We don’t want to speculate about the demise of the internal combustion engine or how soon its end will come about, but the way things are going it seems likely that batteries and hydrogen will replace petrol and diesel before too long.
Assuming the internal combustion engine’s days are numbered then it’s also probable that, regardless of any electric hybridisation, high-efficiency two, three and four-cylinder car engines will outlive high-performance engines with banks of cylinders and, crucially, higher emissions. Which in turn means that the days are also numbered for glorious multi-cylindered engines that have been designed and built with pleasure as their primary raison d’etre.
The downsizing started years ago in motorsport. Take F1 for example where the permissible cylinder count has gone from unlimited to V12 to V10 to V8 and, from 2014, to the current V6 configuration. Perhaps more relevant is that from 2019 onward Class One of the German Touring Car Championship (DTM) and the Japanese Super GT Series have both switched from naturally-aspirated 4-litre V8s to turbocharged 2-litre 4-cyl engines. Granted, these new 2,000cc turbo motors make more power than the V8s they’ve replaced, but they don’t sound half as good.
Jaguar hasn’t marketed a V12 model for over 20 years and BMW dropped the V12 from its 8 Series range in 1999. Maserati’s Quattroporte was V8-powered for over 50 years, but the V8 GTS variant was recently dropped from the line-up. Similarly, in 2016 Audi announced that its then new V8 engine would be its final V8, while Mercedes-AMG revealed its S65 Final Edition at the 2019 Geneva Show. Confirmation followed soon after that there’ll be no more V12-powered Merc-AMG models, and it’s likely that the next C63 will have a 6-cyl turbo unit in place of the current V8.
Whether racing or road, the direction is clear and it’s our excuse for a celebratory round-up of all the more generously-cylindered engines available now or coming soon the UK.
We’ll also take this opportunity to suggest that, while there are still plenty to choose from, you really shouldn’t miss out on the smooth and rewarding driving experience that these cars deliver.
(All prices quoted are UK retail)
V-EIGHT Engines
Aston Martin Vantage Merc V8
ASTON MARTIN V8
Vantage 3982cc, 510hp, 685Nm, £120,900
CHEVROLET V8
Camaro 6162cc, 453hp, 617Nm, from £35,090
JEEP V8
Grand Cherokee 6.2 6166cc, 700hp, 868Nm, £87,174
AUDI V8
S6 3993cc, 450hp, 520Nm, from £56,680
S7 3993cc, 450hp, 550Nm, from £66,725
S8 3993cc, 520hp, 650Nm, £82,040
RS7 3993cc, 560hp, 700Nm, £85,725
RS7 Performance 3993cc, 605hp, 750Nm, £92,300
S8 plus 3993cc, 605hp, 750Nm, £98,125
AUDI V8 diesel
SQ7 3956cc, 435hp, 900Nm, from £72,460
A8 4134cc, 385hp, 850Nm, from £77,890
Audi RS5 V8
BENTLEY V8
Bentayga 3996cc, 550hp, 770Nm, £136,900
Continental GT 3993cc, 507hp, 660Nm, £140,300
Continental GT S 3993cc, 528hp, 680Nm, £149,800
Mulsanne 6752cc, 512hp, 1020Nm, from £234,000
