Over the years, British carmakers have graced the automobile world with incredible cars. Who can forget the legendary McLaren F1? A car that smashed records on its way to becoming one of the most iconic cars ever made. The 3-seater sports car was driven by a V12 powerplant though.

There are many other important British sports cars that rely instead on a V8 powerplant to deliver class-leading performance and driving experience. Here, we look at a few of these stand-out performers. Some have slipped into the history books, but there are still several modern-era British sports cars that continue to score points for the V8 engine setup.

10 Greatest - 1977 Aston Martin V8 Vantage

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The 1977 Vantage boasted several improvements over the previous model. They included revised camshafts, larger inlet valves, and new manifolds. The result was a 40% power increase and an extra 10% torque output at the driver’s disposal.

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The V8 under the hood squeezed out a total 390 hp at 5,800 rpm, enough to get the car to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds and a top speed of about 170 mph. It was one of the fastest British production cars at the time and remained in production until 1989.

9 Greatest - Ultima EVO Coupe

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via topspeed

The Ultima EVO is a Le Mans inspired road-legal sports car infused with a healthy dose of racing DNA. The design was conceived to maximize downforce, and then there’s the V8 powerplant shoehorned into the car’s frame.

Ultima-Evo
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In the car’s top trim, that V8 engine is supercharged and cranks out an insane 1,020 hp. It propels the car to 60 mph in just 2.3 seconds. If that’s too extreme for you, there’s a toned-down version that produces 480 hp but you can still expect a 0 to 60 mph sprint time of 3.1 seconds.

8 Greatest - Jaguar XKR

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via guideauto

In 2014, Jaguar discontinued this beautiful grand tourer as it shifted focus to its high-volume models. It was quite unfortunate as the XKR was a splendid car that had held Jaguar’s performance car frontline for several years.

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via topspeed

The swan song model was powered by a 5.0-liter supercharged V8 that pumped out a considerable 510 hp and 461 pound-feet of torque. The XKR-S trim had 550 hp on tap and a top speed of 186 mph. It was not just all about the speed though, as the Jag also received praise for its handling performance and overall driving experience.

Related: These Are The Rarest British Sports Cars Ever

7 Greatest - Lotus Espirit V8

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via supercars.net

It was not until 1996, several years after the car’s initial introduction, that it finally got a V8 powerplant. However, it was a move that was worth the investment. The Lotus Esprit finally came into its element, with performance to back its supercar status.

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via collectingcars

That V8 engine produced 350 hp and was enough to get the car to 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds on its way to a top speed of about 175 mph. The car also received plus points for a precise steering feel and its ability to remain steady at high speeds.

6 Greatest - Jaguar F-Type

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via roadandtrack

There is a Jaguar F-Type with 4 cylinders and one with a V6 engine but it’s the V8 option that has that ability to really get your blood pumping as you open up the throttle. In the new model, the 5.0-liter V8 is supercharged and primed to deliver 575 hp and 516 pound-feet of torque.

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That power is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission and can get the sports car to 200 mph (for the F-Type SVR), making this the only Jaguar after the XJ220 to reach that mark.

5 Greatest - Noble M600

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via vehicledynamiscinternational

Unfortunately, this beautifully-engineered car does not get the credit it deserves. However, it is every bit a supercar with performance to match. It first launched in 2010 and only a few units are produced by the carmaker each year.

Noble-M600
via YouTube

Autocar described the Noble M600 as one of the best-handling supercars they had ever tested. With a top speed of 225 mph, it is also one of the fastest. The car relies on a V8 engine that generates a meaty 662 hp and 654 pound-feet of torque.

Related: These Are The Best British Cars Ever

4 Greatest - Morgan Plus 8

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via motoringresearch

The styling of the Morgan sports cars is an interesting nod to classic cars of years gone by. Thankfully, the newer models come with up-to-date safety features and technology. The Plus 8 is largely credited with keeping the company afloat with its popularity within the car community.

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via autocar

The car had its debut in 1968, backed by a Rover-sourced engine. Today, BMW supplies the V8 powerplant that’s capable of 367 hp at 6,300 rpm. That power is mated to a 6-speed manual and an open-top design means that you can fully enjoy the engine’s bellow as you work through the gear shifts.

3 Greatest - McLaren 720S

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via carbuzz

The magnificent McLaren is one of the best supercars to have emerged in modern times. This sleek Woking creation impresses on all fronts, with an elegant styling and performance levels that is just a shade behind hypercars like the Porsche 918 Spyder and the McLaren P1.

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The McLaren 720S Coupe can sprint to 60 mph in as little as 2.4 seconds and complete the quarter-mile in 9.7 seconds at well over 140 mph. That insane performance is helped along by a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged engine that, as the name implies, cranks out 720 hp and 568 pound-feet of torque.

Related: Here's Why The 2020 McLaren 720S Is The Best Mid-Engined Supercar

2 Greatest - McLaren Senna

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The McLaren is an ugly duckling. What’s more? The ride is quite harsh and accompanied by the rattle of pebbles hitting the carbon fiber tub. However, the car has few equals when it comes to performance and it’s enough to make you forget the trifling inconveniences.

McLaren-Senna
via slashgear

Power is supplied by a turbocharged V8 that produces a thumping 789 hp, enough for a sub-3 second sprint to 60 mph and a top speed of 211 mph. Handling is magnificent, especially around high-speed corners with that massive wing that helps generate up to 800 kg of downforce, 450 lbs more than the mighty P1.

1 Regret - Triumph Stag

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via thetelegraph

This car represents one of the low points of the British automobile industry. It was plagued with so many design flaws that robbed the car of any chances of success it might have had post-production.

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via pinterest

The engine was designed in-house and involved little more than the expansion of the existing inline-four into a 2.5-liter V8. Needless to say, that did not work out too well and the result was a car that's often regarded as one of the worst sports cars ever made.

Next: These 3-Cylinder-Engined Cars Actually Pack A Decent Punch