The days of the V8 monsters have passed. The six cylinders being designed today are far more sophisticated than they have ever been. Many of them perform better than any of the muscle car big blocks that were made so famous in the past. The Hemi’s and Cobra Jets that used to rule the pavement are now being left in the dust.
Just so we all have a good reference point, the 1970 Chevelle SS could shoot from 0 to 60 in just under 6 seconds, as could the 1970 Plymouth Hemi Barracuda Six Pack. Keep that in mind when going through the following list of the fastest V6 cars ever produced, ranked according to their 0-60 mph times.
9 2020 Audi S4
The 2020 Audi S4 is a totally new car when compared to the previous years. It received new sheet metal, wider fenders, and a honeycomb style grill. Under the hood of the striking new look is a 3.0-liter V6 that can pump out 349 hp, and torque of 369 lb-ft. The power from the engine is transferred to the AWD system through an eight-speed automatic transmission.
This sports sedan is one of those models that can be driven on the sly. It does not look as intimidating as some of its rivals, but since it can scoot from 0 to 60 in a matter of 4.2 seconds, it is a sleeper ready to play. The best part is that the S4 has enough comfort and technology to be a daily driven sedan with complete ease.
8 2019 Mercedes-AMG C43
No list of fast V6 motors would be complete without having a Mercedes-Benz thrown into the midst. This beacon of luxury may be a slight disappointment to buyers of that market because the car is built more for speed, making it a stiff riding car. The twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 can push out 385 hp, and through the nine-speed automatic transmission to the all-wheel-drive system, the car gets a torque rating of 384 lb-ft.
The 2019 Mercedes-AMG C43 is a luxury sedan that is fitting on any type of pavement, racing or public. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 in 4.1 seconds, which is faster than many cars marketed as sports sedans. With three driving modes, this luxury car can turn into a prowler looking for a challenger.
7 2021 Lotus Evora GT
The 2021 Lotus Evora GT is a hand-built sports car designed for fast driving and tire hugging corners. It is a mid-engine sports car powered by an impressive 3.5-liter V6 topped by an Edelbrock supercharger. It is rated at 416 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque, which is an impressive number for a car of its stature. The engine is supplied by Toyota and tuned by Lotus.
The sports car looks like a blast to drive, and it is. From a standstill, the Evora GT reaches 60 mph in 3.8 seconds. Compare that to the muscle car times above to understand how fast that actually is, and then think back to the fact that this is a V6 car. And of course, this is one of the slowest of the ten listed.
6 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
The 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio is a twin turbo-charged beast of the pavement. The 2.9-liter V6 engine can produce up to 505 horsepower, with a torque rating of 443 lb-ft. The Ferrari design ensures that parts are made from aluminum and that it has an eight-speed automatic transmission converting the power into torque directed at all four wheels.
The car may not look all that intimidating, but when it blasts from a standstill it can get up to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds. The crazier thing about this is that the Quadrifoglio is a luxury sedan. That is right, the average grocery getter is now one of the fastest production vehicles in the world.
5 2021 Audi RS5
The 2021 Audi RS5 is a daily driving luxury car that has the ability to be at the head of the pack in a straight-line race. It comes straight from the production lines with a 2.9-liter twin-turbo that can produce up to 444 horses. The all-wheel-drive tires are pushed into the ground with almost matching torque numbers, coming in with 442 lb-ft. It is a beast when put to the test.
The RS5 is comfortable, quiet, and full of modern technology. The car can accelerate from a dead stop and hit 60 mph in 3.6 seconds. The eight-speed automatic transmission is smooth and efficient, and when combined with the traction control system, it launches the same way every time, with grip and go. To top it all off, the suspension systems all work together to allow this car to truly hang with the sports cars, zipping around corners with ease, and in and out of traffic like the other vehicles were standing still.
4 1994 Jaguar XJ220
The 1994 Jaguar XJ220 was a combined effort of Jaguar and TWR. The end result was the fastest production car on the roads, for a couple of years anyway. The streetcar was produced by using the design of the race cars that had made the British company famous. The biggest change made to the car during this project was to switch the engine in the middle of the car from a huge V12 down to a smaller, lighter twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6.
This smaller motor made the car much more street-worthy while keeping the driving force of a race car. The rear-wheel-driven tires are slammed into the ground with a torque of 473 lb-ft provided through a 5-speed manual transmission that transfers the power from the 542 hp pushing out of the engine. This allowed the car to accelerate from 0 to 60 in 3.6 seconds. The XJ220 is a sports car to be reckoned with.
3 2022 Ford GT
The 2022 Ford GT is the last of the production run for the street-legal race car. Ford went all out and made a special edition version that has two racing stripes from front to back. The 3.5-liter is boosted by twin turbos and pounds out 647 hp. The horses are transferred to the rear tires through a 7-speed automatic, that has the option of controlling the shifting manually, with asphalt tearing 550 lb-ft of torque.
This stylish car was obviously made for the track, but it has good enough suspension and comfort to be driven on the streets. The GT can launch from 0 to 60 in 3 seconds flat. Racecar drivers have tested and given thumbs up to anyone who wants to embrace the racing experience without needing a racetrack.
2 2020 Acura NSX
The 2020 Acura NSX is a daily drive supercar that is more than capable on any type of track. The all-wheel-drive system is not just driven by a gas-powered twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6, but each front wheel has help with torque by an electric motor on each side, and one between the mid-car placed engine and the 9-speed automatic transmission. The motors put out a combined 573 hp and a total torque rating of 476 lb-ft.
The technology involved when designing this car is extensive, but it allows the car to corner without any slipping at high speeds. It can rocket from 0 to 60 in 3 seconds flat, using all the motors to launch ahead with no slip. The NSX is a sports coupe that can do it all, from racing to cross country commutes.
1 2019 Nissan GT-R Nismo
The 2019 Nissan GT-R Nismo is a sports coupe that is designed for high speeds. It has an all-wheel-drive system that is adjustable and is pushed by a 3.8-liter V6 that produces 600 hp and has a torque rating of 481 lb-ft. The six-speed automatic can be controlled through the paddle-shifting option, giving experienced drivers more accurate RPM curves.
The unique outer look of the Nismo screams out that it is a predator of all cars. Almost all cars. It can scoot from 0 to 60 within 2.9 seconds. This car handles better the faster it goes, so it is not for those that wish to go slow on a nice Sunday drive.
Final Thoughts
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It is simply crazy when thinking back on the days when muscle cars ruled. Now, they have nothing on these 6-cylinder cars that could blast past them like they were standing still. Some of these cars are even hybrids, so they are good for the environment. After all, the shift in the economy is leading towards vehicles that leave the smallest footprint possible while still offering the sportiness of traditional supercars we all know and love.
These cars are not for the faint of heart. They are not produced to be driven like the normal daily drivers, even though most of them could handle the stress. These cars are meant for speed, for cornering, and most of all, an adrenaline rush like no other.