Cosworth is a British engineering company founded in 1958 that has blessed the auto industry with some of the fastest and most refined engines ever seen on the roads.
The engines that Cosworth has built throughout the years have dominated Formula 1, winning 10 constructors' championships and propelling drivers to 13 Formula 1 titles. Their partnership with Lotus has become legendary. However, Cosworth has also created some fantastic road-legal cars that simply eat the road.
The British manufacturer has worked with multiple automakers and always helped them create unique gems. These are the fastest and raddest vehicles ever made by the Cosworth.
10 Opel Ascona 400
This is a very rare model as only 400 units have been made for homologation purposes. The Opel Ascona was created to compete in the 1980 World Rally Championship, and in order to be competitive, the German automaker had to ask Cosworth to build one of its mean engines.
The Rally version was powered by a 2.4-liter inline-four cylinder that had an output of 240 horsepower. However, with certain modifications, it could produce 320 horsepower. This absurdly powerful engine however was toned down for the street-legal version to a mere 144 horsepower that would push the car to a top speed of 122 mph.
9 Ford Escort 1600
Before mounting a devilish engine made by Cosworth, the Escort was just a cute family car that mounted a tiny 1.0-liter producing barely 40 horsepower. However, thanks to Cosworth, the Escort became the 1600 after the engineering company removed that asthmatic engine and put in a 1.6-liter that produced 115 horsepower which simply made this car fly.
This car became so powerful that it started to dominate the rally scene in the late 60s and early 70s. The car was extremely light and agile, and it could reach a top speed of 107 mph, making it an incredible ride.
8 Chevrolet Vega
This is one of the best vehicles that Cosworth has ever worked on. However, not a lot of people remember the Vega as it was born in the wrong era, at the height of the oil crisis in the 70s.
Therefore, its magnificent engine was quite costly for consumers at the time. The Vega was supposed to be powered by a 2.0-liter inline-four cylinder that produced 170 horsepower and could push the car to a top speed of 126 mph. However, due to the new regulations the production version only generated 110 horsepower. Thankfully, the Vega still retained an amazing look.
7 Opel Calibra
Opel definitely remembered very vividly how powerful was the Ascona after partnering up with Cosworth so it went back to the engineering company for their DTM car. The vehicle was powered by a huge 2.5-liter V6 that produced an amazing 480 horsepower, making the Calibra as fast as a lightning bolt.
For obvious reasons, the street-legal version was way less powerful as it mounted a Cosworth 2.5-liter V6 that produced only 170 horsepower. The incredible thing is that the DTM car and the street-legal version mounted the same exact engine. It was a true work of art by Cosworth to bring out all that power.
6 Ford Sierra RS Escort
The most striking design feature of this car is the rather unique spoiler in the back. The car was simply another true beast by Cosworth as the car was powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four-cylinder engine that produced 204 horsepower and could reach a top speed of 150 mph.
Obviously, the race version was even more powerful as it would generate 375 horsepower. This is one of the finest cars ever made by Ford. This car can be considered still to this day the most iconic car ever made by the American company. Very few cars can be as much fun to drive as the Sierra RS.
5 Subaru Impreza STI
The Impreza STI was already an incredible car before the engineers from Cosworth put their hands on the engine. The Cosworth version is a brutal beast as it is powered by a turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four cylinder that produces 395 horsepower and can push the Subaru to an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph.
The STI has also an incredible acceleration as it clocked a 3.7 seconds time from 0 to 62 mph. The work by the English manufacturer did not stop at the engine as they also did extensive modifications to the suspensions. The car offers a truly fantastic driving experience.
4 Ford RS200
Cosworth and Ford have a history of creating indomitable beasts and the RS200 is no exception. This car has been used by the American company as the base of the amazing vehicle that entered the legendary Group B of the Rally World Championship.
The RS200 was powered by a turbocharged 1.8-liter straight-four cylinder that produced 250 horsepower and could push the RS200 to a top speed of 168 mph. The racing version was even more rad as from the same engine Cosworth was able to bring out between 350 to 450 horsepower.
3 Mercedes 190e
The Mercedes 190e is one of the most iconic vehicles of the 1980s as it boasted all the comfort of Mercedes with the insane power produced by Cosworth. The 190e was powered by a 2.3-liter straight-four cylinder engine that produced 185 horsepower and could push the car to a top speed of 143 mph.
Mercedes commissioned this car for the DTM German series and it ended up creating one of the most dominating vehicles to ever enter the competition as the race-tuned engine boasted over 320 horsepower.
2 Audi RS4
This car is the dream for every man who doesn't want to give up the sports car for a minivan that will fit the entire family. The RS4 looks on the outside like a normal station wagon, but under the hood, there is an incredible engine.
The car is powered by a bi-turbo 2.7-liter V6 engine that produces an amazing 375 horsepower and can go from 0 to 62 mph in just 4.9 seconds and reach an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph. The work that Cosworth did on the engine is incredible. The English company also added an enlarged exhaust system which makes the RS4 produce an amazing sound.
1 Aston Martin Valkyrie
The Valkyrie is a scary-looking car that boasts some outstanding power. The car is supported by a hybrid powertrain that combines a Cosworth engineered 6.5-liter naturally aspirated V12 that produces 1000 horsepower and an electric motor that brings the total output to an astonishing 1160 horsepower.
The Valkyrie can reach a top speed of 250 mph and can go from 0 to 62 mph in just 2.7 seconds. This is the fastest car that Aston Martin and Cosworth have ever produced. The starting price is expected to be around $3 million and production will be limited only to 25 units.