What Cars Have V8 Engines in 2026 and 2027? The Complete Guide

If you’re hunting for a V8-powered vehicle, you picked a surprisingly great time to look. The eight-cylinder engine isn’t dying — it’s evolving fast. This guide breaks down every major segment where V8s still rule, from budget-friendly trucks to million-dollar hypercars. Stick around, because some of these might genuinely surprise you.

The V8 Is Still Very Much Alive

Reports of the V8’s death were greatly exaggerated. Yes, electric vehicles are everywhere. Yes, turbocharged four and six-cylinder engines have taken over mainstream cars. But in 2026 and 2027, dozens of vehicles still offer V8 power — and many of them are better than ever.

General Motors just committed nearly $888 million to its Tonawanda engine plant in New York to build next-generation V8s. Ram brought back its HEMI V8 after customers revolted when it disappeared. Ferrari is launching a new V8-powered grand tourer. This isn’t a segment in decline — it’s one in transformation.

Here’s exactly what cars have V8 engines right now, broken down by category.

V8 Pickup Trucks: The Biggest Market

Pickup trucks are the true home of the V8 engine in America. Despite strong competition from turbocharged six-cylinders and electric trucks, most buyers still want eight cylinders under the hood.

Ford F-Series V8 Trucks

Ford offers multiple V8 options across its truck lineup, starting with the approachable 5.0-liter Coyote V8 in the F-150. Here’s what you get:

  • F-150 with 5.0L Coyote V8 — Up to 12,800 lbs towing, 2,235 lbs payload. One of the most affordable V8 entry points in a new vehicle.
  • F-150 Raptor R with 5.2L Supercharged V8 — 720 horsepower, 640 lb-ft of torque, 37-inch all-terrain tires. Built for serious off-road performance.
  • Super Duty (F-250/350/450) — Available with a 6.8L or 7.3L gasoline V8, or the legendary 6.7L Power Stroke turbodiesel V8 that makes 500 hp and a jaw-dropping 1,200 lb-ft of torque, enabling fifth-wheel towing up to 40,000 lbs.

Chevrolet and GMC V8 Trucks

GM’s Silverado and Sierra lineups give you two V8 choices for the 1500 series — a 5.3L and a 6.2L naturally aspirated option. Heavy-duty 2500HD and 3500HD buyers get a 6.6L gasoline V8 or the 6.6L Duramax turbodiesel making 470 hp and 975 lb-ft of torque.

The big news? The 2027 model year brings GM’s sixth-generation small-block V8, promising up to 12 percent better fuel efficiency than older versions. GM is building these engines on both sides of the US-Canada border to keep supply chains protected.

Ram 1500 and Heavy-Duty V8 Options

Ram made headlines by bringing the HEMI back to the 1500 after strong consumer pushback. The 5.7L HEMI with eTorque mild-hybrid now makes 395 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque. It comes standard with a performance dual-exhaust that hits 81 decibels at full throttle — pure theater.

Want something wilder? The Ram 1500 Rumble Bee lineup tops out with the Rumble Bee SRT and its supercharged 6.2L V8 making 777 horsepower. Zero to 60 in 3.4 seconds. In a pickup truck.

ManufacturerModelV8 EngineHorsepower
FordF-1505.0L NA / 5.2L SC400 / 720 hp
FordSuper Duty6.8L / 7.3L Gas / 6.7L DieselUp to 500 hp
Chevy/GMCSilverado/Sierra 15005.3L / 6.2L NAUp to 420 hp
Chevy/GMCHD Trucks6.6L Gas / 6.6L DieselUp to 470 hp
Ram15005.7L HEMI / 6.2L SC395 / 777 hp
Ram2500/35006.4L NA370 hp

V8 SUVs: From Family Haulers to Super SUVs

American Full-Size and Performance SUVs

The Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon, and Cadillac Escalade all use GM’s V8 engines as standard or optional power. These full-size SUVs tow over 8,400 lbs while carrying up to nine passengers.

The Cadillac Escalade-V takes things further with a hand-built 6.2L supercharged V8 making 682 horsepower. It runs the quarter mile in the high 12-second range — in a full-size luxury SUV.

The Dodge Durango remains the most accessible V8 three-row SUV on the market. It offers three V8 options:

  • 5.7L HEMI — 360 hp in GT and R/T trims
  • 6.4L HEMI — 475 hp in the R/T 392
  • 6.2L Hellcat — 710 hp in the SRT Hellcat trim

Then there’s the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 Moab — a 470-hp, 6.4L HEMI V8 dropped into an open-air off-roader with 35-inch beadlock wheels and a functional hood scoop. It’s ridiculous, and it has a devoted following.

European V8 Super SUVs

European brands use V8 power to build SUVs that genuinely handle like sports cars. Here’s the rundown:

  • Audi RS Q8 Performance — 4.0L twin-turbo V8, 631 hp, 0–62 mph in 3.6 seconds. Understated looks, extreme hardware.
  • BMW X5 M / X6 M Competition — 4.4L twin-turbo V8 with 617 hp, 0–60 in 3.7 seconds.
  • Mercedes-AMG G 63 — 4.0L twin-turbo V8, 577 hp, now with a 48V mild-hybrid and hydraulic active ride control.
  • Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S / GLS 63 — New flat-plane crank V8 making 603 hp and 627 lb-ft of torque.
  • Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid — 4.0L twin-turbo V8 plus electric motor, 729 combined horsepower, ~25 miles electric range.
  • Range Rover / Range Rover Sport SV — 4.4L mild-hybrid V8, up to 606 hp, 150 mph top speed.
  • Land Rover Defender Octa — New twin-turbo V8, 635 hp, 6D Dynamics suspension. The wildest Defender ever built.
  • Lamborghini Urus SE — Twin-turbo V8 plug-in hybrid, 789 combined horsepower.
  • Aston Martin DBX 707 — AMG-sourced twin-turbo V8, 717 hp with bespoke Aston Martin tuning.

