Your options for star-spangled sports cars without turbos, superchargers, or electric motors are dwindling.
We live in a golden age of horsepower output. From immensely powerful EVs to twin-turbocharged and supercharged V8s, there’s no shortage of asphalt-kicking grunt. However, the share of new cars with naturally aspirated V8 cars is dwindling. It’s dwindling even further in the American car market.
With the death of the Challenger, Charger, and Camaro, American cars with naturally aspirated V8s are slim pickings
There’s something magical about a naturally aspirated V8 in a performance car. Apply the throttle, and an old-school eight-cylinder mill turns air and fuel into thrust sans forced induction. However, with the popularity and prevalence of turbos, superchargers, and electrification, an “all-motor” V8 car application is a disappearing presence.
Not even the American car market, a landscape once overflowing with naturally aspirated V8s, is immune. In fact, with the departure of cars like the Dodge Challenger, Dodge Charger, Chevrolet Camaro, and special-edition Chrysler 300C, the pool of American cars packing NA V8s is down to just four.
| Make and model | Engine | Horsepower/Torque | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Mustang GT | 5.0L V8 | 480 HP, 415 lb-ft | $44,090 |
| Ford Mustang Dark Horse | 5.0L V8 | 500 HP, 418 lb-ft | $60,865 |
| Chevrolet Corvette Stingray | 6.2L V8 | 490 HP, 470 lb-ft | $69,995 |
| Chevrolet Corvette Z06 | 5.5L V8 | 670 HP, 460 lb-ft | $113,795 |
For starters, Ford CEO Jim Farley asserts that the V8-powered Ford Mustang isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. As such, the Mustang GT and Dark Horse continue to pack the 5.0L DOHC “Coyote” V8 to the tune of 480 and 500 horsepower, respectively. However, the Mustang GT bumps its power output to 486 ponies with the optional performance exhaust.
As for Chevrolet’s contributions, the base Chevrolet Corvette Stingray develops 490 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque from its 6.2L LT2 V8. Like the Mustang GT, a performance exhaust system adds a few ponies, taking the Stingray’s stable to 495.
Of course, the C8 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 is the king of NA V8 American cars. However, you won’t find a cross-plane crankshaft in this application. Instead, the Z06’s 5.5L V8 is a high-revving flat-plane application. As a result, the LT6 V8 will produce 670 horsepower at a dizzying (and musical) 8,400 RPM.
