Top 20 Naturally Aspirated Cars Ever
As a preamble, it is important to note the context and the era in which this list is being created. The automotive industry has already begun its transition towards a future dominated by electrically powered vehicles, with the vast majority of automakers aiming to have their entire lineups at the bare minimum, hybridized, before the turn of this decade.
Going back just a little further, the wheels were already in motion for the sweeping changes we’re seeing today. It can be argued that the first step towards a more fuel-efficient (and eventually, fuel-less) future started with the mass proliferation of turbocharged engines. For long before that, turbochargers were perceived as a centerpiece for many high-performance sports cars, which hardly had a reputation for being eco-friendly. However, with improvements in technology, their application evolved to that of a more widespread and economical nature.
We’ve already crested over the peak of this transition period in recent times; the likes of Ferrari and Porsche forgoing naturally aspirated engines in favor of the more emissions-friendly, forced-fed power plants. Today, we’re seeing the EV and high-performance hybrid taking the stage. The absence of the naturally aspirated automobile leaves a gaping void; one which will likely never be filled.
Suffice to say, the process of phasing out of the naturally aspirated engine has been long and drawn out but hardly subtle nor evitable. Now that process looks to be on a trajectory that is accelerating exponentially with perpetual improvements to EV technology, driven by the acknowledgement and acceptance of this changeover on a global scale.
This has brought us to a stage of reminiscing and nostalgia; our favorite atmospherically-strung power plants are soon to be a thing of the past. There was, is, and always will be, a lot to love about the most iconic NA cars ever produced – astronomically high revs, a satisfyingly linear power delivery, unparalleled aural soundtracks, instantaneous throttle response, underappreciated durability, and some of the world’s most epic displays of technology on four wheels.
Here are some of the best naturally aspirated cars made, ever, in no particular order.
Ferrari 812 Superfast
The Ferrari 812 Superfast is the successor to the Ferrari F12 and is now the company’s fastest front-engined GT Car. Wrapped in a curvaceous Italian body and paired to one of the greatest chassis we have ever experienced, the 812 Superfast is one for the ages.
The 812 Superfast carries a new 6.5L V12 engine that delivers an astounding 789 hp @ 8,500 rpm and a maximum torque of 718 Nm @ 7,000 rpm. The engine is still front-mid mounted, making the car that much more unique in the already crowded luxury grand touring segment. It can reach speeds of 340 km/h and can sprint from 0-100 km/h in just 2.9 seconds.
It features a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox, advanced active aerodynamics, and four-wheel steering. Despite the controversy that is sometimes associated with a Ferrari engine sitting in front of the driver, the 812 Superfast remains an absolutely engaging and soul-satisfying Ferrari experience every single time you get into it. The perfect car. The perfect Ferrari.
Porsche 911 R / Speedster
Arguably the purest form of the 911 model range, the 2016 Porsche 119R pays homage to the brand’s epic heritage with the most modern of concoctions. Providing a manual transmission alternative for Porsche’s range-topping-naturally aspirated model is what the 911R is known best for, but it ends up being so much more than just that.
It is the perfect blend of spartanism and elegance that you can call upon in the crowded lineup of 911 models. The absence of outrageous aerodynamics purposes the car more for canyon runs than Nürburgring records, but that’s also the beauty of it. For those who want the absolute best of the 991-gen 911 – without the obligation of having to prove its value on the race track – the 911R is undoubtedly a very proper and special car.
The 911 Speedster is spiritually the convertible version of the 911R, following the same purist principles as its coupé counterpart. Released in 2019, it has some slightly newer tech and a bit more power too. Its schematic has forged a 911 with a silhouette based on the 4S Cabriolet body, carbon fiber bits borrowed off the 911 R, and front and rear bumpers from the GT3 Touring. That is not to say that there aren’t any unique offerings on the Speedster, with its shorter, more inclined windshield frame and lower fly-line being amongst its exclusive features.
Honorable mention: The 997 GT3RS 4.0, for being the grandfather of these cars.
Honda S2000
For many years, Honda’s beloved roadster held the distinction of producing the most hp per liter of any car on the planet via its F20C engine. Despite being a convertible, the S2000 is renowned for its rigid chassis, which helps to provide one of the most raw driving experiences one can have in a production road car. The slick 6-speed manual – the only choice of transmission – was a perfect match to the car’s 2.0L VTEC powerplant, which produced 240 hp and revved all the way up to 9,000 rpm. Later variants of the S2000 featured a strokered 2.2L engine which delivered more power in the lower rev-range and had slightly shorter gearing to improve acceleration.
