Ever since BMW decided to make a sporty version of their family sedan way back in 1985, the sport sedan world has seen some pretty impressive machinery. Today’s sports sedan segment is filled with models which are easily powerful enough to embarrass sports cars and give supercars a run for their money.
Unlike today’s models which all feature more or less the same type of powerplant – a V8 with some sort of forced induction – the earlier sports sedans had engines from way outside the box. BMW continued with their straight-6s, but Mercedes-Benz joined the party with a big, lumbering V8 and Lancia even borrowed an engine from Ferrari. Lotus stripped an Opel Omega and pretty much re-engineered the whole car to beat BMW at their own game, and Jaguar fitted their contender with a supercharger. Slightly further north, Volvo and SAAB were sticking ‘Turbo’ badges to anything they could get their hands on, creating some awesome factory sleeper cars in the process.
The sports sedans of yesteryear are not only cooler than most of their modern equivalents, but many of them are also more valuable and revered by enthusiasts. Who could have predicted a front-wheel-drive executive sedan with a Ferrari V8? Here are ten classic sports sedans that will make you feel nostalgic and cool.
10 Volvo 740 Turbo
The Volvo 740 was the predecessor to the legendary 850 and also featured a higher-performance model. The 740 originally featured a 2.0-liter but was upgraded to a 2.3 for more power. Unfortunately, the Italian market had heavy taxation on engines larger than 2.0 liters, so Volvo stuck a turbocharger onto it.
Seeing the success, they went ahead and put a turbo on the 2.3-liter as well, boosting power to 163 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. While not much now, it was quite good for the 1980s. The model would eventually lead to the 850R – one of the most loved Volvos of all time.
9 Alfa Romeo 164 QV
The Alfa Romeo 164 may not be the best-looking executive sedan out there, but it is one of the coolest. Built during the same time as the Volvo, the 164 adhered to the 2.0-liter taxation rule and sold a turbocharged 2.0-liter V6 which made an impressive 207 hp.
The top-spec 164 was the Quadrifoglio Verde and Q4 models, featuring a high-performance version of the Busso V6 producing 230 hp. The 164 QV was one of the best-sounding executive sedans on the market in the 1980s.
8 Jaguar XJ-R
The Jaguar XJ is the brand’s top-of-the-line executive sedan to rival the likes of the BMW 7-Series, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, and Audi A8. In the 1990s, the XJ was a force to be reckoned with. The model featured a 4.2-liter V8, which was then supercharged for the XJR version.
The XJR produced an impressive 370 hp and was mated to a 5-speed automatic borrowed from Mercedes-Benz. Interestingly, it featured a MOMO gear selector, Brembo brakes, and wheels made by BBS. Quite the selection of aftermarket parts.
7 Audi 200 Turbo
The Audi 200 Turbo was the sporty executive sedan model before Audi embraced the S and RS line of models. The 200 exclusively featured inline-5 engines, ranging between 2.1 and 2.3 liters – half of which had a turbocharger bolted onto the side.
The 200 Turbo produced an impressive 217 hp, sending power to all four wheels via the Quattro all-wheel-drive system. The 200 Turbo has some insane customization available, and the engine can withstand a ridiculous amount of power when tuned.
6 Lancia Thema 8.32
The Lancia Thema 8.32 is, hands down, one of the coolest sporty executive sedans ever made. The Thema itself was a pretty dull vehicle before Lancia added the Alfa Romeo V6s to the line-up. Their greatest addition was the special 8.32 model.
To spice up the car, Lancia asked if they could borrow the 3.0-liter V8 from the Ferrari 308 GTS. They had to make quite a lot of modifications to get the engine mounted transversely and for a front-drive layout, but they managed. A front-wheel-drive, Ferrari-engine executive sedan. How weird.
5 SAAB 900 Turbo
SAAB was, simply put, one of the best automakers on the planet. They didn’t really take orders from anyone and nothing could distract them from their incessant strive for safety. One of the best examples of this is the 900 Turbo.
The 900 Turbo may have only produced 160-odd hp, but it had the torque of a much larger engine, resulting in a 0-60 mph time of just 8 seconds – fast even by today’s standards. The 900 Turbo was one of the coolest cars ever made and was one of the forebearers of the modern automobile.
4 BMW M5 E34
The BMW M5 E34 was the car that cemented BMW as the king of the sports sedan. Featuring a new straight-6 and performance to rival some of the fastest sports cars, the M5 flew past the top speed records and into the history books.
The M5 was updated halfway through its production run and got an enlarged engine which was more reliable and had a better throttle response. The 335 hp accelerated the sedan to 6 in just 5.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 160 mph.
3 Mercedes-Benz 500E
The Mercedes-Benz 500E was Mercedes’ answer to the almost unstoppable E34 M5. Mercedes took their humble W124 compact executive sedan and asked Porsche to stuff their big 5.0-liter V8 into the front – as the Mercedes engineers were busy developing the W140 S-Class.
The result was a handsome sedan with slightly extended wheel arches and a 320-hp V8 under the hood. The 500E pretty much tied the E34 M5 in terms of on-road performance but did so in a more sinister fashion.
2 Lotus Carlton
The Lotus Carlton was another sports sedan specifically designed to kick the E34 M5 from its podium – a feat it achieved with great success. The Carlton started out as an Opel Omega, which then went through a re-engineering process to become the fastest sedan in its segment.
The Carlton got a 3.6-liter twin-turbo straight-6 which produced 377 hp and 419 lb-ft going to the rear wheels via a 6-speed manual used in the Chevy Corvette ZR1. The Carlton was a one-hit-wonder within the motor industry and has gained quite a following.
1 Alpina B10 BiTurbo
With the sport sedan speed wars in full swing, Alpina decided to throw their hat into the ring with a model of their own. Using the E34 535i as a base, they did what Lotus had done with the Opel Omega and completely re-engineered the 5-Series.
The result was a twin-turbo 3.4-liter straight-6 producing 355 hp and 385 lb-ft of torque being sent to the rear wheels via a 5-speed manual. The B10 achieved a record run of 179 mph over the Lotus Carlton’s 176, becoming the fastest production sedan on the planet. Coincidentally, the Alpina was also hailed as the best sports sedan on the market, even at its ridiculous price.