Muscle cars are a staple of US car culture. Their intimidating presence and powerful V8s made them some of the coolest cars the industry has ever produced. And while the unique design of muscle cars has captured the eyes of many over the years, their performance is what many enthusiasts consider to be their most important feature. After all, they were all envisioned as affordable machines that would allow everyday, normal American enthusiasts to stick it to pricey European sports cars and leave them in the dust.
But after the golden age of muscle cars had passed, Europe thought of a brand-new concept that some consider just as cool: sports sedans. The idea is to take a practical, ordinary-looking, four-door vehicle and provide it with all the features and power that makes sports cars so fast. The result is an inconspicuous family hauler with a roaring engine and insane performance figures.
Over the years, the V8 has proven itself to be the best engine to power these sports sedans, offering enough grunt to move the massive heaps of metal quick enough to make them thrilling. In this list, we take a look at some of the finest results of fitting a powerful V8 engine into sporty sedans, all of which could easily take on muscle cars both in a straight line and around bends.
10 BMW M3 Sedan (E90)
The E90 generation BMW M3 Sedan is quickly becoming a modern classic. The car is currently a bit of a bargain, coming with a 4.4-liter S65 V8 engine that produces 414 hp and prices are as low as $15,000 for a used model. Offering excellent German build quality, too, it's an ideal sports car that can be used as a daily driver.
All M3s are renowned for performance, but the E90 is special because it's the final naturally-aspirated V8 M3 ever to be made. It's also far more refined than other performance sedans and muscle cars when not driven for performance. In short, it's the ultimate V8 sedan for everyday use and much better than most muscle cars which are less refined to drive.
9 Audi RS4 B7
The Audi RS4 was released in 2006 and was built on the Audi 'B7' A4 platform. Coming with a 4.2-liter V8 FSI engine that produces 414 hp, along with a rev limit of 8250 rpm, the RS4 B7 is one fast sedan. The car can go 155 mph at top speed and can manage 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds. While the RS4 is a little slower in terms of acceleration than other high-performance sedans of the same period, it is a fantastic car as it has a lot of grip from the Quattro AWD system and its power is easy to exploit.
Also, the RS4 B7 is another fantastic all-rounder which offers refined driving as well as great performance. As such, with its high power from the V8 combined with its drivability, the RS4 B7 is a much better car to buy than a muscle car. It can keep up with a muscle car but the AWD system and overall refinement give it the edge.
8 Jaguar XJR
The Jaguar XJR comes with a supercharged 4.0-liter V8 engine that produces 370 hp. Also coming with sports suspension, wider wheels, and chrome window frames for the US models, the car was suited to a luxury driving experience with sporting elements with it. The car can do 0-60 mph in 5.6 seconds, making it quite impressive considering it weighs over 4,000 lbs in LWB form.
There was a performance model produced dubbed the R1, which brought 18" wheels, larger brakes, and a re-tuned suspension. The R1 came with the same engine and horsepower levels, but both the standard and performance models are great at being a viable option instead of a muscle car. This is certainly Britain's answer to the American muscle car and offers the same performance levels but with a greater level of class and sophistication.
7 2008 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG
Debuting in 2008, the Mercedes C63 AMG was the first car to be built from the ground up with AMG, hoping to remove the understeer that hampered the previous C55 AMG. The newer sports sedan came with an M156 V8 engine, producing 451 hp and going 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds. The car perfectly reflects what the AMG lineup is all about. While the V8 engine in the car is in fact detuned, the C63 AMG still performs fantastically.
Available as a sedan and estate, many of us would buy an AMG car over a muscle car any day, and the C63 AMG is no different. It is an outstanding car that comes with improved handling and steering, alongside a much more sophisticated suspension. As such, buying a C63 AMG is a better option than buying a muscle car because of the high power figures and the high status that the nameplate has.
