The power generated from the engine is the most critical element of running a car. The fuel burned in the combustion engines generates power that turns the wheels, allowing the vehicle to propel forward. Modern auto technology has evolved from just getting the car to burn fuel, ignite and move forward to getting the maximum power possible.
Many of the most badass cars use turbochargers and twin cylinders to increase power output. However, some manufacturers have found ingenious ways to produce bursts of raw energy from the basic engine design, leading to compelling, naturally aspirated vehicles. Here are ten of the most powerful, naturally aspirated sports cars.
10 McLaren F1 - 627bhp
McLaren is legendary for its speed. The company produces some of the fastest supercars in the world, including the McLaren Speedtail. Most of its vehicles are built to compete either at the Le Mans or the Formula 1 circuit. The British carmaker had plenty of standout racers from time to time. The key to their success is in how they design and build their engine to produce more power.
The McLaren F1 is a perfect example of a vehicle spotting a 6.1-liter V12 engine to produce a massive 627bhp of power. Given that the F1 is a relatively small car, it performs exceptionally on the race track.
9 Dodge Viper ACR – 645bhp
The viper is the talk of the town right now. It is not just powerful; it's also one of the fastest American cars ever made. Built with race technology, the track-ready dodge has a massive 8.4-liter engine that cranks out 640 bhp and 600 lb-ft of torque. With rotations per minute on the 8000 mark, this beast delivers jaw-dropping performance in any race it participates in.
The aerodynamic design adds to the speed, and the 6-speed manual transmission ensures all power is delivered to all the wheels while keeping handling at an optimum. The Viper ACR proves that superchargers and nitrous are not necessary.
8 Ferrari Enzo – 651bhp
Enzo Ferrari is regarded as one of the greatest motoring minds and one of the most foremost car engineers due to his products. In 2002, when Ferrari decided to produce a new supercar, it named it after its founder.
A good name is not all the car received, though; the engine was quite legendary too. It was a naturally aspirated V-12 engine capable of producing a premium 651 bhp of power through electronic modifications. The outcome was a highly appreciated 217 mph top speed with 0-60 mph acceleration at 3.5 seconds.
7 Ferrari FF – 651bhp
With another Ferrari on the list, it is clear that the Maranello stable had an ace up its sleeves when it came to engine design. The Ferrari FF matched the 651 bhp produced by Enzo a little less than a decade later.
What was fascinating, however, was that, while the Enzo was built and designed as a supercar (and looked the part), the FF was nothing but a simple 4-door hatchback for daily driving. Yet, it still cranked out 651 bhp and averaged a top speed above 200 mph with an acceleration of 3.7 secs.
6 Lamborghini Murcielago SV – 661bhp
In 2009, Lamborghini unveiled the Murcielago SV, and it was unlike any other Lamborghini that came before it. Under the hood was a V12 engine that promised much more power and speed than its predecessors. The 661 bhp vehicle shot from 0-60 mph in just 3 seconds.
In classic Lamborghini fashion, the design and aesthetics did not disappoint either, and the Murcielago showcased just how powerful and speedy naturally aspirated engines can get. While a turbo comes in quite handy, this top-class Lamborghini proves a naturally aspirated engine is still okay.
5 Ferrari 599 GTO – 661bhp
The Ferrari 599 GTO produced in 2010 was a vehicle unveiled under a lot of doubt and speculation. Given that two masterclass GTOs, the 288 and 250, had come before it, gearheads wondered whether the 599 would be well received.
The 599 stepped out of the shadows of its predecessors and exceeded expectations with its powerful, naturally aspirated engine that produced 661 bhp of power. The car was also relatively light, which helped propelling the vehicle from 0-60mph in just 3.35 seconds.
4 Pagani Zonda LM – ‘700bhp plus’
While Lamborghini's and the Ferraris take the claim of being the best car manufacturer in Italy, little-known Pagani has made a name for themselves by specializing in cars with enormous power. One of their vehicles, the Pagani Zonda LM, has almost Lamborghini-like power and can easily compete with the big boys.
The vehicle features a capable V12 under the hood with an output of over 700 horses. The exact power output of the Zonda LM is unknown to date, but pundits place it at the 700-720 hp range. To cap this off, the vehicle comes standard in a light carbon fiber chassis.
3 Lamborghini Aventador SV - 740bhp
This mid-level trim of the Aventador line of products epitomizes the best Italian engineering. The vehicle is fitted with a naturally aspirated V-12 engine that produces a massive 740 bhp of power. With torque over the 500 range, this vehicle's engine is a true beast and proves that natural engines can be just as efficient as supercharged ones.
8400 RPMs guarantee a top speed of 219 mph with an acceleration of 2.8 seconds from 0-60 mph. With those crazy statistics, the Aventador SV is one of the most potent, naturally aspirated vehicles.
2 Aston Martin One-77 - 750bhp
British luxury carmaker Aston Martin rarely leaves anything to chance, and their bespoke one-77 model is a testament to this. In an age where most manufacturers are looking to ump power production using supercharged engines, the British auto company went natural with their V-12 powered One-77.
Producing 750 bhp with 553 lb-ft of torque, the vehicle is one of a kind in terms of raw power. A 6-speed manual pairs the power train and makes for a deadly and speedy combination. There are rumors of the engine being more potent than that after being revised by Cosworth.
1 Ferrari F12 TDF - 770bhp
Unveiled in 2016 as a tribute to the exemplary Ferrari performances at the tour de France, this prancing horse supercar draws all good from the Ferrari DNA, including their naturally aspirated engines. The 6.2 liter V12 on this vehicle is a massive engine that produces 770 bhp with no forced induction.
This special edition Ferrari is up there with the likes of the Dodge Hellcat (which is supercharged) and the likes of the Ferrari 812 fast. Both Ferraris show that naturally aspirated vehicles can deliver just as much power as their forced induction counterparts.