or six-speed manual |
| Drivetrain | RWD |
| 0-60 MPH | 4.7 seconds |
| Top Speed | 178 MPH |
Some reviewers even put the car head-to-head with a Mercedes-Benz CLK55 AMG. The GTO, predictably, lost. Nevertheless, it performed admirably against a vehicle twice its price. Perhaps cognizant that it had an iconic V-8 under its hood, people started to consider the Pontiac a gorgeous car. Gorgeous was probably an exaggeration. Still, the GTO was a looker.
3 2017 Chevrolet SS
Top Speed 180 MPH
Pontiac died in 2010, but some of its ghosts lived on in GM offerings. The Chevrolet SS, for instance, was a resurrected Pontiac G8. The Chevy SS featured a 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 producing 415 horsepower and a standard six-speed automatic transmission. On request and for free, Chevrolet swapped the automatic for a six-speed manual.
Specifications
| Engine | 6.2-liter V-8 |
| Engine Output | 415 horsepower and 415 pound-feet |
| Transmission | Six-speed manual or six-speed automatic |
| Drivetrain | RWD |
| 0-60 MPH | 4.7 seconds |
| Top Speed | 180 MPH |
Besides the dual exhaust tips, nothing else gave away the sporty nature of the Chevrolet SS. Indeed, it is one of the best sleeper cars of the 2010s. Underneath its rather mundane exterior lay a responsive chassis and adaptive suspension that made the Chevy SS an impressive sports sedan.
2 2008 BMW M3
Top Speed 193 MPH
Some in the motoring world were worried that the fourth-generation M3 would lose its signature handling and responsiveness. The move to a new chassis would increase the vehicle’s weight and size, and for the first time, the M3 would feature a V-8. After the vehicle’s debut, all fears of an underwhelming M3 vanished into thin air.
Specifications
| Engine | 4.0-liter V-8 |
| Engine Output | 414 horsepower and 295 pound-feet |
| Transmission | Six-speed manual |
| Drivetrain | RWD |
| 0-60 MPH | 4.3 seconds |
| Top Speed | 193 MPH |
The V-8 performed impressively, powering the bigger and heavier M3 to 60 MPH in 4.3 seconds. Despite the extra pounds, it was quicker and faster than the model it replaced. One minor complaint about the M3 was the loss of feeling between the driver and the road. Regardless, the M3 was still as fast and agile as ever.
1 2016 Cadillac CTS-V
Top Speed 200 MPH
Before the launch of the CTS in 2003, Cadillac never seemed interested in building a car that could rival its cross-Atlantic rivals in terms of sportiness. Cadillac’s first attempt was decent, though not quite as refined as the offerings from its illustrious competitors. The manufacturer kept trying, slamming the nail flush on the head with its third-generation CTS.
Specifications
| Engine | Supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 |
| Engine Output | 640 horsepower and 630 pound-feet |
| Transmission | Eight-speed automatic |
| Drivetrain | RWD |
| 0-60 MPH | 3.7 seconds |
| Top Speed | 200 MPH |
The CTS-V was an ultra-performance variant of the CTS. Featuring a 640-horsepower supercharged V-8, the CTS-V was supercar quick. The gigantic sports sedan shot to sixty MPH in 3.7 seconds and peaked at 200 MPH.