Most Powerful V8 Cars You Can Buy New In 2025

Reports of the death of the V-8 engine have been greatly exaggerated. With the recent discontinuations of the Dodge ICE Challenger and Charger, as well as the Chevrolet Camaro, it seemed as though there were no more V-8s available. However, 2025 offers a wealth of models. Wealth is actually a pretty good descriptor here because, while there ain’t much muscle left, luxury cars are proudly sporting powerful V-8s, but obviously for much more coin.

There are still a couple of V-8 beasts available at a relatively affordable price, but for 2025, eight cylinders equals six figures on the window sticker. Luxury and performance have always been linked, and that combination has never come cheap, but these are rides with some pretty insane power that justifies the high MSRPs. In an age of EVs, turbo-fours, and V-6 hybrids, it’s refreshing that there are still plenty of V-8s blowing off doors and tearing up the streets.

10

Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance

Horsepower Rating: 427

Base Trim Engine

5L V-8 ICE

Base Trim Transmission

8-speed automatic

Base Trim Drivetrain

Rear-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

472 HP @7100 RPM

Base Trim Torque

395 lb.-ft. @ 4800 RPM

The 2025 Lexus IS compact luxury sedan has a classy, refined style that looks like it comes with a matching level of performance, but the base model IS300 is equipped with an underpowered 241-horsepower 2.0-liter Inline-four. That’s okay, because climbing up the trim ladder unlocks a 311-horsepower V-6 and a vastly superior V-8. The IS500 F Sport Performance lives up to its name with a 5.0-liter V-8 that cranks out 472 glorious ponies when sipping premium fuel.

Starting at just $60,695, it’s hard to beat this combination of luxury and performance in a luxury sedan, and in fact, it’s impossible in 2025. With a perfect engine note, the IS500 croons from 0–60 in 4.4 seconds and delivers a 12.8-second quarter-mile aria. The only downer on this otherwise killer ride is that the lower trims are available with AWD, but the V-8-packing 500s are RWD only.

9

Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Horsepower Rating: 500

Base Trim Engine

5L V8 ICE

Base Trim Transmission

TREMEC 6-speed manual

Base Trim Drivetrain

Rear-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

500 HP @5000 RPM

Base Trim Torque

418 lb.-ft. @ 4900 RPM

Infotainment & Features

9 /10

As of 2024, the Ford Mustang is the last muscle car standing, so they could have taken their foot off the gas and coasted the rest of the way. Instead, they took their already impressive 5.0-liter Coyote V-8 and gave it even more oomph for the Dark Horse edition. The 2025 Mustang Dark Horse gets an astounding 500-horsepower out of its naturally aspirated V-8, making it the baddest non-turbo muscle car of all time.

On top of the awesome performance of the 2025 Mustang Dark Horse, it’s also the most affordable car on this list, starting at $66,379. Bargain hunters can opt for the Mustang GT at $48,555 with its 480-horsepower version of the Coyote V-8, but there’s something seriously alluring about getting over the 500-pony hump. Adding to the animal magnetism of the Dark Horse is the fact that it’s one of the few V-8 cars that has an available six-speed manual transmission, so it’s the American performance enthusiasts’ best choice.

8

Audi S8

Horsepower Rating: 563

Base Trim Transmission

8-speed automatic

Base Trim Drivetrain

All-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

563 HP @6000 RPM

Base Trim Torque

590 lb.-ft. @ 2500 RPM

Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)

15/24/18 MPG

Full-size luxury sedans don’t have to sacrifice performance for the added room, as the 2025 Audi S8 proves. The 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 produces 563 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque, which really gets this executive car moving. That’s no lie either, as the S8 rockets from 0–60 in just 3.2 seconds and blazes a quarter-mile in 11.6 seconds with a top speed of 155 miles an hour. Again, this is a full-size luxury car, not an exotic sports car, though it certainly performs like one.

All of that amazing power isn’t as bad on gas as one would think. There is a cylinder deactivation system as well as a mild hybrid setup with an electric motor and battery to give the S8 22 MPG on the highway, which is great for a 500+ horsepower ride. Speaking of ride, the S8 may be big, but it drives like a smaller car with agile cornering and responsive steering. This level of luxury and performance is fairly mind-blowing and comes with an equally wallet-exploding price tag, starting at $126,595.