6 Lancia Thema 8:32
The Lancia Thema is a fantastic and unassuming sports sedan. The number '8' in the name stands for the number of cylinders and '32' for the number of valves. While the car may not be the most exciting model to look at, it uses a Ferrari V8 engine that produces 215 hp. As such, it is loved by many especially because it looks so unassuming but it is actually brilliant on the track.
When it debuted in 1984, it would give any American muscle car a run for its money. The car can go 0-60 mph in 6.8 seconds and comes with a Ferrari powerplant without the exorbitant price tag of a Ferrari. As such, while it may not be as exciting to look at like a muscle car is, it would outperform them in the corners and is a really cool sleeper car. The fact that it was the first car to feature active-aero is a nice bit of history, too.
5 Maserati Quattroporte
Launched in 2004, the Maserati Quattroporte came with a 4.2-liter V8 engine that produces 394 hp. For a luxurious Italian sedan, this is a great amount of performance and it only complements the car's refined styling. The car can go 0-60 mph in 5.0 seconds and it brings a whole lot of character with it too.
Its interior is just as luxurious as the exterior coming with wood features and leather seats. As such, the Quattroporte is a reflection of Italian design with outstanding performance levels. It is definitely a sedan we'd buy over a muscle car simply because of how good the interior is, and the fact it's full of character.
4 Lexus IS-F
The Lexus IS-F was released in 2007 and it was an instant hit among fans, coming with a 5.0-liter V8 engine that produces 417 hp. This level of performance was quite a big statement from Lexus, which is used to making rather sedate cars. Being able to go 0-60 mph in 4.7 seconds is impressive and the IS-F can keep up with cars like the BMW M3 when going in a straight line.
It also offers a high-quality interior and it is quite an understated car in comparison to its rivals. Indeed, while it may not offer the same level of excitement as a brand-new Dodge Challenger Hellcat, it is a brilliant car that offers reliability combined with power and brilliant styling. As such, this is one car that would be an easy win over most muscle cars.
3 Bentley Turbo R
The Bentley Turbo R combines classic luxury with a hefty dose of performance. It looks like quite a heavy luxury car that wouldn't be incredibly fast, but it comes with a 6.75-liter V8 turbocharged engine producing 355 hp. Going 150 mph at a top speed, the Turbo R is a fantastic car that performs brilliantly on the roads.
Not only is it great in terms of power, but it also comes with outstanding handling for a massive barge of a car. As such, it is much more of a spectacle to drive and is guaranteed to turn heads wherever it goes. The fact these cars can be had for as little as $15,000 nowadays is incredible.
2 BMW M5 E39
The BMW M5 39 model came out in 1998 and it has been loved by many enthusiasts around the world since its release. Coming with a 4.9-liter S62 V8 engine that produces 394 hp and accelerating to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds, the M5 E39 was quite the performance car. It also comes with MacPherson Strut suspension and multi-link rear suspension, aiding handling.
The car received a facelift in 2000, receiving LED tail-lights and new exterior colors were available from 2001. Its styling and performance were fantastic and it is generally considered to be one of the best from the M5 lineup. They're still relatively affordable these days too, which means that it's easy to own one of the best-handling BMWs of all time, with a proper V8 in a genuinely usable sedan body.
1 Volvo S80 V8
The second generation of the Volvo S80 was released in 2006 and was available with a 4.4-liter V8 engine that produces 310 hp. This sedan was the first to come with the B8444S V8 engine which was built with Volvo and Yamaha. The 4.4-liter V8 model can do 0-60 mph in 6.5 seconds and boasts a top speed of 155 mph. It was also very safety conscious, making use of boron in the steel for safety.
These figures are great for a Volvo sedan that isn't entirely performance-based. It came with quite a minimalist design in the interior of the car, but this is typical of Swedish luxury. With its reliability and build quality combined with its fantastic engine, it is a great option to drive over a muscle car as it'll be far more relaxing and effortless, even if you're not going as quickly.