In layman's terms, the V8 engine is an engine layout where there are 4 cylinders, arranged in a 'V' and on each side of a common crankshaft. The first V8 engine for automobiles emerged around the turn of the twentieth century and today, it ranks among the most common engine setups. One of its advantages, compared to say, a V12, lies in the fact that it offers a near-perfect blend of performance and efficiency.
Some carmakers in the American and Italian automobile industries produce some of the best V8-engine powered cars, and this article showcases some of their fastest examples. But how do they stack up?
10 Ferrari 458 Speciale - 202 MPH
The 458 Speciale has cemented its legacy as one of the greatest sounding modern sports cars. This limited-edition Ferrari was one of the last Prancing Horse cars to be powered by a naturally aspirated V8 powerplant.
The 4.5-liter V8 was essentially a tuned version of the engine found in the 458 Italia. It was capable of generating 605 hp at a screaming 9,000 rpm and 398 lb-ft of torque at 6,000 rpm. The 458 Speciale not only sounds otherworldly but can also push down on your chest as it powers to 60 mph in 3 seconds on its way to a top speed just north of 200 mph.
9 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 - 200 MPH
This hulking mustang caused quite a stir in the car world when it had its debut back in 2013. Much of the excitement was down to the fact that it was the first Mustang with a 200 mph top speed.
The whole car was purpose-designed to be a road rocket and the numbers provided ample proof of that. It packed one of the most powerful production series V8 engines at the time; a 662 hp beast that could power the car to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds and past the quarter-mile point in 11.7 seconds at 125 mph.
8 Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale - 186 MPH
The GranTurismo had its debut in 2007 and the hardcore MC Stradale appeared on the scene 4 years later. The car weighed about 240 pounds than the standard GranTurismo and featured technology lifted directly from F1.
The MC Stradale was one of the fastest Maseratis ever made and was the first GranTurismo model to crack the 186 mph barrier. It was powered by a 4.7-liter V8 engine that revved to the 7,000 rpm mark, churning out an impressive 450 hp and 376 lb-ft of torque.
7 2020 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody - 196 MPH
The Dodge Charger has every appearance of a family sedan but ignores the car's capabilities at your own peril. It can transform in an instant and rip up the tarmac thanks to the insane power under the hood, especially in this SRT Hellcat Widebody trim.
The Dodge Charger can accelerate to 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds and the speedo needle will continue climbing until the car maxes out at a truly impressive 196 mph. That's faster than a lot of 2-door sports cars on the market today. To achieve this, the car relies on a supercharged 6.2-Litre HEMI V8 that pumps out 707 hp at 6,000 rpm.
6 Ferrari F40 - 201 MPH
There are many car purists today who still believe this is one of the best cars to ever wear the Prancing Horse logo. There is a good reason for that. The car debuted in 1987 and is acknowledged as the first production road car to crack the 200 mph barrier.
Enzo Ferrari and his team borrowed heavily from F1 technology in creating a masterpiece that quickly set about rewriting the history books. There are more powerful V8 Ferraris today but none with quite the drama of the legendary F40.
5 2006 Pontiac GTO - 175 MPH
Pontiac may be gone now but cars like this ensure that the brand will still evoke some fond nostalgic memories - and maybe a forlorn sign of what could have been if Pontiac had survived.
The GTO packed a serious punch in form of a 6.0-liter LS2 V8 unit that spewed out 400 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. That power was enough to propel the car to 60 mph in just 4.7 seconds and past the quarter-mile mark in 13.5 seconds at 106.3 mph.
4 Ferrari 488 Pista - 211 MPH
Ferrari might have done away with the naturally aspirated V8 powerplants (for now) but that does not make the turbocharged replacement any less potent. Proof of that is the formidable Ferrari 488 Pista with a twin-turbocharged V8 unit that puts out 711 hp and 567 lb-ft of torque.
'Pista' means 'track' in Italian and symbolisms a more hardcore variant of the 488 supercar. It needs less than 3 seconds to hit 60 mph and the quarter-mile run is achieved in 10.6 seconds at over 140 mph on its way to its 211 top speed.
3 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon - 211 MPH
The SRT Demon arrived in 2018 and stunned the car community with the way it dispatched its rivals on the drag strip. For the Demon, it's not just about the top speed - which is factory limited to 168 mph anyway.
The muscle car is one of the fastest accelerating cars in the world with the ability to crack 60 mph in a bonkers of 2.1 seconds under ideal conditions. The 211 mph top speed is achievable once you swap out the stock tires and unlock the speed limiter using the car's second power control module in the 'Goodies' crate that comes with the car for the extra price of $1.
2 Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale - 160 MPH
This has to be one of the most exclusive cars ever made; a real unicorn that's often spoken of with awe and reverence. Alfa Romeo made 18 units of which 2 were prototypes and 6 chassis were later converted to concept cars leaving only 10 production road cars.
The 33 Stradale was a road-legal car with the performance capabilities of a track weapon. At the heart of the car was a 2.0-liter V8 that made 227 hp at 8,800 rpm and 152 lb-ft of torque. The Italian marque needed only 5.3 seconds for the 0 - 60 mph sprint on its way to a top speed that made it one of the fastest road cars at the time.
1 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 - 155 MPH
This beast was not for the faint of heart and required a firm hand behind the wheel. However, few cars of that era delivered the same level of adrenaline rush behind the wheel. The roadster could accelerate to 60 mph in a scarcely believable 4.1 seconds; a performance that was almost unheard of in a road car at the time.
The Cobra 427 was fitted with a massive 7.0-liter V8 engine that generated 450 hp at 6,000 rpm and 480 lb-ft of torque. There was an even more hardcore 'Super Snake' version that had a rumored top speed approaching 200 mph!