As much as companies think electric powertrains are the future, nothing can replace the sound and feeling of a V8. Mercedes-Benz went all in on downsizing and hybridization. After an outcry from enthusiasts, the company slowly realized the change wasn’t the smartest move. The latest Mercedes V8 engine, the M177 Evo in the flagship S-Class sedan, brings an all-new design that helps it rev to 6,800 rpm. This new design was officially introduced in two SUVs, but it’s slowly working its way through the range.
Inside, the engine uses a flat-plane crankshaft. That means the engine has less rotating mass and lower internal vibrations, leading to quicker response times. While Mercedes is proud of the redline, other powerplants with the same design can go even higher. Having said that, Mercedes-AMG has since introduced the CLE 646 Spezialanfertigung, boasting an upgraded version of this new engine.
Here are the highest-revving flat-plane V8 models ever, from American 2,000-hp monsters to hybridized Italian exotics.
10
Koenigsegg Jesko
8,500 rpm
It’s natural that engineering-led Koenigsegg would make its way onto this list, and the Jesko maximizes all the performance possible from its V8 engine. The unit displaces 5.0 liters and makes an absurd 1,600 horsepower and 1,600 lb-ft of torque, mainly thanks to a pair of turbochargers. The powerplant can also negate turbo lag by using two pressurized air compressors that fill in the missing boost pressure. Despite the high redline, it can reach maximum engine speed in just 0.2 seconds, and there’s a transmission design that utilizes seven clutches.
9
Hennessey Venom F5
8,500 rpm
If 1,600 hp in a Jesko isn’t enough, the Hennessey Venom F5 might be more your speed. Its Fury 6.6-liter twin-turbo V8 makes a maximum of 2,031 hp all the way up to an 8,500 rpm redline. You can have it with either a seven-speed semi-automatic transmission or, if you’re really mad, a six-speed manual gearbox. It goes from 0-60 mph in just 2.5 seconds, and reaches 250 mph in 15.5 seconds. The secret to all that power is drag-racing components added to GM’s pushrod V8.
8
Chevrolet Corvette Z06
8,600 rpm
Chevrolet upset purists when it switched the C8 Corvette to use not only a mid-engined layout, but also a flat-plane crank design. It doesn’t have the same growl as previous ‘Vette engines, but it’s certainly a lot quicker. The Z06’s powertrain also uses a dual overhead camshaft and variable valve timing system, making it the most powerful naturally aspirated V8 in any production car ever.
The 5.5-liter lump makes 670 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque without turbochargers, and it weighs only 473 pounds with all the fluids brimmed. GM actually stripped down a Ferrari 458 engine to see just how that Italian supercar achieved its high redline. The unit is a detuned version of the C8.R racecar, too, which is an infinitely cool fact to bring to your next cars and coffee. So is the fact that it uses titanium connecting rods.
7
SSC Tuatara
8,800 rpm
Existing amid the fabled Bugatti, Koenigsegg, and Hennessey, SSC is slightly forgotten about, but it doesn’t deserve to be. The Tuatara makes an impressive 1,750 hp on E85 fuel thanks to a 5.9-liter twin-turbo V8 that revs to 8,800 rpm. A two-way average speed record of 282.9 mph makes it one of the fastest street-legal cars ever. We can’t imagine you’d need any more, but SSC also makes the Aggressor version, a model that produces 2,200 hp.
6
Ferrari 458
9,000 rpm
As the poster car for a generation of Ferrari fans, the 458 Italia may go down as one of Maranello’s high points. This supercar’s 4.5-liter V8 is the last of the line for naturally aspirated mid-engined Ferrari models, producing 562 hp and 398 lb-ft of torque through the company’s first dual-clutch transmission.
Base Trim Engine
4.5L V8 Gas
Base Trim Drivetrain
Rear-Wheel Drive
Base Trim Horsepower
570 hp
Fuel Economy
13/17 MPG
Segment
Supercar
The F136 powerplant even made its way over to Maserati models of the era, yet those cars used a cross-plane design for pure theater. Ferrari pushed performance limits and kept the flat-plane crank.
5
Porsche 918
9,150 rpm
The Porsche 918 may be seen as the predictably fast choice out of the Holy Trinity of 2010s hypercars, also including the Ferrari LaFerrari and McLaren P1, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that its naturally aspirated 4.6-liter V8 spins all the way up to 9,150 rpm. Porsche went all out with dry-sump lubrication, lightweight connecting rods, and even top-mounted exhaust pipes that shorten the distance the air needs to travel to exit. With the hybrid system, it produces 875 hp and 944 lb-ft of torque.
4
McLaren W1
9,200 rpm
The McLaren P1 was already frighteningly fast, but the W1 takes it to another level. The twin-turbo V8 paired with the electric motor makes a crazy 1,258 hp, all going through the back wheels. To help the engine rev higher than any previous supercar from the British marque, the cylinders are sprayed with plasma, the valves have a special carbon coating, and there’s a viscous damper for the crankshaft. Even the hybrid bits are much more impressive compared to the P1 because they weigh much less while delivering double the power.
3
Lamborghini Temerario
10,000 rpm
Lamborghini may not use a screaming V10 in its baby supercar anymore, but it believes that a high-revving V8 is just as theatrical. The 4.0-liter twin-turbo powerplant in the Temerario screams to 10,000 rpm, although its sound is a bit disappointing compared to older models. The powerplant produces 907 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque, though, so it has no problem keeping up with hypercars. The company says that even with this high rev limit, it still focuses on drivability and low-end torque without disappointing as the revs climb.
2
Ariel Atom V8
10,600 rpm
One of the most fascinating high-revving V8s is the Ariel Atom V8, which is more of an engine strapped to some wheels. The 2.4-liter supercharged eight-cylinder is made up of two motorcycle engines sharing a crankshaft, which helps it weigh just shy of 200 pounds and spin at a dizzying 10,600 rpm. You’d want to keep the revs up too, as peak torque is only 268 lb-ft at 7,750 rpm. As a track-focused weapon, it also uses a sequential gearbox, which helps it hit 100 mph in just 5.7 seconds. There’s even a chance a new V8 version is on the way.
1
Czinger 21C
11,000 rpm
The Czinger 21C’s tiny 2.88-liter engine makes it not only the highest-revving motor on our list, but also the most power-dense combustion V8 in the world. That’s because it produces 950 hp through a twin-turbo design that sits behind the driver and passenger, who are also positioned one in front of the other. Many of the vehicle’s components are 3D-printed, bringing the total weight to just 2,910 pounds.
The 2026 specs of the 21C put the engine at a weight of only 231 pounds, while the front-mounted electric motor also contributes to bringing the total output to 1,250 hp. The one-behind-the-other seating position helps make the frontal area smaller, and even if it’s not very social, the uninterrupted view with the Spyder’s removable top makes you feel like a racing driver.
Sources: Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari, Koenigsegg, Czinger, Ariel, McLaren, Porsche, Lamborghini, SSC, Chevrolet
