The phrase "muscle car" tends to conjure up images of '60s classic, American-made machines with huge displacement V8s and modest levels of sophistication. This kind of car is synonymous with stars and stripes, as well as the streets of Detroit, making it hard to picture them coming from anywhere else.
However, when you remove the US part of the equation and look elsewhere in the world, some truly awesome vehicles – which feature muscle car qualities – reveal themselves. Europe, for example, has built many cars with large engines, showstopping appeal, and savage, tire-shredding setups. Here are eight you should know about.
8 Jaguar F-Type R
The F-Type R is a particularly muscular British sports car. Under the hood, you'll find a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 with 542 hp. All this V8 brute force is sent to the rear wheels only – unless you opt for the all-wheel-drive version – making the R quite a handful when pushed to its limit.
This tail-happiness, unruliness, and wild nature is often associated with American muscle cars, many of which possess more power than they can cope with. The Jaguar F-Type may be a little more sophisticated than US-born rivals, but it can still offer old-fashioned, simple thrills like they can.
7 Porsche 928 GTS
You're probably laughing right now, wondering how on earth this '90s Porsche has anything in common with muscle cars. Well, you may be surprised to learn it has a 5.4-liter V8, under the hood, able to produce 345 hp, as well as a rather mean exhaust note.
So, while it's no Dodge Charger, the 928 GTS is hiding some muscle under its sleek, European exterior. It's also rear-wheel-drive and can be had with a manual transmission – though examples are rare – meaning burnouts are very much possible.
6 BMW M3 GTS
The BMW M3 GTS may follow the muscle car handbook in terms of being front-engined, rear-wheel-drive, naturally aspirated, and a V8, but this German coupe turned out somewhat different than its American competition.
You see, while the GTS does have a V8, it's only a 4.4-liter (with 444 hp). Plus, unlike most muscle cars, it revs rather high; to 8,300rpm to be exact. So, if you think about it, the M3 GTS is like the muscle car refined – to the point that it's a European track monster.
5 Jensen Interceptor
The Jensen Interceptor may be a British grand tourer from the '60s and '70s, but it conceals some very American engines under the hood. All are V8s – from 5.9 liters to 7.2 liters – and all were built by Chrysler.
This not only means the Interceptor possesses the power of an American muscle car, but it also means this suave machine sounds like one too. Additionally, the model simply looks stunning – it definitely has the movie-star appeal of cars like the Dodge Charger and Ford Gran Torino.
4 Mercedes C 63 AMG Black Series
The Mercedes C 63 AMG Black Series is like the BMW M3 GTS but with even more muscle car DNA. Under the hood resides a naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V8 with 510hp, 475lb-ft of torque, and huge amounts of character.
This Merc is properly nuts. At heart, the C 63 Black Series is a mad machine for those who spin the rear tires at every opportunity and chuckle childishly after every downshift – those who like muscle cars.
3 Aston Martin V8 Vantage
The 1997-1989 Aston Martin V8 Vantage is a grand tourer that has sometimes been referred to as "Britain's Muscle Car" due to its 5.3-liter – or optional 6.3-liter – V8 engine, strong looks, and powerful performance.
In fact, the V8 Vantage is known for having the best straight-line performance of its day. For example, its 0-60mph time is only 5.3 seconds: this is one-tenth of a second quicker than the V12-powered Ferrari Daytona.
2 Jaguar XFR-S
The XFR-S is the Dodge Charger Hellcat's friend from across the pond. The two share a lot of similarities: both have supercharged V8s, are rear-wheel-drive, come in four-door body styles, and have tail-happy tendencies.
The 5.0-liter R-S is dialed up to eleven compared to the regular R. It's more powerful than the 503 hp R with a power output of 542 hp: it's also louder, stiffer, and more track-focused as well. In short, the R-S is an awesome machine.
1 Ford Capri
In the late '60s, Ford of Europe created the Capri in an effort to replicate the Mustang's success, however, outside the US. Though the name wouldn't go on to live as long as its American counterpart, ceasing production in 1986, the Capri was a rather huge success.
The Capri was so much of a success that, along with the sporty 3.1-liter RS3100 pictured above, Ford of South Africa even gave a version of it – named the Perana – a 5.0-liter V8 in 1969. That's right, the same 302ci motor found in '60s/'70s Mustangs.