Mulsanne Speed 6752cc, 537hp, 1100Nm, £257,100
BENTLEY V8 diesel
Bentayga 3956cc, 435hp, 900Nm, £135,800
LAMBORGHINI V8
Urus 3996cc, 650hp, 850Nm, £159,925
LEXUS V8
GS-F 4969cc, 477hp, 530Nm, £70,594
RC-F 4969cc, 477hp, 530Nm, from £56,839
LS600h (hybrid electric) 4969cc, 445hp, 520Nm, from £98,274
FORD V8
Mustang 5.0 5038cc, 450hp, 527Nm, from £40,595
Mustang 5.0 Bullit 5038cc, 459hp, 529Nm, £45,995
LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER V8
Velar SV P550 5000cc, 550hp, 680Nm, from 83,995
Sport 5.0 5000cc, 525hp, 625Nm, from £89,620
Sport 5.0 SVR 5000cc, 575hp, 700Nm, from £99,020
Range Rover 5.0 5000cc, 510hp, 625Nm, from £103,275
Range Rover 5.0 525 5000cc, 525hp, 625Nm, from £110,285
Range Rover 5.0 550 5000cc, 550hp, 680Nm, from £131,625
Range Rover 5.0 565 5000cc, 565hp, 700Nm, from £177,485
RANGE ROVER V8 diesel
Sport SDV8 4367cc, 339hp, 740Nm, from £90,090
Range Rover SDV8 4367cc, 339hp, 740Nm, from £94,380
Ford Mustang Bullitt V8
Jaguar SVR V8 550
JAGUAR V8
F-Pace SVR 5000cc, 550hp, 680Nm, £72,630
XJR575 5000cc, 575hp, 700Nm, £91,140
F-Type R 5000cc, 550hp, 680Nm, from £91,245
XJ Autobiography 5.0 5000cc, 510hp, 625Nm, £98,800
F-Type SVR 5000cc, 575hp, 700Nm, from £111,115
MASERATI V8
Gran Cabrio/Turismo 4691cc, 460hp, 520Nm, from £92,230
KOENIGSEGG V8
Jesko 5032cc, 1600hp, 1500Nm, c.£2.3m
MORGAN V8
Plus 8 4799cc, 367hp, 490Nm, £83,406
Aero 8 4799cc, 367hp, 490Nm, £92,610
NOBLE V8
M600 4414cc, 659hp, 819Nm, £200,000
Koenigsegg Jesko V8
McLaren 720S V8
McLAREN V8
540C 3799cc, 540hp, 540Nm, £137,125
570S 3799cc, 570hp, 600Nm, from £150,815
570GT 3799cc, 570hp, 600Nm, £158,815
GT 3994cc, 620hp, 630Nm, £163,000
600LT 3799cc, 600hp, 620Nm, from £187,625
720S 3994cc, 720hp, 770Nm, from £208,600
Senna 3994cc, 800hp, 800Nm, £750,000
Speedtail (hybrid electric) 3994cc, 1050hp, 800Nm, £1.175m
PORSCHE V8
Cayenne Turbo 3996cc, 550hp, 770Nm, £99,291
Cayenne Coupé Turbo 3996cc, 550hp, 770Nm, £104,729
Panamera GTS 3996cc, 460hp, 620Nm, from £105,963
Panamera Turbo 3996cc, 550hp, 770Nm, from £115,100
Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid 3996cc, 680hp, 850Nm, from £137,140
Koenigsegg Jesko V8
Mercedes-AMG SL 63 V8
MERCEDES-BENZ V8
Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 3982cc, 476hp, 650Nm, £66,905
Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S 3982cc, 510hp, 700Nm, from £73,655
Mercedes-AMG E 63 3982cc, 571hp, 750Nm, from £82,440
SL500 4663cc, 455hp, 700Nm, from £85,090
Mercedes-AMG E 63 S 3982cc, 612hp, 850Nm, from £91,800
Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S 5461cc, 585hp, 760Nm, from £94,280
AMG GT 4.0 3982cc, 476hp, 630Nm, from £98,045
S560 3982cc, 469hp, 700Nm, from £102,200
Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 5461cc, 585hp, 760Nm, from £103,235
AMG GT 4.0 S 3982cc, 522hp, 650Nm, from £111,345
S500 4663cc, 455hp, 700Nm, from £114,130
Mercedes-AMG SL 63 5461cc, 571hp, 900Nm, from £115,310
AMG 63 GT 3982cc, 585hp, 800Nm, £118,565
