10 Most Powerful V-8 Powered German Sports Cars

Germany is known for producing some of the best cars in the world, especially when it comes to performance and luxury. But what about the most powerful V-8-powered German sports cars? n this article, we will explore some of the coolest V-8-powered German sports cars ever made, from the classic BMW 507 Roadster to the modern-day M5.

Whether you prefer natural aspiration or turbocharging, rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, coupe or sedan, there certainly is a V-8-powered German sports car for you. Read on to find out more about these amazing vehicles and what makes them so special.

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10 BMW 507 Roadster

Power: 147 Horsepower

Back in the 50s, BMW was contacted by an American automobile importer named Max Hoffman, who after observing the success of cars like the expensive Mercedes-Benz 300SL and cheap Triumph and MG sports cars, advised them to develop a roadster of their own in order to fill the gap. He thought that if a trusted manufacturer could produce a model to fit between these two points, it could potentially lead to great success.

Performance

BMW took this advice to heart and developed the 507 Roadster which was powered by an aluminum alloy 3.2-liter V-8 engine that produced 147 horsepower and accelerated the car from 0 to 60 in 11.1 seconds.

9 Porsche 928

Power: 219 Horsepower

The 928 is a grand tourer produced by Porsche between 1977 – 1995, and it combines the speed of a sports car with the comfort of a luxury car. The model at the time was Porche’s only model to be fitted with a V-8 engine and served as the company’s flagship car until its discontinuation in 1995.

Performance

The car was designed as a lightweight mass-produced model, and because of this Porsche made the decision to construct a number of its major body parts out of aluminum instead of steel, adding to its agility. Through the years, the 928 was offered with a variety of V-8s ranging in displacement from 4.5 liter to 5.4 liter, with the larger one producing 219 horsepower.

8 Audi R8 4.2 FSI

Power: 414 Horsepower

Based on a sleek concept designed by Frank Lamberty and Julian Hoenig called the Audi Le Mans Quattro, the R8 made its debut at the International Geneva Motor Show in 2003 before finally launching in 2006.

Performance

Built on the Lamborghini Gallardo chassis, the first generation R8 featured a strong revving naturally aspirated 4.2-liter V-8 engine that produced 414 horsepower, making it a force to be reckoned with. The R8 is undoubtedly an unsung hero, upon its release, the R8 saw critical acclaim, being described by six-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Jacky Ickx as the “best handling road car today”. The model also found its way into pop culture by being featured in big-budget action movies such as Iron Man and Transporter.

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7 BMW M3 (E92)

Power: 444 Horsepower

The E92 M3 is a high-performance version of the 2008 3 series and it holds the distinction of being the first and only M3 that offers a V-8 engine as standard. After this model, BMW reverted to using the usual inline six making the E92 M3 quite a unique car.

Performance

In true BMW fashion, the M version featured some visual upgrades over the base model, it was equipped with black kidney grilles, an M Performance exhaust, M rims, and fully carbon fiber mirrors, spoiler, and splitter. Powering this model was a 4.4-liter S65 V-8 engine that produced 414 horsepower. The engine sends its power through either a 6-speed manual or an optional 7-speed Getrag “M-DCT” transmission.

6 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG (W204)

Power: 451 Horsepower

The C63 AMG is a performance version of the W204 C-Class that started being offered back in 2008. It featured better handling than its predecessors notably the most responsive steering of any Mercedes to date and a potent 6.2-liter V-8 engine that produced 451 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque.

Performance

The engine powers the car through a 7G-Tronic seven-speed automatic transmission as it rapidly accelerates from a standstill to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds and keeps going until finally hitting a top speed of 155 mph. Thanks to its large and powerful engine, the C63 AMG is a superb offering for anyone looking for a car that can provide muscle car levels of acceleration while still retaining Mercedes’s elegant style and luxury, making it an ideal candidate as a future classic.

5 RUF RGT-8

Power: 542 Horsepower

RUF Automobile is a German manufacturer that started off building cars using Porche chassis, and their most recognizable model is known as the RGT-8, which made its debut in the year 2000. Since then the model has gone through three generations with the last one showcased at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.RUF Automobile is a German manufacturer that started off building cars using Porche chassis, and their most recognizable model is known as the RGT-8, which made its debut in the year 2000. Since then the model has gone through three generations with the last one showcased at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.

