When we think of V8 power, the first thing that comes to mind is the American muscle car of the ‘60s. But there are plenty of amazing V8-powered sports cars Germany made as well, and while we know of them, we do not associate them with a V8 as quickly as we do a Mustang or a Corvette. That said; there’s nothing the German automaking industry cannot do, except perhaps make an economy car. Oh wait, Volkswagen did that.

We all know and value German sports cars for their performance and prowess, and of course, for their luxury as well, especially if we have the deep pockets to afford them. So here go some coolest V8-powered sports cars Germany is proud of. You’ll find Mercs, Audis, Bimmers, and AMG in here but Porsche remains a staunch flat-six car, turning up its posh nose on the V8, and that’s okay.

10 The Monstrous Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG speedster was made from 2010 to 2015 and is blessed by a monster-like V8 power. It’s a 6.2-liter mill that AMG dubbed as the world's most powerful naturally aspirated production series engine ever, making it one of the coolest V8-powered sports cars Germany made.

This large capacity V8 is mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic to crank out a massive 563 horses and delivers a 3.5-second 0-to-60 MPH sprint at a top speed of 197 MPH. Apart from its heart-thumping V8, it featured retro-inspired gullwing doors as a hark back to the 1950s SL Roadster’s golden days.

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9 The Impressive BMW M5 (E39)

Made between 1998 and 2003, the BMW M5 featured the BMW M division’s first-ever V8, called the S62. The same engine was later also put into the Z8 Roadster and featured individual throttle bodies as well as the VANOS variable valve timing system.

The engine also had a trick to prevent oil starvation during hard cornering, and it was a semi-dry-sump oil system with dual scavenger pumps. The near 5.0-liter V8 managed a whopping 390 horses, making the M5 one of the most capable V8-powered sports cars Germany ever thought of.

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8 The Current Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S Coupé

The Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S clocked a 0-62 MPH in just 3.2 seconds, all thanks to a powerful 4.0-liter Biturbo V8 engine. This V8-powered 4-door coupe Germany is rightly proud of, jets 630 horsepower and 627 lb-ft. of torque, making it beastlier than the top-rated AMG GT R supercar.

The Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S debuted in 2018 and is going strong now, with motorsport in its very DNA, ably helped by the AMG Ride Control+ system and the active rear-axle steering. On a 4-door coupe, that is.

7 The ‘Transporter’ Audi R8 4.2 FSI

The 2006-12 Audi R8 carried the same V8 that was used across the Audi range, but it was redesigned to be way more high revving than before. The V8 now came in two trims, the “comfort” version went in all the high-luxury sedans while the HIPO V8 went into the R8, the reason why Jason Statham did stunts in Transporter.

This was also the first Audi V8 engine to use the Fuel Stratified Injection system that had been brought from the endurance racing cars. On a 6-speed manual, this car was nigh well unstoppable, making it one of the many V8-powered sports cars Germany calls a legacy.

Related: 10 German Sports Cars We'd Drive Over A Muscle Car Any Day

6 The Torquey BMW M3 (E92)

The BMW M3 debuted in 2007 and stayed strong till 2013, running with the S65 V8, which was a way different beast from BMW’s other V8 engines. It was again made exclusively for the E92 M3 by BMW’s much-hallowed M-division and managed to jet 400+ horses, revving at 8,300 RPM.

The engine was made from the S85 V10 by knocking back two cylinders and carried the same individual throttle bodies and a double VANOS variable valve timing system. The revving was out of the world, making it one of the coolest V8-powered sports cars Germany ever made.

Related: These Are 10 Of The Greatest Cars From BMW’s M Division

5 The ‘M Division’ Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series

The Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series debuted in 2021 and came exotically tuned by AMG, known to take Mercedes-Benz cars and do voodoo on their engines to make insane amounts of power. The Black Series is the big boss of the GT series and makes an insane 720 horses.

It is undoubtedly the most powerful road car that Mercedes-AMG has ever made and is equipped with a 4.0-liter V8 that helps it zip 0-62 MPH in 3.1 seconds at top speeds of 202 MPH. This is one of the most powerful V8-powered sports cars Germany has ever dreamed up of.

Related: 10 New Cars With Crazy Horsepower Per Liter Of Displacement

4 The Hottest Hatch Audi RS7 Sportback

The Audi RS7 is a high-performance, luxury-stuffed hot hatch that carries a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8, jetting 591 horses and 590 lb-ft of torque. Other hot hatches do not even come close. The likes of the VW Golf GTI, Ford Focus ST, and Honda Civic Type R make do with turbocharged 4-cylinder engines.

The RS7 hides a monster under the hood, and its unassuming but sporty looks make it a near sleeper, and one of the coolest V8-powered sports cars Germany makes, after its 2013 debut.

3 The Retro-Cool AMG Hammer

As a brand, AMG began to get noticed in the ‘80s in a big way and Hammer came to be highly regarded. To make the Hammer, AMG took the W124-generation E-class and replaced the engine with a high-performance version of the bigger 5.6-liter V8, from the S-class.

The 355-horsepower Hammer later became a 375-horsepower one, once the engine’s displacement was raised to 6.0-liters. It’s a powerful road weapon, much like Ferrari and Lamborghinis, but the weight of the car makes for a very different ride. It’s a V8-powered sports car Germany should honor as one of its bests.

2 The Exquisite BMW M8

The BMW M8 debuted in 2019, and it is the most M car, the M-division of BMW has ever made, considering it’s not just fast, it’s insanely fast with a 0-60 MPH sprint of 3.0 seconds. The heart is a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 that makes the same as the Competition does, 617 horses and 553-lb-ft torque, in 2022.

As of now, this is the most powerful engine to go into a production BMW and comes loaded with driving tech. Adaptive M Suspension, Active M Differential, adjustable M Sport Exhaust, and an Integrated Brake System were part of the deal. It’s one of the coolest, current V8-powered sports cars Germany makes.

1 The Racing Savvy Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM AMG

Made in 2004 and then again in 2006, the Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM AMG carried a 574-horsepower supercharged 5.5-liter V8. The V8 helped it jet 0-62 MPH in 3.9 seconds, pretty cool for a car in the 2000s. The top speed was 199 MPH.

One of the brand’s most noteworthy DTM vehicles was the W209 CLK AMG. Bernd Schneider drove it to a 2003 championship trophy and some 180 road cars were made, inspired by the racecar. The racing stripes, bulges, and scoops also added flare to this V8-powered sports car Germany once made and we now remember.

Sources: CarBuzz, Motor1