Speaking of nostalgia, the Honda S2000 has found a way to tug at many car lovers’ heartstrings, with the used market completely blowing up over the last 10 years. Many examples are going for prices near brand new MSRP, with newer and more rare models (such as the CR) commanding even higher amounts. The Honda S2000 embodies everything that is awesome about a naturally aspirated sports car that is built around the driver; and now, many enthusiasts and collectors alike are seeking to own their piece of its brilliant history.
Lexus LFA
The Lexus LFA features a naturally aspirated 4.8L V10 engine which produces 552 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque. That may seem rather modest in this age of 1,000 hp hypercars, but the LFA is more of an analog machine than most of those vehicles and is regarded by many as one of the best supercars from the last decade.
Lexus only made 500 units, and I assumed those 500 sold out quickly. I was wrong. Despite the fact that the automaker hasn’t produced the Lexus LFA since 2012, there are still seven brand new LFA models for sale in the US, according to Carscoops. With all that said, the LFA came with one of the best V8s ever produced by a Japanese automaker. This makes the car ripe for following a similar fate to the Porsche Carrera GT, which didn’t sell well when it was first released before going on to establish a cult following many years later. I would imagine that someday these cars will be worth a lot more than their original MSRP.
Dodge Viper ACR
Even if the Dodge Hellcat is hogging all the headlines these days, there’s always something you have to admire about the lunacy of having a two-seater sports car powered by a naturally aspirated 8.4L V10 engine. No, the Dodge Viper ACR doesn’t do subtlety very well. Yes, it does happen to fall under the ‘Old Testament’ definition of awesome.
With 640 hp and 600 lb-ft of torque being produced from that colossus of an all-aluminum engine, the Viper has the exhaust note of a semi-dormant volcano. It would make absolutely no sense at all if it weren’t just so damn fast.
Variants such as the SRT-10 and ACR-X took the road-going version of the car to the next level, with the latter being a turn-key, non-street legal race car that participates in Viper racing leagues around the world. The Dodge Viper SRT-10 in particular boasts more of what performance aficionados crave: kick-in-the-pants, throw-back-in-the-seat power, combined with benchmark braking, world-class ride and handling, a race-inspired interior, and bold exterior styling.
Ferrari 458 Italia
Collectively, the Ferrari 458 Italia is one of our most-loved vehicles here at supercars.net. You wouldn’t have to dive very deep to find out why that might be the case, as even just a cursory glance at the car is more than suggestive enough.
Whether it be its sleek and timeless Pininfarina design or its epic 562 hp naturally aspirated V8 engine with a 9,000 rpm redline; the 458 was destined for greatness the moment the first car drove off the production line. It has already become a modern classic. Let’s also mention that its F136-FB V8 engine provides one of the most thrilling soundtracks produced by any road-going vehicle out there, courtesy of an orchestra that octaves all the way to 9,000 rpm. Bellissima!
Such was the car’s influence that it would also go on to serve as the platform for the models which followed – namely, the 488 GTB and F8 Tributo – with the original spirit of the 458 Italia remaining intact and on full display through its successors.
Subsequent models and trims such as the Spider, Speciale and Challenge commanded varying degrees of premium in terms of performance, features, and price, over the original car.
Chevrolet Corvette C8 Z06
The C8 Corvette serves as an example of keeping things simple and going back to what worked best. The previous-gen C7 Corvette Z06 was the first of its kind to feature a supercharged version of its V8 engine. While this certainly made it the most powerful Z06 ever produced, the force-inducted unit was widely susceptible to overheating issues on the race track.
Chevrolet has already confirmed that their upcoming Z06 – based on the new mid-engined C8 platform – will be reverting back to a naturally aspirated power plant. This will undoubtedly address most of the shortcomings of the outgoing Z06 and make it much more viable for track use.
While many Corvette enthusiasts were hoping for a return of the monstrous 7.0L naturally aspirated LS7 engine from the C6 generation, we’re currently being told to expect a 5.5L V8 flat-plane crank engine which will redline at close to 9,000 rpm and produce roughly 650 hp – around the same as the C7’s supercharged unit. This smaller, lighter engine will be an essential part of the new Corvette’s mid-ship design, and we can’t wait to see it.
Honorable mention: The C6 Corvette, for reminding Chevy that less can still do more.
BMW E36 M3
BMW has a long history of building amazing cars and an equally long history of powering those cars with awesome engines. There isn’t just one path to producing a great engine, and the folks at BMW have shown over the years that they are adept at trying new things and experimenting with technology to great effect.
