You might think the V8 is going the way of the thylacine, but there have never been more V8 models on sale than right now. Probably.
Across the Australian car market in March 2024, we counted no fewer than 106 new V8-powered models on the market from 19 different brands.
The real story is the cost of entry to Club V8 has risen, and quite a lot – despite the proliferation of new eight-pot models. Whatever your budget, it’s true that the V8’s days are numbered, so you should snap one up now if it remains an unticked box on the bucket list.
In this article, we give you our top five new V8 models, with deference to the fact some of them require a Powerball.
READ MORE: Top 5 – V8-beating ‘Super Sixes’
Ford Mustang
The new Mustang is imminent and represents the last true semi-affordable means of V8 ownership. A 5.0-litre naturally aspirated V8 with 347kW and 550Nm – and a six-speed manual, and rear-wheel-drive – is so uncommon in 2024, it’s like Ford Australia discovered a legal loophole in which they could continue selling it. But at $77,002 for the GT Fastback, this is the real deal – legalities and all. If you never got to own the Aussie-made version of this famed performance car formula, this is your last chance forever.
READ MORE: Ford Mustang Dark Horse review
Mercedes-AMG E63 S
We were once a nation of four-door V8 sedans, so there’s something familiar about the Mercedes-AMG E63 S – like a warm bowl of porridge. Its 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 is as endangered as common sense in politics, and belts out a very healthy 450kW and 850Nm. As well as sounding like the Bathurst 12 Hour-winning AMG GT3 car – just somewhat more polite – the $272,000, all-wheel-drive E63 has a delightful party trick in being able to turn off its front axles at the press of a button, making it rear-wheel-drive – and as maniacally tyre-frying as you could imagine.
Jaguar F-Type
With an exclusively V8 line-up, the F-Type is a bit of a hammer to Porsche’s scalpel, but what a hammer. The 5.0-litre supercharged V8 sounds sinfully glorious, to the point you’ll know every tunnel and rock-face in town. Jaguar has sensibly limited power of the rear-drive versions to 331kW and 580Nm, as previous iterations boasted some of the most comical traction deficits the sports car world has known. At $181,670 before on-road costs for the entry-level P450 R-Dynamic Coupe, if you love your V8s and a bit of power oversteer, skip the local Porsche dealership and drive one of these.
READ MORE: Jaguar F-Type review
Lexus LC500
While the Japanese are a nation of frugal eaters – nibbling on bits of rice and raw fish – they do occasionally love a good chunk of meat, and a prime cut of wagyu beef is hard to beat. The car equivalent is the 5.0-litre naturally aspirated V8 LC500 coupe, looking like it just drove off a motor show stand – and sounding as if possessed by a NASCAR. While 351kW and 540Nm in a vehicle that weighs 1930kg is enough to crack a wry smile from a smart-arse Tesla driver, they’ll be weeping into their power plug when they get just one hit of the noise this alluring Lexus produces. The best $204,635 you’ll have ever spent.
Porsche Panamera GTS
Asking a team of some of the brightest, doctorate-educated engineers in the world to make you a luxury, all-wheel-drive V8 sedan seems a bit cheeky, but we’ll take it – and the result is exactly what you’d expect. The sultry Panamera GTS is powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 as smooth as a chronograph watch, while the noise is pure brute-in-a-suit. Outputs of 353kW/620Nm are decent – even if the $325,300 price is a bit eye-watering – but if you’ve got a proper windfall, stump up for the $423,400 Turbo S with 463kW, 820Nm and a rear-driven character to make you forget the 911 ever existed.
Honourable mentions
Audi RS6 Avant Performance – a car you could never bring yourself to sell.
Jaguar F-Pace SVR – “I found us an SUV, honey!”
Land Rover Defender 90 P525 – the third mention of this engine in this article, and for good reason.
Maserati Quattroporte Trofeo – the Italians know how to make engines. Exhibit A.
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