Automobile lovers have been panicking concerning the supposed extinction of the V8 for years now, even in supposedly “secure” territories such because the supercar phase. Granted, a few of this panic is partially justified: it’s true that many automakers have chosen to depart V8 energy by the wayside in an effort to modernize and electrify their lineup. Even on the planet of full-size pickup vehicles, well-known for having embraced V8 grunt in many years previous, solely three fashions can be found with a V8 for 2024. In different areas of the market, issues aren’t a lot better. The supply of V8 energy is dwindling in each phase, from sedans to SUVs. Nevertheless, some carmakers have both made a U-turn on their determination to drop V8s or just refused to think about the thought altogether. Listed here are 10 fashions that can carry V8 energy into the following decade and past.
Porsche Cayenne
The enduring Porsche Cayenne was one of many first fashions to introduce the idea of a sporty luxurious SUV to the market. The 2024 mannequin acquired a facelift, together with a powertrain improve for the top-tier S trim, which is now powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 producing 468 hp. There’s additionally a extra highly effective Cayenne Turbo model, with a 650-hp 4.0-liter V8 underneath the hood. Final month, Porsche made a significant announcement concerning the way forward for the V8: whereas the fourth era of the Cayenne goes to have an all-electric powertrain, the V8-powered third-gen model will survive alongside it somewhat than get replaced by it. This setup will proceed as much as and past 2030, securing the V8’s place in Porsche’s future.
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Ford Mustang
Sitting subsequent to the Corvette within the American automotive pantheon is the Ford Mustang. This icon of the muscle automobile world additionally depends on a V8 to take it from A to B whereas having some enjoyable alongside the way in which, and that’s the way in which issues will keep for the foreseeable future. As Dodge’s electrification program marches on, Ford is now the one automaker left constructing a V8 muscle automobile. The Blue Oval is taking issues even additional for 2025, declaring their love of V8 energy with a bonkers road-legal model of the Mustang GT3 race automobile, dubbed the Mustang GTD. The GTD is powered by a supercharged 5.2-liter V8, with an output someplace within the 800-hp area.
McLaren P18
Whereas some V8 purists reject electrification in all its varieties, together with hybrid setups, McLaren is selecting to embrace it as a solution to hold the V8 alive for longer. A successor to the long-lasting McLaren P1 is within the works, with a lot hypothesis happening concerning its as-yet-unknown title. Nevertheless, we do know its inner codename: P18. We additionally know what we will anticipate finding underneath its hood when it comes out: McLaren has confirmed a V8 engine might be included in a hybrid powertrain, courtesy of engine provider Ricardo, which has solid a brand new long-term partnership with the Woking-based firm. The hybrid V8 powertrain is a vital a part of what McLaren calls its “Way forward for Efficiency” technique for the long run.
Lamborghini Temerario
The long-awaited successor to the Huracan, the Lamborghini Temerario, is lastly right here. The brand new entry-level mannequin within the Lamborghini household sports activities an modern hybrid powertrain, whose internal-combustion ingredient comes within the type of a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 producing 789 hp by itself. The V8 is paired with three electrical motors for a complete energy output of 908 hp. It is a vital departure from the V10s and V12s usually related to the model; it’s additionally probably the most power-dense engines ever sported by a Lambo. One other spotlight of the brand new V8 is its very excessive revving means. In line with Lamborghini, its redline is 10,000 rpm, 500 rpm increased than the Revuelto.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado (and its GMC-badged counterpart, the Sierra) usually are not planning on ditching their V8 engines. Whereas there may be now an all-electric member of the Silverado lineup within the type of the brand new Silverado EV, the V8 isn’t going anyplace. There are at the moment two totally different V8 choices on provide for this 12 months’s mannequin. The smallest is a 5.3-liter unit, producing 355 hp. The bigger one is a 6.2-liter engine producing 420 hp, which additionally unlocks the Silverado’s most towing capability of 13,300 lbs. The bigger V8 can also be paired with an energetic twin exhaust, which produces a extra aggressive word. Each V8 choices are additionally accessible within the Sierra.
BMW M5
One other V8 whose long-term survival comes because of hybridization is the one which powers the BMW M5. The mannequin’s seventh era, making its debut for the 2025 mannequin 12 months, has now been revealed. Probably the most main replace comes within the type of its new hybrid powertrain, which has already been launched within the XM SUV. The 4.4-liter twin-turbo engine, producing 577 hp by itself, is paired with the M Hybrid drive system, consisting of an 194-hp electrical motor included within the transmission and powered by a 14.8-kWh battery. The ensuing mixed output is 717 hp.
Aston Martin Vantage, DBX, and DB12
Aston Martin has pledged to maintain its inner combustion engines properly into the 2030s. The British agency believes that plug-in hybrid know-how is not only a bridging know-how, however somewhat the reply to extending exterior combustion’s life. Aston’s CEO, Lawrence Stroll, has additionally delayed the corporate’s EV rollout, citing a scarcity of curiosity within the high-end phase. Due to that, the automaker will hold its V8 and V12 engines alive.
As you would possibly know, Mercedes provides Aston Martin with 4.0-liter V8 engines, used within the Vantage, DBX, and DB12. Fortunately, Mercedes agrees with Aston Martin and believes there may be room for V8s past 2030. Like Aston Martin, Mercedes-AMG will seemingly add electrical energy to the 4.0 V8, and we have already seen what ridiculous output figures it could actually obtain in merchandise just like the AMG GT 63 S E Efficiency.
Cadillac Escalade
The beloved Escalade goes electrical, however GM is not placing all of its eggs in a single basket. In January 2023, GM introduced that it might be investing $854 million in its sixth-generation small-block V8. Not a lot has been heard about this engine since, however it should seemingly energy each GM mannequin that’s intently related to the V8 engine, together with the ‘Sclade. The Escalade is now 26 years previous, in its fifth era, and has by no means been powered by something however a V8 engine. Caddy supplied a turbocharged diesel for the present mannequin, but it surely was dropped for the 2025 mannequin 12 months attributable to a scarcity of curiosity.
Cadillac remains to be going forward with the Escalade IQ, however if you happen to have a look at its entry-level worth and commonplace options, it is clear that it will likely be a distinct segment mannequin, very like the Escalade-V.
BMW X5 M
BMW is already engaged on the next-generation X5, which can embody ICE and EV fashions. For the reason that X5 M was all the time probably the greatest all-round and best-selling M fashions, we now have little doubt that the X5 M will as soon as once more be a part of the vary. In line with BMW, its well-known S58 4.4-liter V8 might be clear sufficient to fulfill the harder 2025 EU rules, which implies they’re going to seemingly stick round till 2030, probably past.
Just like the M5 and M5 Touring, the X5 M will seemingly use the PHEV model of the S58 that made its debut within the XM. Meaning not less than 717 hp and 738 lb-ft of torque, and a few all-electric driving vary to maintain the greenies joyful.
Koenigsegg Gemera
The Koenigsegg Gemera made its debut a number of years in the past, however manufacturing solely began lately. The Gemera was presupposed to be accessible with two engine choices, together with the Tiny Pleasant Large, or a twin-tubocharged V8. As you possibly can think about, most hypercar clients opted for the bigger engine, as a result of why not? A mixed energy output of two,269 horsepower beats 1,381 hp by a major margin, and fewer is not all the time extra.
Manufacturing of the Gemera might be restricted to 300 models, however Koenigsegg solely has the capability to construct 60 per 12 months, so it should take not less than six years to get all of them out the door.