7

Aston Martin Vantage

Horsepower Rating: 656

Base Trim Engine

4.0L Twin-Turbo V8 Gas

Base Trim Transmission

8-Speed automatic

Base Trim Drivetrain

Rear-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

656 hp

Base Trim Torque

590 lb-ft

Aston Martin ditched the 12-cylinder engine for a V-8 in the Vantage for 2025, causing concern among enthusiasts, but the new format actually gives the car an extra 128 ponies. The 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 makes 656 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque, which is loads better than the previous Vantage F1 edition. The new wonder-engine is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, so there’s no manual available, but drivers won’t miss it when they experience the sheer power of the car.

This luxury sports car is a rolling work of art with a simply stunning design and sexy curves. The only problem is, it’s so damn fast, people might not get a chance to appreciate its beauty when it flies by in top gear. With a 3.2-second 0-60 time, 11.1-second quarter-mile, and 202 MPH top speed, the only lasting impression onlookers will get of the 2025 Aston Martin Vanatage is a wondrous and thunderous blur. Starting at $194,086, it scores a moral victory for coming in under $200,000, but it’s still an elite ride that most people can only dream of.

6

Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing

Horsepower Rating: 668

Base Trim Engine

6.2L Supercharged V8 Gas

Base Trim Transmission

6-Speed Manual

Base Trim Drivetrain

Rear-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

668 hp

Base Trim Torque

659 lb-ft

Cadillac has traditionally been a slow-rolling luxury status symbol, but the CT5-V Blackwing brings some much-needed urgency to the brand. Packing a 6.2-liter supercharged V-8, the Blackwing explodes with 668 horsepower and 659 pound-feet of torque. It also blows off the line with a launch control system that delivers a 3.5-second 0-60 time and an 11.4-second quarter-mile, complemented by a completely bonkers 205 MPH top speed. It comes with a six-speed manual option, but the 10-speed manual automatic makes it slightly quicker.

The Performance Traction Management system allows cornering on the accelerator for more skilled drivers and has magnetorheological (that’s a real word, apparently) dampers that sense the road and adjust constantly for the smoothest ride possible. The otherwise mediocre interior does come with an awesome 9k hi-res 33-inch digital display gauge cluster/infotainment system that makes you forget about the mid-level luxury. The 2025 CT5-V Blackwing starts under $100,000, but options and packages can send the price soaring.

5

Chevrolet Corvette Z06

Horsepower Rating: 670

Base Trim Engine

5.5L V-8 ICE

Base Trim Transmission

8-speed auto-shift manual

Base Trim Drivetrain

Rear-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

670 HP @8400 RPM

Base Trim Torque

460 lb.-ft. @ 6300 RPM

The C8 Corvette shocked the Bowtie Universe with its supercar design and mid-engine configuration, but it is undoubtedly the baddest version of the iconic American sports car ever. While long-time fans argue whether the C8 actually qualifies as a ‘Vette, pure speed junkies are reveling in the amazing performance of this ride. The 2025 Corvette Z06 gets 670 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque out of a naturally-aspirated 5.5-liter V-8, which sounds like sorcery, but is very real. Hitting 0-60 in only 2.6 seconds and ripping off a 10.5-second quarter-mile, the Z06 has the kind of performance that normally costs three or four times more.

The $116,995 starting price seems a bit steep, and definitely isn’t in most people’s budgets, but it’s an absolute deal for a supercar. Comparable Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and Bugattis can go for millions, so $100,000-ish for a Z06 is an actual steal of a price. Even non-exotic luxury sports cars and sedans with similar performance can stretch into the half-million range, while this homegrown hero is barely into the six-figures. It doesn’t hurt that this affordable American supercar has styling and handling that rival the European exotics and, in fact, make it a near-perfect ride with form, function, and affordability.

4

Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid

Horsepower Rating: 671

Base Trim Engine

2.9L V6 ICE

Base Trim Transmission

PDK 8-speed auto-shift manual

Base Trim Drivetrain

Rear-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

348 HP @5400 RPM

Base Trim Torque

368 lb.-ft. @ 1900 RPM

Porsche is legendary for its sports cars and has carved out a niche for itself in the crossover segment with the highly regarded Cayenne, but it apparently does luxury sports sedans just as well. The 2025 Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid is a plug-in hybrid that mates a 512-horsepower 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 with a 187-horsepower electric motor for a combined output of 671 galloping ponies and 686 pound-feet of torque. There aren’t many sedans that can hit 0–60 in 2.8 seconds, devour a quarter-mile in 11.1 seconds, or top out at 196 MPH, but the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid can, making it the most beautifully insane daily driver ever conceived.