The E36 M3 was the model that really launched BMW’s M division to the masses. It targeted the executive buyer who wanted performance but in a tamer package than the original E30 (which was more of a true enthusiast’s car). The second iteration of the M3 brought classiness and refinement that the first generation didn’t deliver.
With a 240 hp 3.0L naturally aspirated inline-6 that was silky smooth and rock-solid, the car had plenty of low-end power and was easy to drive right off the bat. Our pick of the lot is for the 1996 model year cars; the engines were upgraded to a 3.2L displacement, producing the same horsepower but with more torque than the original unit.
Honorable mention: The E30 M3 and E46 M3, for being almost as cool.
Honda Integra Type R
Known for producing legendary naturally aspirated engines and front-wheel-drive cars in its heyday, Honda built the Integra Type R to have both of those things. Nimble like a go-kart and durable like… well, a Honda… the Integra Type R was a popular choice for the weekend racer on a budget. The DC2 platform (1996-2001) is certainly the most popular, with its 4-cylinder B18C5 VTEC engine able to produce 197 hp @8,000 rpm and 130 lb-ft of torque @ 5,700 rpm. Already a classic because of these inherent characteristics, the Integra Type R is becoming a bit of a collector’s car.
Like the Honda S2000, the aforementioned DC2 ITR has created a bubble in the used marketplace, with many examples currently going for astronomically high prices. The newer DC5 (2001-2005) Integra Type R variants are far less popular as a whole, although their engines (K20A) are often swapped into the DC2 platforms. While the idea of doing so would irk preservationists, the K20A / DC2 combo is widely considered to be an all-around performance upgrade.
McLaren F1
Launched in 1992, the McLaren F1 would go on to revolutionize the supercar industry with many of its core characteristics still referenced in the production of today’s most exotic vehicles. It paved the way for increasingly mainstream use of materials such as carbon fiber, kevlar, and titanium in sports cars and was the first production car to use a monocoque chassis.
Designed by the legendary Gordon Murray, who had one goal in mind, the McLaren F1 was built to be the fastest and best-handling production car in the world. Namely, the ultimate road car – one that is enjoyable in everyday conditions while still at the zenith of road car performance.
To plug Honda and its enthusiasts, Murray has been less than coy when it comes to where he drew his inspiration for the creation of the F1. Indeed, it was the Honda NSX that set the precedence and direction for the F1 and its overall design directive, ultimately having a profound effect on the end product.
Furthermore, Murray initially wanted to leverage McLaren’s relationship with the Japanese automaker and had initially envisioned Honda supplying the engine for the McLaren F1. However, they would end up partnering with BMW’s M Division to commission a power plant exact to Murray’s desired specifications – he wanted an engine with at least 4.5L in a V10 or V12 configuration and without forced induction.
This collaboration would end up being the catalyst in creating one of the best engines ever made – a naturally aspirated 6.1L V12 with 627-horsepower. Throughout the project, Murray was adamant about not using turbochargers or superchargers to achieve those figures, as he felt that this would help in emulating the resilience of the Honda NSX’s immensely reliable motor.
Ford Mustang GT350
The Shelby GT350 is a powerful yet nimble version of the Mustang that is equally at home on the race track as it is on the city streets. One of its most remarkable traits is its super high revving 5.2L V8 engine which redlines at an astronomical 8,250 rpm. The sport-tuned suspension is very capable on the circuit but refined enough for daily use.
The GT350R is available for those who prefer to have a more hardcore track-toy or weekend warrior via an even firmer chassis and a set of lighter carbon fiber wheels. Arguably better than its faster supercharged big brother, as it is a more balanced unit, with the NA engine making for a better feeling experience.
Our favorite version of the GT350 / GT350 R is the Heritage Edition. Ken Miles is best-known for driving the Ford GT at Le Mans to help Ford beat Ferrari. However, Miles also raced a 1965 Ford Mustang GT350 fastback on occasion. To commemorate this, Ford has rolled out a new Shelby GT350 and GT350 R in the same colors colorways as Miles’ race car. The car features a Wimbledon White paint job with Guardsman Blue stripes. The car also gets GT350 rocker lettering at the rear.
Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
In late July 2018, the Lamborghini Aventador SVJ became the latest production car to break the lap record at the legendary testing ground that is the Nürburgring Nordschleife. It would be more than a month later before the car was officially unveiled to the public, during Monterey Car Week taking place in Pebble Beach, California. It was going to take nothing short of special to dethrone the Porsche 911 GT2 RS, and Lamborghini’s new flagship car is something beyond even that.