V8 Sports Cars and Muscle Cars

American Muscle

The Ford Mustang GT starts around $46,560 and remains the last mass-produced, rear-wheel-drive muscle coupe with a naturally aspirated V8 at a mainstream price. The 5.0L Coyote V8 makes 480 hp in the GT and 500 hp in the track-focused Dark Horse. Both offer a manual transmission option — a rarity these days.

The 2027 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray introduces the new 6.7L LS6 V8 making 535 hp. It runs to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds and can break 200 mph. The Z06 steps up with a flat-plane crank 5.5L V8 revving to 8,600 rpm and producing 670 hp. The ZR1 and ZR1X sit at the top — the ZR1X pairs a twin-turbo 5.5L V8 with electric motors for outputs reaching 1,250 horsepower.

The Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing is America’s last V8-powered sports sedan. Its hand-built 6.2L supercharged V8 makes 668 hp, and it’s still available with a six-speed manual. That’s becoming genuinely rare.

European Grand Tourers with V8 Power

  • Aston Martin Vantage — Twin-turbo 4.0L V8, 656–670 hp, 202 mph top speed.
  • Aston Martin DB12 — Same V8 architecture, tuned for long-distance grand touring comfort.
  • Bentley Continental GT Supersports — Hybridized 4.0L twin-turbo V8, 657 hp, titanium Akrapovič exhaust, up to 85 km of electric range.
  • Lexus LC 500 / IS 500 / RC F — Naturally aspirated 5.0L V8, ~470 hp, widely regarded as one of the most reliable V8s ever built.

Worth noting: Jaguar ended F-Type production in June 2024, and Maserati dropped its V8 from the 2027 GranTurismo lineup — though executives have hinted a V8 could return.

V8 Luxury Sedans

  • Porsche Panamera GTS493 hp twin-turbo V8, focused on driving feel over hybrid weight.
  • Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid — V8 plus electric motor, 771 combined hp, 0–60 in 2.8 seconds. One of the fastest sedans sold globally.
  • Audi S8 — 4.0L twin-turbo V8 with 563 hp, predictive active suspension, quattro AWD.
  • BMW 760i xDrive — 4.4L twin-turbo V8, 536 hp, 48V mild-hybrid, 0–60 in 4.1 seconds.
  • BMW M5 — Now a plug-in hybrid, pairing a V8 with electric motors for 717 combined horsepower.
  • Mercedes-AMG S 63 E Performance — Handbuilt twin-turbo V8 plus rear electric motor, 791 hp and 1,055 lb-ft of torque.

V8 Supercars and Hypercars

This is where V8 engineering gets truly extreme.

  • Ferrari Amalfi — New for 2027. 3.9L twin-turbo V8, 631 hp, mobile rear wing, tactile analog controls after years of customer complaints about touchscreens.
  • Ferrari 849 Testarossa Spider — 4.0L twin-turbo V8 plus three electric motors, 1,036 combined hp.
  • Lamborghini Temerario — All-new in-house 4.0L flat-plane V8 revving to 10,000 rpm, 920 hp combined with hybrid system, 0–62 mph in 2.7 seconds.
  • McLaren 750S — 4.0L twin-turbo V8, 740 hp, under 3,000 lbs. Pure driving experience.
  • McLaren 788HS — 777 hp, limited to 200 units, F1-derived aerodynamics.
  • McLaren W1 — Hybrid hypercar, V8 contributing to 1,258 combined horsepower.

The Best Used V8 Cars Worth Buying

Don’t want to pay new car prices? These V8 engines have earned legendary status for reliability and value:

  • GM LS/LT Family (LS1 through LT1) — Found in older Corvettes, the Chevrolet SS sedan, and the Pontiac G8 GT. Simple pushrod design, easy to maintain, nearly indestructible.
  • Ford 4.6L Modular V8 — The heart of the Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis. Known for endless durability.
  • Ford 5.0L Coyote V8 — Early examples in used Mustangs and F-150s offer strong power and proven long-term reliability.
  • Toyota/Lexus UR and UZ V8 Family — The 4.3L 3UZ-FE in the Lexus LS 430 and 4.6L 1UR-FE in the LS 460 are frequently called “million-mile machines.” The 4.7L and 5.7L versions in older Tundras and Land Cruisers share the same DNA.
  • Dodge 5.7L and 6.4L HEMI — The 2016–2017 Charger R/T Scat Pack offers affordable, high-horsepower American muscle on the used market.

Why the V8 Isn’t Going Away

The V8 engine is surviving through three clear strategies. First, hybridization. By pairing V8s with 48V mild-hybrid systems or full plug-in hybrid setups, manufacturers offset emissions while boosting torque. Second, flat-plane crankshafts and advanced combustion technology allow V8s to meet strict emission rules without sacrificing character. Third, and most importantly, consumer demand — especially in trucks — remains unyielding. When Ram dropped its V8, buyers left. Ram brought it back.

The V8 isn’t the default engine for passenger cars anymore. But it’s very much the engine of choice for people who want performance, towing capacity, or something that sounds genuinely alive. And judging by the engineering investments happening right now, it’s not disappearing anytime soon.

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  • As an automotive engineer with a degree in the field, I'm passionate about car technology, performance tuning, and industry trends. I combine academic knowledge with hands-on experience to break down complex topics—from the latest models to practical maintenance tips. My goal? To share expert insights in a way that's both engaging and easy to understand. Let's explore the world of cars together!

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