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Few things can bring joy to a gearhead more than the sound of a high-revving internal combustion engine. As the rev counter needle clocks high into the red line, a chilling shiver runs through your spine. Low-end torque is useful, but there’s something undeniably magical about a production car that screams like a race car.
These are the best road cars with the most rev-happy engines ever produced. Coincidentally, some of them, like the LFA and the GT3, are our favorite sports cars of all time.
10 Lexus LFA (9,000 RPM)
Lexus attempted to create a halo model through the no-expense-spared LFA by building a supercar around a 4.8-liter V10 engine that whirled up to 9,000 rpm. The LFA engine could rev up so quickly that Lexus had to install a digital rev meter as an analog counter couldn’t keep up with the rate at which the motor changes revs through its six-speed gears.
Lexus co-developed this 560 hp engine with Yamaha, a company with prolonged experience making high-revving motorcycle engines. From Yamaha’s point of view, titanium connecting rods and valves enabled the design to have reduced weight.
9 Porsche 911 (991) GT3 (9,000 RPM)
There have been many variations of the Porsche 911 over the years, but the GT3 is arguably the sweetest spot in the range. Thanks to the 4.0-liter powerplant in the current Porsche 911 (991) GT3 that can whizz up to 9000 rpm, this sports car will surely stimulate your senses on every drive.
Peak power for this engine arrives at 8,4000 rpm, but the addictive engine sound will always tempt you to touch the red line. This purebred race car has a great pedigree in motorsports and is close to Porsche’s cup-winning competition car.
8 Porsche 918 Spyder (9,150 RPM)
V8 engines are not the most obvious suspects when picking out the highest-revving cars, but Porsche is always keen to welcome a challenge, and engineers equipped a 4.6-liter V8 engine in the 918 Spyder. This capacity is smaller than many V8s, allowing pistons to rise and fall quicker inside the cylinders.
With peak power (a staggering 608 hp) arriving at a screaming 8,600 rpm, this engine feels happier the more load you give to it. Porsche set the rev-limiter on the 918 Spyder at 9,150 rpm, making this engine one of the highest revving in a production car.
7 Ferrari LaFerrari (9,250 RPM)
The Ferrari F12tdf was a marvelous sports car that won races and motorists' hearts with its 6.3-liter V12 capable of 780 hp. When Ferrari designed the LaFerrari, it would ride on the same glorious chassis, albeit with some modifications for the limited hybrid hypercar.
Ferrari used lighter internal components, turbochargers, and electric assistance to fine-tune the 6.3-liter unit. It could now generate 800 hp at 9,000 rpm, enabling it to speed up from 0-60 mph in 3 seconds before hitting a rev limiter set at 9,250 rpm.
6 Suzuki Cappuccino (9,300 RPM)
If you thought the V8 on the 918 Spyder was punching above its weight in a list filled with V10s and V12s, get ready for more surprises. The Suzuki Cappuccino’s tiny three-cylinder engine sounds hearty when spinning at a whopping 9,300 rpm.
Even under such loads, the Cappucino might not be the fastest car. But in this car, you don’t need to be fast to have a lot of fun, as you will be too busy and delighted with every gear shift. Even the peak power of 64 hp is modest on this 657cc turbocharged engine, and your driving license won’t be at risk.
5 Honda S800 (9,500 rpm)
Honda has a prolonged experience in racing motorcycles, a factor that influenced the design of the Honda S800 sports car. Honda intended to compete with the MG Midget in making this car, and the ravenously revving 791cc four-cylinder outdid the Midget in every aspect.
The 0.8-liter capacity might seem meager compared to other beasts, such as the 6.3-liter V12 LaFerrari, but the Honda S800’s ability to rev up to 9,500 rpm is worthy of praise. The Honda S800 sports car could hit a peak power of 71 hp at 8,000 rpm and achieve a top speed of 100 mph.
4 Mazda RX-8 (9,500 RPM)
The easiest way to attain high revs is by going the rotary engine way, as these do not require pistons that go up and down a cylinder. Instead, a central triangular rotor rotates around a central shaft. After spending decades perfecting it, Mazda was the last company to offer rotary engines in the RX-8.
The RX8 came with a 1.3-liter twin-rotor engine, meaning two rotor chambers shared the same shaft and churned out 231 hp. This design was responsible for the RX-8’s distinctive engine sound when it accelerated toward the 9,500-rpm redline.
3 Ariel Atom V8 (10,600 RPM)
The Ariel Atom V8 is good at doing numbers. Weighing in at just 1212 lbs, this 507 hp race car can accelerate to 60 mph in just 2.3 seconds. If you want to beat Bugatti Veyron from a standstill to 100 mph, the Ariel Atom V8 is your weapon.
If those numbers are not impressive, the Atom V8’s engine can rev up to a stupefying 10,600 rpm. The heart is a 3.0-liter V8 adopted from double Suzuki Hayabusa motorbike engines and fitted into a common crankshaft. It reaches peak torque at 7,750 rpm.
2 Aston Martin Valkyrie (11,100 RPM)
Via: Aston Martin
When Aston Martin decided to create a modern ultra-exclusive, mid-engined flagship hypercar, it conceived the Aston Martin Valkyrie. Aston Martin will make only 150 of this hypercar to get into the ultra-exclusive club.
This special car features F1-derived tech and aerodynamics thrusted forward by a ridiculous 6.5-liter V12 gasoline engine that churns out 1014 hp.
1 Murray T50 (12,100 RPM)
When Gordon Murray decided to create his T50 supercar, he had to go all out with a naturally aspirated V12 engine. Same as with the Valkyrie, Cosworth engineering brought their expertise in the design of this hypercar.
The motor on the Murray T50 is a 3.9-liter unit that sounds like a ‘90s F-1 car as it screams towards a peak of 12,000 rpm.