Becoming a production car lap record holder at the ‘Ring takes a lot more than just a flashy paint job and hype. To power it’s way around this treacherous course, the Aventador SVJ employs a naturally aspirated 6.5L V12 engine which delivers 770-horsepower at 8,500 rpm and 530 lb-ft of torque at 6,750 rpm to its all-wheel-drive system. It is able to do 0-100 km/h in only 2.8 seconds and has a top speed of over 349 km/h.
With the prolific use of carbon fiber and lightweight materials throughout the car, the SVJ weighs only 1,525 kg. Four-wheel steering remains a feature on the SVJ, and it also benefits from suspension upgrades over the regular Aventador to improve overall mechanical grip, rigidity, and driving feel. Production numbers of the Aventador SVJ will be limited to just 900 units (which is includes the special edition SVJ 63).
Lamborghini Huracán STO
No Lamborghini model range would be complete without a healthy serving of special editions and one-off versions, and this is certainly no different when it comes to the Huracán. While it doesn’t yet boast the plethora of uber-rare cars that its predecessor (the Gallardo) can, special edition models are coming in thick and fast as we approach the final 3 years of the Huracán era.
The Lamborghini Huracán STO is the latest of this batch and also functions as the latest track-focused variant of the Huracán. Too hardcore to simply be considered a replacement for the Performanté (of which an Evo version is likely on the way), the STO possesses remarkable aerodynamic features such as a roof snorkel and extra-large rear wing. Carbon bucket seats with race harnesses also come standard.
The 2021 Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo Omologata (STO) is inspired by the Huracán Evo Super Trofeo race car developed by Lamborghini’s motorsport division – Squadra Corse – to run in its own competitive race series. The key difference between the two cars is that the STO is completely street-legal.
The STO has clearly been made to carve up any race track, which is highlighted by a 5.2L naturally aspirated V10 engine that produces 640 hp and is mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission sending power to the rear wheels. Around a lap, the STO will be the fastest street-legal Huracán by a considerable margin. The base price is listed at US$334,133, with the first deliveries expected to arrive later in 2021.
Honorable mention: The Huracán Performanté, for being the basis upon which the new Evo variants and the STO were inspired.
Aston Martin One-77
Probably the least well-known car on this list – as there were only 77 ever produced – the One-77 is considered to be Aston Martin’s ultimate expression of design, engineering, and craftsmanship. The proverbial blank check along with the green light to do as they sought fit…if you will.
After three years of teasers and prototypes, Aston Martin put the One-77 into production in early 2011. This completely hand-built supercar was boldly marketed as an alternative to the Bugatti Veyron. The 7.3L naturally aspirated V12 engine was based on the power plant used in the DB9 and was designed by engine builder Cosworth. Producing 750 hp and 750 Nm of torque, the One-77 was the most powerful naturally aspirated road car in the world when it was first released.
Porsche Carrera GT
The Porsche Carrera GT has become one of the most iconic and sought-after Porsche models in the realm of exotic car idolization and ownership. It is hard to believe that things didn’t really start off that way.
When the Porsche Carrera GT was released in 2004, it was anticipated to stir up plenty of fervor. It certainly had all the attributes to do so. It was a mid-engined V10 hypercar – one of the first to be considered a step beyond supercar status – and introduced a variety of industry-first technologies and features to the production car market.It was hard to argue against the Carrera GT having the performance, appearance, and stature to justify its $440,000 USD price tag when brand new.
Nevertheless, Porsche dealerships would have a difficult time selling them despite costing over $200,000 USD less than a new Ferrari Enzo; the Carrera GT’s intended target and rival. The slower than forecasted sales are likely the cause for Porsche ending production after just 1,270 units. Though a run of 1,500 units were originally planned, the German marque went on record to blame “changing airbag regulations” for their decision to ax the car. Thankfully, this turn of events would not prove ominous for the Porsche Carrera GT over the long run. In fact, quite the opposite.
Interestingly enough, we can thank the ongoing technological advancements taking place in the automotive industry for the Porsche Carrera GT’s resurgence into the limelight. Besides being equipped with a wicked state-of-the-art, naturally aspirated, 612 hp engine which was ahead of its time, the Carrera GT was otherwise an extremely analog machine, and it is this very characteristic that would elevate its appeal over time. This was helped on mainly by the fact that since the Porsche Carrera GT was released, the exotic car landscape has shifted dramatically to the production of more user-friendly, technologically refined, and easy-to-live-with supercars – the fastest for the masses, if you will.
