If speed and performance are your only goals, these engines should be atop of your wish list. The most powerful, durable, and tunable, here are 10 of the best performance engines ever.

Naturally, the big names in supercars will always be close to the number one slot. Yet, that is no guarantee of greatness. Any gearhead with deep enough pockets is going to find an exotic hard to resist. But lower down the list of best of the best comes some surprising names. Mercedes, for example, offers an incredible 400 horsepower from a tiny 2-liter four-cylinder. A figure not too far off Ferrari's F40.

As carmakers trade cubic inches for forced induction, engines are shrinking in size with power gains. Yet, there is still room for bigger multi-cylinder engines. Classic V8s with their blowers are still hugely sought after. If you are a fan of V12s, Lamborghini, despite several claims of the last V12 engine ever, still has you covered.

Whatever you desire in an engine, these are 10 of the best performance engines ever to grace our roads.

10 Ford Cosworth DFV

Cosworth DFV
Wikimedia Commons

Kicking off the list of best performance engines, Ford teamed up with Cosworth for the DFV. You won't find this one under the hood of any road car. Instead, the DFV program came about as the result of Colin Chapman's request for a compact F1 engine. The rest, as they say, is history.

Incredibly, the DFV dates back to 1967, developed from Ford's earlier Four-Valve A Type (FVA) four banger. Upping the cylinder count to a V8 layout gave rise to one of the longest running F1 engines of all time. In that time, it powered dozens of racing winning cars.

9 Koenigsegg TFG

Koenigsegg Gemera engine bay
Koenigsegg 

Boasting the kind of numbers to make any gearhead take notice, the Gemera is a genuine supercar with a twist. In place of the usual compromised two-seater layout, the Gemera has room for four in a race-style cockpit. Sweden had done the unthinkable and given the world a 249 mph supercar that the whole family could enjoy.

But, the biggest surprise lays under the hood. Ideas of exotic multi-cylinder engines soon vanish thanks to Koenigsegg's home-grown TFG engine. Boasting a 1,700 hp 2-liter three-cylinder triple electric motor set-up, it's a contender for the most powerful engine. More than enough to worry Bugatti Veyron owners.

RELATED: Listen To The Koenigsegg Gemera's 3-Cylinder Engine Scream Like A Beast

8 GM LS9 V8

GM LS9 V8 Engine
GM

Not to be outdone, Chevrolet bestowed the 2009 Corvette ZR1 with supercar performance. But, the LS9 is an altogether more affordable option. Boasting 6.2 liters and a supercharger, the ZR1 wades into battle with 638 hp.

What makes the LS9 worthy of every gearhead's attention is its durability. One of the longest running motors on the market, the LS9 can handle power hikes. As much as 1,000 hp is possible without the need for major upgrades. Which engine lasts the longest? GM's LS9 is definitely up there with the best.

7 Mercedes-AMG M139

Mercedes-AMG M139
Mercedes-AMG 

What brand has the best engine? Mercedes-AMG has a few potentials for the best crown. Yet, as good as the big V8s are, it's the more compact four-cylinder units that grab the headlines.

Under the hood of several A-Class cars, the M139 is a small 2-liter turbo unit with a killer punch. That small displacement might seem ordinary enough, but it's no slouch in the performance stakes. Boasting 416 hp, the M139 rockets the A35/45 to sixty mph in under four seconds.

6 Jaguar V12 Engine

XJR-9 Engine
Race Cars Direct

What is the smoothest car engine? Arguably, Jaguar's V12 ranks up there with the very best. Developed for racing, and making its way into the S3 E-Type, the V12 motor wasn't always highly praised. Fast-forward to the XJ-S, and gearheads' opinions changed. No longer a sports car, the big cat focused on refinement, its V12 engine delivering a silky smooth ride that became legendary.

In an ironic twist of fate, Jaguar's V12 would take to the track at Le Mans in 1998, securing a famous victory thanks to a robust 750 hp without the need for turbos.

RELATED: 10 Greatest V12 Engines Ever Made

5 Viper V10

Dodge Viper V10
Mecum Auctions

Commonly referred to as the Viper 10, Dodge squeezed an 8-liter V10 truck engine under the hood of their driver focused muscle car. In essence, too much power and performance with little or no driver safety equipment earned the Dodge Viper a fearsome reputation.

However, not content with scaring drivers witless, Dodge upped the ante. By the end of production in 2017, the Viper V10 had grown to 8.4 liters and 600+ horses. If that isn't enough to get your pulse racing, tuners have managed to extract 3,000+ hp with the aid of turbos.

4 Porsche Flat-Six

Porsche flat 6
Mecum Auctions

Despite having the appearance of a vacuum cleaner or AC unit, Porsche's flat-six ranks as one of the greatest engines ever. While the Viper is big and brash, Porsche's weapon of choice is more restrained.

Boasting six-cylinders in a boxer configuration, the current 911 Turbo S is no less potent, with 640 hp on tap. Combined with less weight and a kick in the back power delivery, the 911 leaves bigger engined supercars trailing. Off the line, less is definitely more, with a sprint to sixty mph taking a mere 2.6 seconds.

3 Nissan RB26DETT

Nissan RB26DETT
Mecum Auctions

No mention of performance engines would be complete without the RB26DETT – Nissan's take on the world of sports cars with devastating performance claims. Another six-cylinder monster, the RB26 has powered a range of Skyline badged cars.

In Nissan's home country, complex laws prevented carmakers from making cars with big horsepower claims. As a result, Nissan stated a maximum 260 hp. In reality, that figure is in excess of 300 horses without breaking a sweat. Tuners armed with little more than a laptop have easily doubled this figure. Any gearhead craving a big power number should consider the RB26.

RELATED: Here's What Makes The Nissan Skyline's RB26DETT An Iconic JDM Motor

2 Chrysler Hemi V8

Chrysler HEMI V8
Mecum Auctions

At the extremes of performance, Top Fuel Dragsters burn nitro methane at the rate of 15 gallons per run. Exotic fuels and superchargers aside, at their core is Chrysler's legendary Hemi V8.

Naturally, these monsters have one purpose. Speed! A no-holds-barred burst of acceleration that can cause internal damage to its pilot. At the higher end of the class, Hemi V8s run the quarter-mile in under four seconds, deploying as much as 11,000 hp.

1 Toyota 2JZ

Toyota 2JZ
Mecum Auctions

Ending with another tuner favorite, Toyota's 2JZ follows a similar killer performance path as Nissan's RB26DETT. So successful was the Supra A80, gearheads still clamor to own one today. Factory fresh, Toyota had the edge with 326 hp on offer.

As fast and affordable as the Supra was, tuners knew the 2JZ had huge potential. Boasting a 3-liter displacement with twin turbos, the 2JZ can easily cope with 1,000 hp running stock internals. All you need is a simple ECU reflash.

Sources: Nissan, Jaguar Heritage Trust, Top Fuel, GM Authority