S 63 AMG 3982cc, 612hp, 900Nm, from £124,875
AMG GT 63 S 3982cc, 639hp, 900Nm, £132,765
AMG G 63 5461cc, 571hp, 760Nm, from £133,235
Mercedes-AMG G 63 3982cc, 585hp, 850Nm, from £140,520
V-TEN Engines
Audi R8 V10
AUDI V10
R8 5204cc, 570hp, 550Nm, from £125,445
R8 Performance 5204cc, 620hp, 580Nm, from £138,445
LAMBORGHINI V10
Huracan LP580-2 5204cc, 580hp, 540Nm, £155,400
Huracan LP610-4 5204cc, 610hp, 560Nm, from £180,804
Huracan LP640-4 5204cc, 640hp, 600Nm, from £215,000
10-cylinder cars from the past:
Dodge Viper (1992-2017)
VW Touareg V10 TDI (2002-2010)
Porsche Carrera GT (2003-2007)
Lamborghini Gallardo (2003-2013)
BMW M5 (2005-2010)
Audi S8 (2006-2009)
Audi RS6 Avant (2008-2011)
Lexus LFA (2011-2012)
Lamborghini V10
V & W TWELVE Engines
Aston Martin Valkyrie V12
ASTON MARTIN V12
DB11 5.2 5204cc, 608hp, 700Nm, £161,900
DB11 5.2 AMR 5204cc, 630hp, 700Nm, £174,995
Rapide AMR 5963cc, 595hp, 630Nm, £194,950
Vanquish 5935cc, 600hp, 630Nm, from £199,950
DBS Superleggera 5204cc, 725hp, 900Nm, £225,000
Valkyrie (hybrid electric) 6500cc, 1176hp, 900Nm, c.£2-3m
AUDI W12
A8 W12 6299cc, 500hp, 625Nm, £98,995
BENTLEY W12
Continental GT W12 5950cc, 635hp, 900Nm, £159,900
Flying Spur W12 5950cc, 635hp, 900Nm, £TBA
Bentayga W12 5950cc, 608hp, 900Nm, £162,700
Bentayga W12 Speed 5950cc, 635hp, 900Nm, £182,200
Continental GT Supersports 5998cc, 710hp, 1017Nm, from £212,500
BMW V12
M760Li 6592cc, 585hp, 850Nm, £136,080
Bentley W12
Ferrari 6.5 V12
FERRARI V12
GTC4 Lusso 6262cc, 690hp, 697Nm, £238,147
812 Superfast 6496cc, 800hp, 718Nm, £260,908
MERCEDES-BENZ V12
AMG SL65 5980cc, 630hp, 1000Nm, £173,175
Mercedes-Maybach S650 5980cc, 630hp, 1000Nm, £175,875
Mercedes-AMG S65 5980cc, 630hp, 1000Nm, from £186,900
LAMBORGHINI V12
Aventador S 6498cc, 740hp, 690Nm, £271,146
Lamborghini V12
Pagani Huayra V12
PAGANI V12
Huayra 5980cc, 730hp, 1000Nm, c.£2.1m
ROLLS-ROYCE V12
Ghost 6592cc, 571hp, 780Nm, £237,600
Wraith 6592cc, 632hp, 800Nm, £249,240
Cullinan 6749cc, 571hp, 850Nm, £252,000
Ghost Black Badge 6592cc, 612hp, 840Nm, £258,768
Dawn 6592cc, 571hp, 780Nm, £282,000
Wraith Black Badge 6592cc, 632hp, 870Nm, £286,410
Phantom 6749cc, 563hp, 900Nm, from £360,000
Lamborghini V12
And finally…
W-SIXTEEN engines
Bugatti Chiron W16
BUGATTI W16
Chiron 7993cc, 1500hp, 1600Nm, c.£2.5m
16-cylinder cars from the past:
Cadillac V16 (1930-1940)
Marmon V16 (1930-1934)
Auto Union Types A, B & C V16 GP racers (1934-1937)
Alfa Romeo Tipo 316 V16 GP racer (1938)
BRM V16 F1 (1950-1955)
BRM H16 F1 (1966)
BMW 7-series ‘Goldfisch’ V16 prototype (1988)
Citzeta Moroda V16 (1991-1995)
Cadillac Sixteen V16 concept (1993)
Rolls-Royce V16 100EX & 101EX concepts (2004)
Bugatti Veyron W16 (2005-2015)
If you’re considering treating yourself to a V8, V10, V12 or W16 then we at JBR Capital can quickly build you a bespoke finance package to suit your needs, so please call one of our experts today on 020 3355 0035 to explore your finance options.
