There was a time when a naturally aspirated V8 engine was a common sight under the hoods of sedans and pickup trucks, at least in the US. The engines offer effortless power, undiluted sound, and simple mechanical charm and dependability. But stricter emissions rules and rising gas prices have pushed automakers towards smaller engines relying on turbocharging to maintain performance while meeting efficiency targets, including for most V8s these days.
That said, a few holdouts remain. General Motors, for example, continues to develop a new naturally aspirated small-block V8 destined for its full-size SUVs and pickups, and the Chevrolet Corvette. But the trend is clear: naturally aspirated V8s are becoming something of a dying breed, and driving one in the years ahead will be a special and increasingly rare treat. Below, we’ve listed five vehicles that still offer naturally aspirated V8s – perfect if you want to reserve yours before this iconic engine disappears.
Note
Vehicles are arranged in alphabetical order, based on the manufacturer's name.
Chevrolet Corvette Z06
Priced From $120,300
| Engine | 5.5-liter V8 |
|---|---|
| Power | 670 hp |
| Torque | 460 lb-ft |
| 0-60 mph | 2.6 seconds (with Z07 Package) |
| Top Speed | 195 mph |
There’s probably no better vehicle to start this list than the Chevrolet Corvette, since America’s sports car has almost exclusively offered V8 engines, apart from its earliest years, when it came with an inline-six. The latest C8 generation has pushed performance to hypercar levels, and that’s no exaggeration. The Corvette ZR1 churns out a wild 1,064 horsepower, though that’s courtesy of a twin-turbo setup.
When it comes to naturally aspirated performance, the Corvette Z06 sits at the top. The engine that powers it is nothing short of a masterpiece. With 670 hp, it’s the most powerful naturally aspirated V8 ever in a production car, a feat that alone makes it instantly collectible.
It’s also a remarkably sophisticated design. Code-named LT6, it features dual overhead cams, dry-sump lubrication, and a flat-plane crankshaft, plus it will happily rev to 8,600 rpm. Lightweight internals, including forged aluminum pistons, titanium connecting rods, and hollow camshafts, combine with a short stroke to make the engine exceptionally eager to rev.
That revving ability also produces a note that puts modern Ferrari V8s to shame. Chevy spent two years fine-tuning the intake and exhaust, with the intake exploiting Helmholtz resonance to boost volumetric efficiency and broaden the torque curve.
Ford Mustang Dark Horse
Priced From $64,080
| Engine | 5.0-liter V8 |
|---|---|
| Power | 500 hp |
| Torque | 418 lb-ft |
| 0-60 mph | 4.2 seconds (estimate) |
| Top Speed | 166 mph |
Not too long ago, the Ford Mustang’s V8 was getting easily beaten by engines with fewer cylinders, especially when forced induction was involved. Even as recently as 2010, the Mustang GT only made do with 315 horsepower. Well aware of the deficit, Ford was secretly developing a new naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8, an engine whose displacement offered some historical significance to go with its performance.
The engine was the original Coyote, which debuted in the 2011 Mustang GT with a 412-hp rating, and in its most recent evolution pumps out 500 hp in the current Mustang Dark Horse. The Coyote came with an aluminum block, forged internals, four valves per cylinder, and dual overhead cams. Yet it wasn’t some exotic, hand-built powerplant. It had to be robust and versatile enough for high-volume production, powering everything from Mustangs to Ford’s SUVs and pickups.
While the engine is impressive on its own, tuners know it also loves extreme modifications. Ford even offers a factory supercharger upgrade, pushing output past 800 hp while keeping the warranty intact. It’s a testament to the great engineering that went into the Coyote.
Over the years, Ford continued to refine the Coyote's design, culminating in the Dark Horse version. Unlike earlier iterations, this version has been dialed in for stronger top-end performance, a key attribute for a car aimed at track enthusiasts who value high-rev thrills and sustained cornering power. For V8 fans, the Dark Horse represents a great opportunity to enjoy raw, high-revving American V8 power.
Jeep Wrangler 392
Priced From $69,995
| Engine | 6.4-liter V8 |
|---|---|
| Power | 470 hp |
| Torque | 470 lb-ft |
| 0-60 mph | 4.5 seconds |
| Top Speed | 112 mph (governed) |
Jeep shoehorned its 6.4-liter V8 Hemi (392 if you’re into cubic inches) into the Wrangler for the 2021 model year, and even today it still feels like the vehicle is only here because of some rogue engineer obsessed with horsepower. The Wrangler doesn’t need to offer this level of muscle, especially in a vehicle designed primarily for crawling over rocks and trudging through mud. But we’re certainly glad that it does.
Jeep made sure everyone will know there’s a V8 under the hood. The engine is loud from the start, and that’s even before you press the button on the dash marked with a pair of exhaust tips. Hit it and the exhaust valves swing fully open, letting the Hemi breathe easier and shout loudly enough to scare the neighbors.
Getting a Wrangler with the 6.4-liter is now easier than ever thanks to the launch of the 2026 Wrangler Willys 392, a stripped-back alternative to the range-topping Wrangler Rubicon 392. While Rubicon versions have crept past the $100,000 mark, the Willys carries a much more attainable MSRP while still delivering the same tire-shredding V8 performance.
Nothing says freedom quite like a Jeep Wrangler with a V8 under the hood, and the combination of brute performance and serious off-road capability is rare, and may not be repeated. Jeep already came close to killing the option once, and there’s no guarantee it won’t happen next time. That makes it a tempting buy today, as long as you can afford the horrendous fuel bills.
Sources: Chevrolet, Ford, Jeep, Lexus, Ram
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This article originally appeared on CarBuzz and is republished here with permission.