While it definitely has some sporty style, this is a surprisingly practical four-door ride with plenty of room for the whole family and a useful hatchback-accessible storage area. There are very few, if any, 11-second cars that are also good on a Costco run or dropping the kiddies off at soccer practice, but the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid can do it all, and in record time. Of course, this hyper-family ride starts at $228,495, so it’s not meant for the average brood that probably lives in a house that costs less. For the upwardly mobile family, however, this Porsche has the right combination of practicality and performance.

3

BMW M5

Horsepower Rating: 717

Base Trim Engine

4.4-Liter Twin-Turbo V8 Gas PHEV

Base Trim Transmission

8-Speed Automatic

Base Trim Drivetrain

All-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

717 hp

Base Trim Torque

738 lb-ft

The BMW M5 got a redesign for 2025 and is now only available as a plug-in hybrid, which sounds kind of weak, but this is still an M5, so you know it’s a performance beast. With a 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 and an electric motor, the M5 blasts out 717 horsepower, which is around 100 more ponies than the 2024. All-wheel drive is once again standard, but there is a driving mode to enable rear-wheel drive for drifting, donuts, and just smoking the tires. The hybrid engine setup is paired with an eight-speed automatic, and the car goes up to 27 miles solely on battery power.

It wasn’t that long ago that a 13-second ride was the standard for performance vehicles from muscle cars to sports cars, but this new era of turbocharged, supercharged, and hyper-hybrids has established the ten-second sedan, which is completely nuts in all the right ways. The M5 is capable of reaching 0-60 in three seconds, flying down a quarter-mile in 10.9 seconds, and hitting 190 MPH. Of course, this kind of over-the-top performance comes with a price tag to match, with the M5 starting at $123,275, but for those who can afford it, it’s well worth it.

2

Bentley Continental GT

Horsepower Rating: 771

Base Trim Engine

4L V8 Hybrid

Base Trim Transmission

8-speed auto-shift manual

Base Trim Drivetrain

All-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

591 HP @6000 RPM

Base Trim Torque

590 lb.-ft. @ 2000 RPM

Bentley has retired the 6.0-liter W-12 engine for the 2025 Continental GT, replacing it with a more powerful eight-cylinder hybrid system. A 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 gets an electric motor assist to produce an astounding 771 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque. This is the same hybrid powertrain as the Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid, but the Bentley makes an additional 100 ponies. The ultra-luxury sports car comes with an eight-speed dual clutch transmission, standard all-wheel drive, and boasts 30 miles of battery-only driving range.

GT stands for “Grand Touring”, but the 2025 Continental GT is less of a tourer and more of a land rocket, so perhaps it should be “G-Force Terror.” This car can go from a dead stop to 60 MPH in just 2.8 seconds and owns the quarter-mile in 10.8 seconds, but its 208 MPH top speed is the true mark of its doomsday capabilities. Bentley is a top-tier luxury brand, so it is expected that the Continental GT is going to be pricey, but, holy moley, it starts at $296,950 and goes up to $363,550, which could get you five or six other cars on this list.

1

Mercedes-AMG SL63 E Performance

Horsepower Rating: 805

Base Trim Engine

4L V-8 ICE

Base Trim Transmission

9-speed automatic

Base Trim Drivetrain

All-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

577 HP @5500 RPM

Base Trim Torque

590 lb.-ft. @ 2500 RPM

The 2025 Mercedes-AMG SL-Class luxury sports car has some of the most gorgeous styling in the segment that projects both class and aggression. It’s also a burner from the ground up, with the entry-level SL43 coming with a 416-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four. Of course, the 577 raging ponies from the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 of the SL63 are even better. The SL63 E Performance is even more killer, with an 805-horsepower V-8 hybrid setup that powers a 10.1-second quarter-mile, which is factory drag car-worthy acceleration. With a top speed of nearly 200 MPH, it’s also treading some hypercar territory.

The SL63 E Performance couples the 603-horsepower 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 with a 201-horsepower electric motor for a combined output of 805 ponies and an earth-shaking 1,047 pound-feet of torque. All of that raw power is somewhat controlled by the all-wheel-drive and four-wheel-steering systems, but this is still not a car for rookies, as it’s essentially a professional race car in the disguise of a sophisticated roadster. It’s also not a car for thrifty enthusiasts, with a starting price of $208,300, which is how much a decent starter home goes for these days.