Sports cars are among the finest automobiles ever created. While the definition of a sports car has evolved throughout automotive history, the fundamental principles have remained constant for every model—speed and power.
The origins of the sports car can be traced back to the 1920s, and in Europe, the 1930s, when engineers developed race cars for endurance and road racing.
These high-performance engines were later adapted for road-legal vehicles, setting a precedent that continues to this day.
By the 1960s, the sports car had firmly established itself in the automotive world, with manufacturers producing some truly exceptional models.
However, the popularity of sports cars declined in the 1970s and 1980s before making a triumphant comeback in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Today, nearly every automaker produces sports cars in some capacity, each striving to outperform its competitors. This relentless pursuit of excellence has resulted in some of the most remarkable engines ever built.
Sports cars are highly coveted vehicles, often boasting some of the most impressive engines under the hood. Below are ten of the greatest sports car engines ever produced by European manufacturers.
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10. 1961 Jaguar XK6
The Jaguar XK6 engine is most famous for powering the stunning E-Type of the 1960s, though its production actually began in 1949 with the equally breathtaking XK120—then the fastest car in the world.
In the E-Type, the XK6 underwent several enhancements, featuring a larger bore that increased displacement from the original 3.4 liters in the XK120 to 3.8 and later 4.2 liters.
The Jaguar XK remains one of the best-sounding straight-six engines ever created, with its acoustics further refined by Eagle in their Speedster model.
9. 1987 Ferrari F120
The Ferrari F120 is the twin-turbocharged V8 that powered the legendary F40 supercar of the 1980s. It was an evolution of the F114 twin-turbo V8, originally designed for the 288 GTO—a road-going race car that never saw competitive action.
With a displacement of 2.9 liters, the F120 generated approximately 470 hp when the F40 was first introduced, making it one of the most powerful cars of its era.
It also briefly held the title of the world’s fastest production car and was notably the final model personally approved by Enzo Ferrari.
8. 1969 Aston Martin V8
The Aston Martin V8 was a powerhouse developed in-house by the British automaker. With an initial displacement of 5.3 liters, it produced around 310 hp when it debuted in 1969.
The design was heavily influenced by the American V8s of the time, evident in the ‘power bulge’ featured on the Aston Martin V8 Vantage—reminiscent of Chrysler’s muscle cars.
For those seeking more power, the AM V8 could be enlarged to 6.3 liters, with aftermarket tuners offering modifications that stretched it even further to 7.0 liters, delivering around 450 hp.
The pinnacle of this engine arrived in the 1990s with the Vantage V600, a twin-supercharged variant producing an astonishing 600 hp.
7. 1963 Lamborghini V12
Many people are familiar with the legendary rivalry between Ferruccio Lamborghini and Enzo Ferrari.
Dissatisfied with the quality of Ferrari’s road cars, Lamborghini decided to establish his own automotive company—an act of defiance that resulted in one of the most iconic brands in history.
The very first engine Lamborghini developed was fittingly named the Lamborghini V12. Initially, it had a displacement of 3.5 liters and produced 280 hp.
Over the years, the engine evolved, steadily increasing in both size and power until it reached its peak in 2010, delivering an impressive 661 hp from a 6.5-liter displacement. This remarkable engine remained in production for an astonishing 47 years.
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6. 1982 Porsche M44/52
The Porsche M44/52 was the four-cylinder engine that powered the Porsche 944—a refined evolution of the earlier 924.
With a displacement of 2.5 liters and a turbocharger fitted to boost performance, the M44/52 generated 247 hp in both the Turbo and Turbo S variants.
As with all Porsche engines, continuous refinements were made over time. The final iteration, the naturally aspirated M44/12, was introduced in the Porsche 968 and produced 237 hp.
The 944 remains one of the most outstanding small sports cars of the 1980s and continues to be a beloved classic today.
5. 1968 Mercedes-Benz M100
The Mercedes-Benz M100 was a V8 engine designed and manufactured by the German automaker between 1963 and 1981.
Originally developed for the luxurious Mercedes-Benz 600 executive limousine, the engine later found its way into the 300SEL under the ‘6.3’ trim—where the iconic ‘63’ badge originates.
In 1975, the M100 was expanded to 6.9 liters for use in the 450SEL. This version introduced dry-sump lubrication—an advanced feature for its time—along with numerous refinements that solidified its reputation as one of the finest engines of the 1970s. Depending on the model, the M100 produced between 250 and 300 hp.
4. 1986 BMW S14
The BMW S14 engine—unrelated to the Nissan Silvia—was essentially a four-cylinder adaptation of the legendary M88 straight-six, which powered the BMW M1 supercar of the late 1970s.
Featuring independent throttle bodies like its predecessor, the S14 delivered exceptional throttle response and performance.
Throughout its production, the S14 underwent various updates. The most notable version, the S14B23, was used in the E30 M3 and produced around 200 hp.
The EVO2 variant increased output to 217 hp, while the final evolution, the EVO3, displaced 2.5 liters and generated 235 hp—an impressive feat for a naturally aspirated inline-four engine.
3. 1979 Alfa Romeo Busso
The Alfa Romeo Busso V6 is widely regarded as one of the greatest V6 engines ever created. With the same Italian character and flair as the Ferrari V8s of the 1980s, it produces one of the most iconic engine sounds in automotive history.
Named after its designer, Giuseppe Busso, this engine became a defining feature of Alfa Romeo’s performance vehicles.
Initially, the Busso V6 had a displacement of 2.0 liters, gradually increasing to 3.2 liters before it was phased out in 2005.
Depending on the model and displacement, power output ranged from 134 to 237 hp. Alfa Romeo even introduced a turbocharged version of the smaller displacement models, particularly in the 164 sedan.
2. 2006 Mercedes-AMG M156
Moving into the realm of more modern sports car engines, the Mercedes-AMG M156 marked a significant milestone as the first engine entirely designed and developed by AMG.
Taking inspiration from the American muscle car philosophy, AMG engineered a 6.2-liter naturally aspirated V8 that delivered a minimum of 450 hp.
The M156 replaced the M113 and M113K in AMG’s V8 lineup and was never equipped with forced induction.
A highly modified version of this engine, known as the M159, was created for the SLS AMG grand tourer and the high-performance SLS Black Series, while still maintaining the original block.
The M156 remains one of the most legendary V8 engines ever built, a true testament to AMG’s bold and innovative approach to performance engineering.
1. 2015 BMW B58
Currently regarded as the best six-cylinder engine on the market, the BMW B58 delivers more power than the company officially advertises.
It has become the go-to engine for BMW’s sporty models, utilizing a single turbocharger in standard applications and twin turbos in the high-performance M-Sport variants.
The B58 produces between 320 and 375 hp in standard models, while the high-performance S58 version—used in BMW’s M cars—pushes out between 450 and 503 hp.
The engine’s exceptional balance of power, efficiency, and reliability made it the preferred choice for Toyota in the latest Supra. Many enthusiasts consider the B58 to be the greatest European straight-six engine ever produced.