Ferrari Enzo
Branding race-derived technology to road cars is not a new idea, especially to Ferrari. Up until the late 1950s, Ferrari’s road cars and racing cars were essentially the same product. Since that time, safety regulations, manufacturing costs, and practicality have more clearly distinguished the cars we race from the cars we drive on the streets. The goal of the Enzo was to bridge this gap.
Racing-inspired technology lays the foundation of the Ferrari Enzo. As such, the chassis is built from carbon fiber and aluminum honeycomb panels, forming a rigid tub. At the center of the chassis is an all-new, 12-cylinder naturally aspirated engine. Dubbed the F140, it is one of the largest Ferrari engines, only being eclipsed by the Can-Am units. Having such a large displacement allows the Enzo to deliver a healthy amount of torque; specifically, 137 ft-lb more than the F50 and at 1,000 rpm sooner. Despite the engine’s large displacement, it still manages to achieve 110 hp per liter, thanks to many variable systems.
With no hybrid setup, no turbochargers, and no dual-clutch transmission, the Ferrari Enzo is the last old-school Ferrari supercar before those dang hypercars came around. It is also the last naturally aspirated Ferrari supercar, with a wonderful 6.0L V12 that just screams. With 650 hp, a claimed 0-60 mph time of 3.1 seconds, and a top speed of 217 mph, the Enzo had performance figures that spoke for themselves. The Enzo’s sharp detailing and Formula 1-derived aerodynamics look just as good today as they did back then. It’s a tough car to drive fast, and that’s what we love about it – a true old-school supercar.
Honorable mention: The Pagani Zonda for sharing the same engine.
Ferrari F12berlinetta
The most exciting car to be announced by Ferrari in 2012 was the F12berlinetta. It is the third-gen Ferrari GT which follows the 599 GTB Fiorano and 550 Maranello and would be eventually become the predecessor of the 812 Superfast also mentioned in this list. When released, Ferrari called it the fastest Ferrari ever built and cited a lap time around the Fiorano test track of 1:23.
A highlight of the car is its 65º V12 engine which produces 750 hp without the aid of turbochargers or superchargers. This unit uses variable timing and direct gasoline injection for improved efficiency. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a dual-clutch transmission and an active electronic differential.
In 2015, Ferrari revealed the F12tdf which pays homage to the Tour de France – the legendary endurance road race that Ferrari dominated in the 1950s and 1960s, particularly with the 1956 250 GT Berlinetta which won four consecutive editions in a row. The F12tdf shares the same engine with the F12berlinetta and is the ultimate expression of an extreme road car that is equally at home on the track. Only 799 were built.
Mercedes Benz AMG SLS Black Series
Inspired by the SLS AMG GT3 racing version, the fifth Black Series model from Mercedes-AMG boasts a fascinating mix of breath-taking design, outstanding driving dynamics, and uncompromising lightweight construction. The Black Series features a 6.3L naturally aspirated V8 engine which produces 631 hp @ 7,400 rpm and accelerates the most iconic ‘gullwing model from 0-100 km/h in just 3.6 seconds, on its way to a top speed of 315 km/h.
The Black Series’ engine is an improvement over the one found inside the regular AMG SLS in many key areas; the redline was increased from 7,200 to 8,000 rpm, revised camshafts were installed, restrictions were reduced, and the ECU retuned. As a front mid-engine configuration, the power plant was mounted behind the front axle, which helps to provide a weight distribution that is favorable to high-performance driving.
Audi R8 V10
The Audi R8 underwent a facelift recently. It now has more aggressive styling. It’s the best looking the R8 has ever been. The front fascia is different, and it has new side skirts, a new rear bumper, a new rear diffuser, and a new spoiler. Inside, the cabin looks more or less the same.
For the 2021 model year, Audi has announced that the R8 will be permanently available in the rear-wheel drive configuration going forward. The 532 hp rear-wheel-drive R8 takes its place in the lineup as the entry-level R8 variant; if you want Quattro, you will have to opt for the Performance model. Both variants continue to be powered by a 5.2L naturally aspirated V10 engine. Thanks to the rear-wheel-drive now being the standard offering, the base price of the car is almost $30,000 lower than the previous year – making the Audi R8 as attractive a buy as perhaps it has ever been.
If the regular R8 is not enough, you can make the jump to the Audi R8 V10 Performance and get 602 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque. Naturally, all-wheel-drive continues to come standard in this trim, although this year makes for a more significant case with the elimination of Quattro in the non-Performance (now known as RWD) version. The power bump and addition of all-wheel drive go a long way to padding the performance figures in a desirable fashion, with the 0 to 60 mph time down to 3.2 seconds and top speed up to 205 mph. The Audi R8 has always been a true performer, and now it looks better than ever, too.
