We are seeing more and more EVs and SUVs every year. Still, there are plenty of IC engine sports cars in the market right now. Brands like Toyota, Ford, Chevrolet, and Dodge are showing no signs of hanging up the boots of their popular sports cars anytime soon. One of the defining characteristics of a sports car is its performance. These cars are designed with the sole purpose of delivering adequate power to satisfy the driver's need for speed. If a manufacturer fails to provide enough power or the engine isn't nearly as efficient as it should've been, it’s as pointless as those pet rocks we used to buy.
On the other hand, if a sports car is too powerful for its own good, that's not great either. Owners may not be able to utilize the full potential of a car's handling or other characteristics if it's too powerful. Some classic muscle cars from the golden age are prime examples of that. Although we really love cars like Dodge Viper, CTS-V, Dodge Demon, and a couple of Shelbys, that isn't always the case. Look at the TVR Cerbera for example. Its power was its ultimate tool of destruction. Let's see which new sports cars deserve more power and which are already too powerful.
10 Deserves More Power: MX-5 Miata
The Miata is in its fourth generation right now, and it’s showing no signs of stopping. The MX-5 is one of the most popular sports cars in the market right now. It offers a decent amount of luxury and safety for a car that costs $26,830 to $32,295.
The excellent handling is one of the best features of a Miata. However, the 2.0-liter inline-four engine only makes 181 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque. We feel that the Miata can easily handle a bit more power, and it might result in one of the best sports cars.
9 Deserves More Power: 2022 Toyota GR Supra 2.0
The Supra was reintroduced in January 2019 for the fifth generation after a lengthy absence following the fourth generation. Upper trim levels of the GR Supra, which was developed alongside the BMW Z4 for 2022, are powered by a BMW 3.0-liter I-6.
In contrast to the 382-hp engine, the GR Supra 2.0 is powered by a 2-liter I-4 producing 255 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Given the vehicle's curb weight of 3,181 pounds, 255 horsepower is not enough to make the Supra what we know it as, and it's definitely not enough to justify a base $43,000 price tag.
8 Deserves More Power: Chevrolet Camaro
In its heyday, the Chevrolet Camaro once used to be a car that was certain to have a powerful engine. But we're living in 2022 and the current Camaro can’t have the iconic big-block V8 in all trims. The base model has to make do with an Inline-four engine that makes 275 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque.
For a small coupe or a hot hatch, those figures would be acceptable. For a muscle car, they are not. You’ll have to buy the LT1, 1SS, or 2SS trims to get a 455 HP V8.
7 Deserves More Power: Subaru BRZ/Toyota GR86
The BRZ and GR86 twins suffered from a serious lack of power when they first came out. Toyota listened and cranked it up for the 2022 version. The new 228-hp boxer engine produces 23 more hp and 28 more lb-ft over the previous versions.
But these ponies still come from a naturally-aspirated engine, and many enthusiasts are still complaining since the cars could easily make close to 300 hp with a factory turbo. That said, a turbocharger would probably compromise the car's pose, instant power delivery, and featherlight weight, but 228 hp is not enough for such a well-built sports car.
6 Deserves More Power: Honda Civic Si
The outgoing 10th generation Honda Civic Si came equipped with a direct-injected 1.5-liter turbocharged engine. It made 205 hp and 192 lb-ft of torque. It was already considered slow for a sports sedan, and when Honda introduced a new 11th generation of the Civic for 2022, fans expected much more power.
What they got, however, was not an increase in power but a 5-horsepower decrease. The new Civic Si makes just 200 hp and 192 lb-ft of peak torque. Honda may have flattened the powerband and given the car more poised handling and a slightly lighter flywheel, but none of that can justify the near-8-second 0-60 mph run that results from the sheer lack of power in this "sports sedan."
5 Already Too Powerful: 2022 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500
The Shelby GT500 is the most expensive Mustang on sale right now. Additionally, it’s also the most powerful Mustang. The 5.2-liter supercharged V8 makes 760 hp and 625 lb-ft of torque! Although it is classified as a ‘Super Muscle Car,’ its chassis looks similar to a base Mustang.
The only differences are on the outside, like the front splitter, vented hood, rear wing, racing stripes, etc. The weight difference is not that huge as well. If even the base Mustang is such fun to drive, imagine what this beast of a car can do when it’s let loose.
4 Already Too Powerful: 2022 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat
The third generation Challenger debuted in 2008 and it currently rides on the Chrysler LA platform. The 2022 edition of the SRT Hellcat is available in five trims. The base Hellcat costs $64,675 while the top-level Super Stock trim will set you back $64,675. All five trims use the same 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine.
But more horsepower must mean better, right? The engine is tuned to deliver anything from 717-807 hp depending on the trim. The base Hellcat can clear the quarter-mile in 11.1 seconds only. The top-level Super Stock, on the other hand, just barely misses out on becoming a 10-second car.
3 Already Too Powerful: 2022 Jaguar F-Type R
Jaguar is all set to have a fully electrified lineup by 2025. So it makes sense that they’d want to make the most of the last few years with a V8 engine. The F-Type is a two-door grand tourer built on the JLR D6a platform and is an absolute stunner.
The 5-liter V8 in the R trim is supercharged and tuned to develop 575 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. But for a lightweight 2-seater, that’s all it needs to be called an overpowered sports car. We’d happily get an F-Type R and endure the stiff ride and loud road noise if it weren’t for the eye-watering $104,350 price tag.
2 Already Too Powerful: 2021 Nissan GT-R NISMO
When Nissan unveiled the GT-R, it became ultra-popular as a supercar killer at a performance sports car price. When it launched the NISMO version of the GT-R in 2013, it became the fastest production car around the Nürburgring track. The 2021 model has become outdated now and lacks several features. But one thing stays the same: It accelerates like hell.
The NISMO costs more than $200,000 and gives us a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6. But don’t be fooled by the fewer number of cylinders and displacement. This engine is tuned to deliver 600 hp and 481 lb-ft of torque. It’s so quick that it reaches 60 mph in just 2.5 seconds! That’s supercar and hypercar territory.
1 Already Too Powerful: 2021 Chevy Camaro ZL1
If the base Camaro is on one side of the power spectrum, the ZL1 is on the other. The Camaro ZL1 costs more than twice the price of the base trim, but the power figures are also equally higher. The ZL1 offers a mighty supercharged V8 that makes a whopping 650 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque.
The exterior looks fantastic, and the interior panels are decently laid out. Not just straight-line speeds, the ZL1 is also masterfully nimble and sharp around turns. The ZL1 may or may not be the most powerful but when it comes to the driving experience, it's unmatched.