Some of the fastest cars still use V8s or even V12s, and then there's that car company that has a sense of humor, with its quad-turbo W16. Some manufacturers, however, have discovered they can achieve target power with a few fewer cylinders and some turbochargers.
There are a few reasons to choose a V6, considering they can be smaller, lighter, and can produce supercar levels of horsepower. McLaren, a company famous for making supercars with V8s and V12s, has announced its hybrid supercar, the Artura will be using a V6 that makes 675 horsepower. If McLaren's doing it, it can't be wrong.
10 Venturi 400GT - 408 Hp
The 400GT from the French manufacturer Venturi at first glance might look like an F-40, but unfortunately, it's much different where it counts. For one, it has a 3.0-liter V6 with two turbos that make just over 400 horsepower, vs Ferrari's 2.9-liter V8 that makes 477.
The Venturi is rear-wheel drive and quick, hitting 60 mph in just 4.1 seconds. However, its top speed suffers against other supercars of its time, topping out at 180 mph. Of the 100 that were made, around 70 became dedicated race cars and the rest made it to the street.
9 2021 Maserati Levante S Q4 - 424 Hp
It's not a Ferrari, and it's not even a car. The Maserati Levante S is an impressive SUV that's powered by a 424 horsepower twin-turbocharged V6, or an optional 550 horsepower V8.
Under V6 influence it's not the quickest car, delivering 60 mph in 5.1 seconds, but it has all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission, which allows 24 mpg efficiency on the highway. It's comfortable and luxurious and offers adequate visibility while staying stylish in just about every way.
8 2017 Lotus Evora GT430 Sport - 430 Hp
Lotus famously powers some of its most impressive cars with Toyota engines, and the Evora GT430 Sport fits that mold well. It uses a supercharged 3.5-liter V6 that makes 430 horsepower in a car that weighs less than 2,900 pounds.
This combination draws a 0-60mph time of just 3.8 seconds, and a 196 mph top speed. The Evora looks more aggressive than any other lotus, but it holds aerodynamic features that are designed to reduce lift and cool the brakes. The car can have a six-speed manual transmission and does come with a limited-slip differential.
7 2019 Cadillac ATS-V - 464 Hp
Dipping out of the 500 horsepower range comes the Cadillac ATS-V. It holds its own with a turbocharged 3.6-liter V6 sending 464 horsepower to the rear wheels. It's underpowered compared to its older sibling CTS-V, but it has a manual transmission and independent rear suspension.
There's a track package available for the V, which sheds some weight off of the battery and adds some suspension upgrades. Cadillac's main purpose is to exude comfort with its vehicles, and although the ATS-V is the flagship sports car, it doesn't compromise on Cadillac's classic values.
6 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA - 540 Hp
The new Alfa Giulia GTA comes out swinging, with its twin-turbocharged 2.9-liter V6 churning out 540 horsepower. It's also 220 pounds lighter than the Alfa Quadrifoglio and sports a titanium exhaust. A GTAm version is in the works as well, though it's not likely it will see North American roads.
Supposedly Alfa will only make 500 examples of the GTA, but each one will come with a helmet, racing suit, gloves, and shoes, along with a car cover and tuition at Alfa's driving academy, according to Car and Driver.
5 Jaguar XJ220 - 542 Hp
The XJ220's story began with a naturally aspirated V12 powering all four wheels, but that was abandoned for the production model. Jaguar instead fitted it with a turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 that powered the rear wheels with 542 horsepower, which ended up being more than the V12 was expected to make.
That made it the fastest car in the world for a time, with a top speed of 212 mph. Ultimately the XJ220 could not survive a recession and Jaguar ended its life with only a handful of cars completed.
RELATED: 15 Reasons Why They Should Bring Back The Jaguar XJ220
4 2021 Porsche Panamera 4S E-Hybrid - 552 Hp
Porsche has outdone itself with its Panamera 4S E-Hybrid, which completely obliterates its non-hybrid sibling. While the Panamera 4S and its 443 horsepower is nothing to sneeze at, the Hybrid version makes a staggering 552 horsepower from its 2.9-liter V6, just 134 of that horsepower from its electric motor.
The combination of the car's electric and gas engines dynos at 552 horsepower, because of where the engines peak together. 2018 saw a Panamera with 680 horsepower, but that came from a hybrid V8.
3 2021 Acura NSX - 573 Hp
Another contender for the revival of the decade goes to Acura's NSX. It's safe to say that modern supercars take a similar shape, and the NSX is no exception. It's not all that dissimilar from the GT-R, in that it's designed to be fast, but manageable and comfortable.
Drivers can ease this car through urban settings without making a sound, slip onto the drag strip, become a smoke factory for ten seconds and then stealth-mode back home. Its looks don't exactly scream inconspicuous, but in terms of sound and comfort, the NSX is indeed a car that can be taken to the grocery store.
2 2021 Nissan GT-R Nismo - 600 Hp
The only upgrades that reached the 2021 GT-R Nismo were visual. It kept its 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged engine and makes the same power it did before. The VR38DETT has come a long way from its timid 2009 origin of 480 horsepower.
Various improvements over the years like boring out the exhaust, boosting to 13 psi, and upgraded turbos and fuel systems achieved its modest 600 horsepower, but it's clear that the engine has a long way to go in terms of total power output. Even with 600 horsepower, the GT-R remains perfectly reasonable to drive on the street.
1 2021 Ford GT - 647 Hp
The revival of the long-gone 2006 Ford GT manifested as a completely different species. Ford execs built this $500,000 car with the confidence that a six-figure Ford could gain value over time, hushing naysayers faintly whispering little white lies of the car being overpriced.
The car's power comes from a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged Ecoboost V6. Its turbochargers build 30 psi of pressure, and the car's computers keep the turbos spooled with an anti-lag system. This means it uses a lot of fuel, and clocks in at just 14 mpg efficiency.