Gordon Murray Automotive T.50
The T.50 represents a culmination of Gordon Murray’s lifetime of aerodynamics, design, engineering, and Formula 1 experience. He was the original architect of the McLaren F1; to this day, still one of the greatest cars, let alone supercars, ever made. Ok, so the T.50 isn’t the F1. However, Murray himself said, “It’s not £20 million, so I point out to customers this is a car that delivers the same experience [as the F1], but better in every way, and with an 80 percent discount.” Well…when you put it that way, the GMA T.50‘s $2.6 million sticker price sounds like a steal.
According to EVO, the T.50 features a naturally-aspirated V12 engine that was built by the well-known engine developer Cosworth. This engine powers the rear wheels through a traditional six-speed manual transmission. It offers a 3.98L displacement, a 12,100 rpm redline, and will act as a stressed member of the chassis. There is, though, a 48-volt mild hybrid system that will work in tandem with the V12, producing a combined output of about 700 hp. While this technically means that the T.50 isn’t naturally aspirated by the letter of the law, the 12,000 rpm redline tells us that we ought to let this one slide.
The Best 10 Turbocharged Supercars Ever
While many supercars over the past few years have been marketed on being naturally aspirated, there is a long and storied history as well for forced induction. There may not be 20 really iconic and best ever made cars here, but we know of at least 10 that make the list.
1986 Porsche 959
Originally designed to conquer the rough and tumble world of the World Rally Championship in the Group B era, the Porsche 959 ended up in three distinct worlds. The first was in the Paris-Dakar Rally after being modified slightly from its Group B spec, which it won in the only two years it participated. The second was the one-off Porsche 961, which was designed to take part in endurance racing such as Le Mans. The third, and probably most important, was Porsche’s first true supercar for the road.
Powered by a sequentially twin-turbocharged 2.9L flat-six that kicked out 444 HP and 369 lbs-ft or torque, which were huge numbers in 1986, the 959 was also the single-most technologically advanced car of its day. It had electronically controlled all wheel drive, one of the first implementations of a tire pressure monitoring system, and was one of the first road cars to use Kevlar backed aluminum for the body shell to keep it extremely light.
It came in two specifications, Komfort and Sport. Komfort was more about a luxurious interior and all the gadgets and gizmos you could want, while the Sport was all about speed and performance. It could hit 200 MPH, a very significant speed in the 1980s, however the Sport had an optional upgrade that would give it 523 HP and a top speed of 209 MPH, and do 0 to 60 in 3.4 seconds compared to the “normal” 3.9 seconds.
292 cars were completed for select clients, one of whom was Bill Gates, although if you included all the test mules, prototypes, and race cars, that number comes to 337 total.
1987 Ferrari F40
The last car personally signed off by Enzo Ferrari himself, the Ferrari F40 project started off as a design exercise by Nicola Materazzi in conjunction with Leonardo Fioravanti from Pininfarina to make a Group B endurance racer known as the 288 GTO, and its subsequent 288 GTO Evoluzione Rally version. From those two cars, it was suggested that a car to celebrate 40 years of Ferrari be made.
Despite being in the late 1980s, the F40 was at the cutting edge of materials and powertrains. It was made entirely of bonded carbon fiber, with barely any screws or bolts holding the body shell together, and the engineers and designers pursued lightness so far that the paint was only a couple of layers thick and was nearly transparent. In the middle of the car sat one of the most powerful engines Ferrari had made to that point, a 2.9L twin turbo V8 that produced a peak output of 471 HP and 426 lbs-ft or torque.
Another bit of engineering brilliance was the design of the exhaust system, which routed each bank of the engine to a dedicated outer pipe for each side, and a central pipe between them for wastegate air. While it may not have done much in terms of cooling, it did produce one hell of a great blow-off valve sound. The F40 is iconic because it was the first of Ferrari’s true “super special” cars, and despite having a production plan of 400 cars at $400,000 1987 USD (about $1,080,000 today), eventually 1,315 were made, with 213 making their way to the USA.
1992 Jaguar XJ220
In the very late 1980s, Jaguar decided that it was time for them to enter the supercar arena. Working in collaboration with long-time partners Tom Walkinshaw Racing, who was part of their Le Mans team in the 1980s, they set their sights not on being the best handling or the most expensive, but they did set their sights on being the outright fastest supercar. The birth of the XJ220 is also one of those amazing stories, as it originated from a group of Jaguar employees who designed the concept in their spare time, and in 1987 Jaguar OK’d the production of a concept which was unveiled in 1988. At the time, it was supposed to come with a 6.2L V12 engine.
