There is something intoxicating about having a powerful engine under the hood of your car. A V12 or V8 powerplant with plenty of horsepower and torque, ready to instantly respond to the nudging of your foot, is something no gearhead can resist. In fact, there was a time when it was hard to be taken seriously in the car community if your car had anything less than 8 cylinders.
However, that perception has shifted somewhat. You now have 6-cylinder cars that are almost as much fun to drive as the big gas guzzlers; those V12 monsters with an overdose of drama. These 6-cylinder sports cars also tend to be more efficient but there’s little compromise when it comes to speed as they pack enough punch for an adrenaline-fueled run.
10 Audi S4 – 155MPH
The Audi S4 is all about performance. Aesthetics and styling elements take a back seat here as evidenced by the rather plain exterior looks. The minimalist interior continues that theme as you step in and fire up the engine.
However, that is when things get interesting because under the hood lies a 3.0-liter V6 engine that generates 349 hp and 369 pound-feet of torque that is sent to all four wheels via an 8-speed transmission. The Audi S4 can sprint to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds and that top speed of 155 mph is the result of an electronic limiter.
9 Chevrolet Camaro – 155MPH
Having a V6 engine in a muscle car used to be an unthinkable idea but Chevrolet has proven that it is not such a bad idea after all with the Camaro. Yes, there is still a V8 option but the V6 Camaro, especially one with the 1LE track package still packs a massive punch. That engine puts out 335hp and 284 pound-feet of torque.
It also makes use of that power in a very efficient manner too, as it’s able to cross the quarter-mile marker in 13.8 seconds at 101 mph. The top speed is limited to 155 mph, hinting at even more capabilities when fully unleashed.
8 Jaguar F-Type R – 171MPH
The Jaguar F-Type offers a variety of engines, ranging from a 4-cylinder option to the supercharged V8 powerplant. The V6 engine is also supercharged and in the F-Type R manages to crank out a reasonable 380 hp and 339 pound-feet of torque.
That may not sound like a lot by modern standards, but mash your foot to the pedal and the car will respond with a 171 mph top speed run. The Jaguar F-Type R with the V6 engine costs less than its serious rivals and offers a decent alternative for a thrilling sports car experience.
7 Porsche Panamera 4S – 183MPH
Porsche does not make cheap cars, so be prepared to part with about $90,000 if you want the Panamera 4S. This one sits just above the base model but is surprisingly powerful with a 2.9-liter biturbo V6 engine that produces an impressive 405 pound-feet of torque at around 2,000 rpm.
That engine also produces a total of 443 hp. That’s good enough to propel the big sports sedan to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds on its way to a top speed in excess of 180 mph.
6 Nissan GT-R – 186MPH
The R35 GT-R first arrived on the scene in 2007 and immediately took the fight to the established supercars with its incredible acceleration and pace off the line. It didn’t take long for people to start calling the GT-R Godzilla the ‘supercar killer.’ Today, the Nissan GT-R is even more potent.
The base 2021 Nissan GT-R has a twin-turbo V6 engine that pumps out a heady 565hp and can sprint to 60mph in less than 3 seconds before maxing out at a top speed north of 180mph.
5 2017 Acura NSX – 191MPH
The production model of this Japanese sports car had its debut at the 2015 North American International Auto Show. It was the result of years of research and development work as the company sought a worthy replacement for the iconic first-generation NSX.
The car was thrown into the market to compete with the likes of the Audi R8 and Porsche 911. To do that effectively, you need to pack heavy and the Acura NSX comes equipped with a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 that works with a trio of electric motors to produce a total power output of 573 hp and 476 pound-feet of torque. That’s enough grunt to make it one of the fastest hybrid sports cars on the market today.
4 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio – 191MPH
This car should hit 60mph in about as much time as it takes you to wrap your tongue around its decidedly elaborate name. The speedo needle will keep rising too until it just crosses the 190mph mark. That’s pretty impressive for a 4-door sedan and it’s all down to a 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V6 heart.
That engine generates 505 hp and is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission that feeds power to eager rear wheels. It’s highly unlikely that you will be worried about what type of engine lies under the hood as you fly down the highway in this Italian beauty.
3 Maserati MC20 – 202MPH
The beautiful Maserati MC20 is a bold attempt by the old Italian carmaker to chart a path for its survival in the near future. The car is powered by a unique twin-turbo V6 engine named, ‘Nettuno’. That engine incorporates certain elements of F1 technology and is tuned to produce 630 hp and 538 pound-feet of torque.
That power will propel the sleek car to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds and a top speed above 200 mph. If all the manufacturer’s claims about this car are true in the real world, established brands such as Porsche and Ferrari had better brace for a battle in the marketplace.
2 Jaguar XJ220 – 212MPH
Production of the Jaguar XJ220 was almost derailed by numerous challenges and till date, Jaguar has not made another supercar; such a shame really, considering that the Jaguar XJ220 was an engineering marvel when it debuted in 1992. For a brief period, it was even the fastest production car on earth.
The car was purpose-built for speed with a low sleek shape that helped reduce drag at high speeds. Power was supplied by a twin-turbocharged V6 unit that made 542 hp, which was enough to propel the car to an insane real-world top speed in excess of 200 mph. You can still get one today, that is if you can afford the price tag currently estimated at anything between $350,000 to $450,000.
1 2021 Ford GT – 216MPH
There were many people who questioned the wisdom of putting a V6 into the Ford supercar when it debuted in 2017. However, the supercar has gone on to show just how suited it is for that type of powerplant.
The latest model of the Ford GT can squeeze out 660 hp and 550 pound-feet of torque from that engine and put most of it to good use on the road with a 60 mph sprint time of 3 seconds. Its quoted top speed of 216 mph is faster than a Ferrari 488 Pista, which is quite impressive.