Performance

The third-generation RGT-8 is built on a Porsche 991 chassis and utilizes a 4.5-liter V-8 engine instead of the usual 400-horsepower flat-six found on the 911. The swapped 542 horsepower engine generates 369 pound-feet of torque and takes the car up to a top speed of 197.6 mph.

The engine is custom-made by RUF and its aluminum block, flat crank, and dry-sump lubrication provide it with the necessary durability for long grueling track races. This comes as no surprise because its development was overseen by Hans Mezger, a man who is most notably credited for developing Porsche’s legendary 917 race cars.

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4 BMW M5 (F90)

Power: 553 Horsepower

The 2017 M5 also known as the F90 is based on the seventh-generation G30 5 series and it made its debut at Gamescom as a part of Need For Speed Payback’s launch event. The model was also later showcased at the Frankfurt Motor Show in a more traditional announcement.

On the outside, the F90 featured a new and slightly muscular look designed by Seungmo Lim. To back up its brawny design BMW fitted this model with a 4.4-liter S63 twin-turbo V-8 that produces 591 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque and is capable of some serious speed. The engine sends power to BMW’s all-wheel-drive system through an 8-speed automatic transmission.

Performance

Thanks to BMW’s advanced xDrive system this M5 has the ability to switch to rear-wheel drive once the electronic stability control is turned off, sending all 553 horsepower to its rear axles and allowing the driver to loosen up its tail at the punch of the accelerator.

But that doesn’t mean that it can’t grip when it wants to, with its all-wheel drive system turned on the M5 makes for a pretty quick racing machine setting a blisteringly fast lap time of 7:38.92 at the Nürburgring Nordschleife track.

3 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT Final Edition Coupe

Power: 583 Horsepower

The SLS AMG is a two-seater grand tourer that made its initial debut at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. This sleek-looking car holds the distinction of being the very first car to completely be developed from scratch by AMG.

The SLS in the model’s name stands for “Super Light Sport” or “Super Leicht Sport” in German and it serves as a successor to the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren. However, if you take a look at its large gullwing doors they indicate that a hint of the 300SL was also thrown in during the design process.

Performance

The gullwing doors present on the SLS greatly added to its appeal winning it multiple design awards such as the iF product design award, Red Dot’s “best of the best” award, and Auto Bild’s 2010 design award as “Europe’s most attractive car”. But unlike its predecessor, Mercedes designed these doors to be perfectly safe by making them detachable in case of a rollover in order to allow its passengers a safe exit.

Under the SLS’s long hood, Mercedes has fitted it with a front mid-mounted 6.2-liter M159 DOHC V-8 that produces 583 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. The engine is claimed by AMG as the most powerful naturally aspirated production series engine ever made.

2 Audi RS6 Avant (C8)

Power: 592 Horsepower

Similar to BMW’s M series, the RS6 is a performance-oriented version of the Audi A6 with the RS standing for “RennSport” or “Racing Sport” in English. The C8 made its debut in 2019 with a new edgier design along with a new hybrid engine.

Performance

The RS6 Avant is a practical wagon, that is powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbo TFSI V-8 that paired with a 48-volt belt alternator/starter mild-hybrid system produces 592 horsepower, propelling it from 0 to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds. But it’s not all about speed; the C8 also comes equipped with a cylinder-on-demand system that has the ability to shut off up to half of the eight cylinders for improved fuel economy.

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1 BMW M8

Power: 617 Horsepower

The first and currently only generation of the M8 debuted in 2019 and it’s known internally as the G15. Built on BMW’s CLAR platform, the M8 comes equipped with BMW’s iDrive system which allows drivers to switch from all-wheel drive to rear-wheel drive with the push of a button.

Performance

The M8 comes fitted with a front-mounted twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8 that produces 617 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque. The engine helps propel the car’s heavy 4,251-pound body from 0 to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds. This notably makes it quicker than a Ferrari F8 Tributo while at the same time being heavier than the 4,069-pound base Ford F-150.