However, before that version could be moved to prototyping, emissions and engineering requirements meant that a serious redesign was needed. The XJ220 was also being developed during the middle of a recession, so many that had put their interest down with a deposit pulled out before the car was finally made. Only 275 units, at £470,000 in 1992 (£1,020,000 in 2025, or approximately $1,260,000 USD today) were eventually made.
What makes the XJ220 one of the best forced induction cars was that it was, for a short time, the fastest supercar in the world, and one of the most expensive. Instead of a V12, Jaguar fitted a 3.5L twin-turbo V6 that chucked out a hefty 542 HP and 475 lbs-ft, which was more powerful than the intended V12 engine. The reason for this is that the engine was lifted from their current XJR-10 Group C race car, and the only real tuning was to make it work with pump gas instead of race fuel.
In 1992, the XJ220 set a production car record of 217 MPH, and in 1991 a prototype recorded an official lap of the Nurburgring Nordschleife of 7:46.36. Those years, both of those figures were the fastest any production car had gone.
1999 Nissan Skyline GT-R34
By the definition of what makes a supercar, that of it being made for driving pleasure only, being exotic, and being fairly rapid, the Skyline GT-R34 just makes it into the list. It was a legend when it was introduced, being the highest tech car that Nissan had made before the turn of the century, and it was made in low numbers to keep its exclusivity up.
We could wax poetic about all the features and technology that was shoehorned into the car, but it is one of the best ever turbo cars for one reason, which is the RB26DETT inline-6 twin-turbo engine. “Officially” coming in at 287 HP due to the gentlemen’s agreement between Japanese automakers to limit power to that number, it left the factory with over 330 HP, and the engine, as many were those days, was insanely over-engineered. To give you an idea of just how rock solid it was, it spent an entire day being absolutely thrashed around the Nurburgring Nordschleife by Nissan factory driver Kazuo Shimizu in 1999, and set a lap of 7:52. The only thing that it needed by the end of that day was a little bit of topping up of oil. No rebuild, no adjustments, just about a quarter quart of oil.
It is also one of the best turbo supercars of all time because it was infinitely tunable. With minimal extra bits and a dyno tune, the car on the stock block can produce over 1,000 HP, which is approaching hypercar territory. Many that are streetable and reliable are pushing out 600 to 800 HP even today, and the car has become something of a collectors item as only about 11,000 total R34’s were made. The tunability and reliability of this supercar influenced the decision by Nissan to make the R35, aka the current Skyline GT-R supercar.
2005 Bugatti Veyron 16.4
It wouldn’t be a list about the best turbocharged cars if we didn’t include the supercar that started the true hypercar movement. The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 had a pretty tumultuous development, starting in 1998 when the VW Group bought Bugatti. At first, it was to have an 18 cylinder naturally aspirated engine in the front. Then, it was decided that it should be mid-engined and only 16 cylinders, and that it needed to be turbocharged to make the power they wanted.
Original prototypes kept overheating and sometimes even melting parts of the turbochargers, so between 2002 and 2004, a lot of engineering and design work went into solving a lot of the heat, braking, tire, and setup issues. What resulted was a true masterpiece of engineering, a 8.0L quad-turbocharged W16 engine that put out 987 HP and 922 lbs-ft of torque in the “base model.” One of the overheating issues was solved by simply not putting an engine cover over the W16, but even then, the car sports 10 radiators (3 air-to-liquid intercooler heat exchangers; 3 engine radiators; 1 air conditioning heat exchanger; 1 transmission oil radiator; 1 differential oil radiator; 1 engine oil radiator).
After they solved all of the issues and it went into production, the Veyron became one of the most expensive and fastest production cars of all time. With a rated top speed of 253 MPH, it cleared 60 MPH in under 2.5 seconds, and would reach 124 MPH in 7.3 seconds when the turbos were fully spun up. It could hit 249 MPH in under a minute from a standing start. The Veyron was not just a supercar, it launched the hypercar generation that saw many cars released in the 2010s.
2011 Pagani Huayra
In the world of supercars, Pagani is one of those companies that likes to eschew the “standard” approach to making exotic cars, and instead makes extremely powerful roadgoing works of art. Horacio Pagani himself is what you would call a perfectionist, and for his second car after the Zonda, he tagged Mercedes-AMG again to produce one hell of a turbocharged engine for him.
