These cars don’t just drive—they command the road. With engines that stretch up to a jaw-dropping 12.3 liters, they pushed engineering to its limits and redefined performance. From American muscle to European hypercars, these machines boast engines that go beyond power, making automotive history.
Here are 15 cars with engines so big, they changed the game forever.
1. Bugatti Chiron
The Bugatti Chiron is a masterpiece of automotive engineering, boasting an 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged W16 engine. This behemoth produces an astounding 1,479 horsepower and 1,180 lb-ft of torque, propelling the Chiron to a top speed of 261 mph.
The Chiron’s engine is so powerful that it requires 10 radiators to keep it cool. It can accelerate from 0-60 mph in just 2.4 seconds, making it one of the fastest production cars ever built.
2. Dodge Viper
The Dodge Viper, particularly in its later iterations, featured a massive 8.4-liter V10 engine. This naturally aspirated powerplant produced 640 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque in its final form.
Known for its raw, uncompromising performance, the Viper’s engine was a throwback to the muscle car era. Its distinctive exhaust note and brutal acceleration made it a favorite among enthusiasts who preferred their sports cars with a hefty dose of American muscle.
3. Rolls-Royce Phantom
Rolls-Royce’s flagship model, the Phantom, houses a 6.75-liter V12 engine under its long, elegant hood. While not the largest in terms of displacement, it’s one of the biggest engines currently in production.
This silky-smooth powerplant produces 563 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque, delivering effortless acceleration befitting a luxury car of the Phantom’s caliber. The engine’s refinement is so remarkable that Rolls-Royce refers to its power delivery as “waftability.”
4. Lamborghini Aventador
The Lamborghini Aventador’s heart is a naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12 engine. In its most powerful form, this engine produces a staggering 759 horsepower and 531 lb-ft of torque.
Mounted in the middle of the car, this V12 is a work of art both visually and mechanically. Its high-revving nature and spine-tingling exhaust note make it one of the most exciting engines in the automotive world.
5. Chevrolet Suburban 2500 (2001-2006)
The Chevrolet Suburban 2500 from the early 2000s could be equipped with a massive 8.1-liter Vortec V8 engine. This big-block V8 produced 340 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque.
Designed for heavy-duty towing and hauling, this engine was a workhorse. It provided the Suburban with impressive capability, able to tow up to 12,000 pounds when properly equipped.
6. Aston Martin One-77
Aston Martin’s limited-production supercar, the One-77, featured a naturally aspirated 7.3-liter V12 engine. This hand-built powerplant produced 750 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque.
At the time of its release, it was the most powerful naturally aspirated production car engine in the world. Only 77 examples of this car were built, making it one of the rarest vehicles on this list.
7. Pagani Huayra
The Pagani Huayra is powered by a twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter V12 engine developed by Mercedes-AMG. In its most potent form, this engine produces up to 827 horsepower and 811 lb-ft of torque.
While not the largest in terms of displacement, the Huayra’s engine is a marvel of modern engineering. Its compact design and high power output showcase what’s possible with forced induction and advanced materials.
8. Ford GT40 Mk II
The legendary Ford GT40 Mk II, famous for its victories at Le Mans, was powered by a 7.0-liter (427 cubic inch) V8 engine. This big-block Ford engine produced around 485 horsepower in race trim.
The GT40’s engine was a key factor in Ford’s dominance of endurance racing in the 1960s. Its combination of power and reliability allowed it to outpace and outlast its competitors.
9. Dodge Challenger SRT Demon
The Dodge Challenger SRT Demon features a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine. While not the largest in displacement, it’s one of the most powerful production car engines ever made, producing 808 horsepower on pump gas and up to 840 horsepower on race fuel.
This engine is so powerful that the Demon was banned from drag strips by the NHRA for being too fast without additional safety equipment. It can accelerate from 0-60 mph in just 2.3 seconds, making it quicker than many supercars.
10. Bentley Mulsanne
The Bentley Mulsanne, before its discontinuation, featured a 6.75-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine. This engine, in its final form, produced 530 horsepower and an impressive 811 lb-ft of torque.
This engine was a modernized version of the L-series V8 that Bentley had been using since the 1950s. Its long stroke design provided effortless low-end torque, perfect for a luxury car of the Mulsanne’s stature.
11. Devel Sixteen
The Devel Sixteen, while still in development, promises to have one of the largest engines ever put in a road car. Its quad-turbocharged 12.3-liter V16 engine is claimed to produce up to 5,007 horsepower.
While these claims are yet to be independently verified, if true, it would make the Devel Sixteen’s engine one of the most powerful ever put in a road car. The company claims a top speed of over 310 mph.
12. Cadillac Eldorado (1970-1976)
The eighth-generation Cadillac Eldorado featured a massive 8.2-liter (500 cubic inch) V8 engine. This was the largest engine used in a production passenger car at the time.
Despite its size, this engine only produced between 190 and 235 horsepower due to emissions regulations of the era. However, it did provide an impressive 365-400 lb-ft of torque, perfect for smooth, effortless cruising.
13. Mercedes-Benz S600 (W220)
The Mercedes-Benz S600 from the early 2000s was powered by a 5.8-liter V12 engine. While not the largest in displacement, it was one of the biggest engines offered in a modern luxury sedan.
This smooth and powerful engine produced 362 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque. It provided the S-Class with effortless acceleration and whisper-quiet operation befitting a flagship luxury sedan.
14. Plymouth Fury (1958)
The 1958 Plymouth Fury could be equipped with a 5.7-liter (350 cubic inch) “Golden Commando” V8 engine. This was one of the largest engines available in a production car at the time.
The Golden Commando V8 produced 305 horsepower, making the Fury one of the fastest cars of its era. This engine helped establish Plymouth’s performance credentials in the early days of the muscle car era.
15. Koenigsegg Jesko
The Koenigsegg Jesko, while not having the largest engine by displacement, deserves mention for its incredible power output. Its 5.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine produces up to 1,600 horsepower when running on E85 biofuel.
This engine features the world’s lightest production V8 crankshaft, weighing just 27.5 lbs. Koenigsegg claims the Jesko will be capable of over 300 mph, making it one of the fastest production cars ever built.
These massive engines represent the pinnacle of automotive excess and innovation. While the future of transportation may be shifting towards electrification and smaller, more efficient power plants, these mechanical marvels will always hold a special place in automotive history.
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Martha A. Lavallie
Martha is a journalist with close to a decade of experience in uncovering and reporting on the most compelling stories of our time. Passionate about staying ahead of the curve, she specializes in shedding light on trending topics and captivating global narratives. Her insightful articles have garnered acclaim, making her a trusted voice in today's dynamic media landscape.