The result is the 6.0L M158 twin-turbo V12, which produces a rather impressive 730 HP and 738 lbs-ft of torque in the standard Huayra, and is tuned all the way up to 838 HP in the Huayra Imola Roadster. The engine was built specifically and only for the Pagani, using smaller and faster spinning turbos to produce the power needed while reducing any sort of turbo lag. This also helps improve response, and as such the Huayra can leap to 60 MPH in about 2.8 seconds, and will keep going like a bat out of hell up to 238 MPH.
Several versions of the Huayra were built, but with a base starting price of $3.2 million USD, not many were made. The base car had 100 units, and the special edition versions had anywhere between 5 to 50 made, and several one-offs, like the Huayra Hermes, were made at client request. Speaking to the reliability and staying power of the Mercedes-AMG M158, it is the same engine that is used in the Huayra’s successor, the Utopia, tuned to 852 HP.
2013 McLaren P1
When you hear mention of McLaren, the first car that most people think of is the F1 from 1994. However, starting in 2009, before the actual inception of McLaren Automotive, design work had already begun on what would become one third of the Holy Trinity of Hypercars. Interestingly, the P1 is the only turbocharged supercar of the three that make up the Holy Trinity, the other two being the naturally aspirated Porsche 918 Spyder and Ferrari LaFerrari (aka the F70).
The P1 and its two peers are important because they were the first production supercars to use performance hybrid power, showing that electric motors can be used to boost performance of internal combustion powered supercars. The McLaren carries a 3.8L M838TQ twin-turbo V8, combined with one McLaren E-Motor in the transaxle, which gives a combined output of 903 HP. The V8 alone provides a hefty 727 HP and 531 lbs-ft of torque, and until the Senna was released, was the most powerful twin-turbo V8 produced by McLaren.
There were only 375 P1’s made, without including subsequent models like the P1 GTR or P1 LM, and it was considered the most wild of the Holy Trinity. This is mostly because the P1 is rear wheel drive only and turbocharged, so if you disable the stability and traction control, the tail of the car loves to wag about even on moderate throttle. However, it is still an exceptional example of what a turbocharged car can do, and as said, until the Senna and then the 750S, it was the most powerful twin-turbo V8 that McLaren made.
2010 Hennessey Venom GT
Not to be outdone by the Europeans, John Hennessy decided in the mid-2000s that he wanted to build a properly fast car. Based on a Lotus Exige, after almost 10 years of work and official production starting in 2011, the Venom GT was released and immediately proved to be, as stated, one of the fastest cars ever made.
Power comes from a 7.0L LS7 V8 engine from a Corvette, with two whacking great turbochargers slapped onto it that boosts it to 1,244 HP and 1,155 lbs-ft of torque. The interesting thing is that while a new manifold and exhaust setup was needed, the standard LS7 block handles that power without issue.
Let’s just say that the Venom GT met its design goal. With only 13 units produced in total, in 2013 a Venom GT reached 265.7 MPH on a 2 mile long runway, and in 2014, at Kennedy Space Center’s 3.22 mile long runway, it broke through 270 MPH to reach 270.5 MPH. It is also one of the fastest accelerating American cars ever produced, as it can accelerate from 0 to 200 MPH in 14.5 seconds, an unofficial world record, and faster than the Koenigsegg Agera R’s time of 17.7 seconds.
2019 Ferrari SF90 Stradale
While a lot of Ferrari’s used the F154 twin-turbo V8, it can be considered as perfected when it was placed into the SF90 Stradale. Producing 769 HP on its own, it joins with three electric motors in a performance hybrid setup to produce a total of 986 HP. In the SF90 Stradale, the engine has grown from 3.8L as used in the 488 Pista and F8 Tributo, to 4.0L, and has had a complete rework of its intake and exhaust systems to allow for extra cooling and air fed to the turbos.
The engine itself powers the rear wheels, while two of the three hybrid motors handle the front wheels, making it one of Ferrari’s first AWD cars, even if it is electronic AWD. It is with the help of those performance hybrid motors that the SF90 Stradale can catapult itself to 60 MPH in under 2.5 seconds, and push hard to its top speed of 211 MPH. While it is not the fastest of all the cars listed today, it is iconic because it is the first Ferrari to employ a triple hybrid motor setup. It is, by sheer technical definition, a hypercar, although it is marketed and sold as a supercar.
Several special versions of the SF90 have been made, from the Spider roadster to the newly announced SF90 XX, which is set to be released in 2025 and be the first road-legal car from the XX project. The SF90 XX has turned the wick up a little to 786 HP from the engine and 230 HP from the motors, producing a combined 1,016 HP and 593 lbs-ft of torque. While the SF90 Stradale does not have a unit cap, the XX version will have 799 XX coupes and 599 XX Spiders.
