13 Cars Unexpectedly Powered By V8 Engines
V8 engines usually show up in muscle cars and big SUVs, but sometimes they sneak into places you wouldn’t expect. Imagine a tiny coupe or a quirky hatchback hiding a burly eight-cylinder heart under the hood.
That surprising boost of power turns ordinary rides into wild cards on wheels, blending shock and awe with a whole lot of horsepower.
When V8s pop up where you least anticipate, the result is pure automotive mischief and muscle.
1. Volvo XC90 V8
Swedish sensibility meets American muscle in this unlikely pairing.
Volvo, the brand synonymous with safety and boxy design, shocked the automotive world when they stuffed a Yamaha-designed 4.4-liter V8 into their family SUV.
The 2005-2011 XC90 V8 models delivered 311 horsepower while maintaining that quintessential Volvo practicality.
Soccer moms suddenly found themselves commanding serious power beneath their right foot, all while surrounded by more airbags than a bounce house convention.
2. Toyota Tundra TRD Supercharged
Beneath the workhorse exterior of this Japanese pickup lurks a heart-stopping surprise.
Toyota Racing Development (TRD) took the already capable 5.7-liter iForce V8 and strapped a Roots-type supercharger to it, creating a 504-horsepower monster.
Farmers and contractors suddenly found themselves piloting a truck that could haul hay bales and embarrass sports cars in equal measure.
The TRD-supercharged Tundra represents Toyota’s wild side – proof that even the most practical brand occasionally lets its hair down and howls at the moon.
3. Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8
Whoever said family SUVs had to be boring never met this tire-shredding brute.
The Grand Cherokee SRT8 packs a 6.4-liter HEMI V8 that transforms this mall-crawler into a track-attacking monster with 470 horsepower.
School runs become drag strip launches when you’re piloting this particular Jeep.
With launch control and performance pages built right into the infotainment system, parents can calculate quarter-mile times between soccer practice and grocery stops.
It’s essentially a muscle car disguised as a practical family hauler.
4. Ariel Atom 500 V8
Madness on wheels doesn’t begin to describe this skeletal speed demon. Imagine strapping a 500-horsepower 3.0-liter V8 to what amounts to little more than a go-kart frame with a driver’s seat.
Weighing less than 1,200 pounds, this British track toy delivers supercar-shaming performance. The V8 Atom hits 60 mph in under 2.3 seconds – quick enough to rearrange your facial features.
With no roof, doors, or windows, nothing separates you from the shrieking V8 soundtrack except the mandatory helmet you’ll definitely need.
5. Volkswagen Touareg V8
German engineering took an unexpected turn when VW dropped a thunderous 4.2-liter V8 into their family-friendly SUV.
The first-generation Touareg V8 packed 310 horsepower and could tow a staggering 7,700 pounds – more than some pickup trucks!
Few things confuse sports car owners more than being outrun by what appears to be a typical soccer-mom vehicle.
VW even offered an even more bonkers W12 version in some markets, but the V8 hit the sweet spot of surprising performance and relative affordability.
6. Hyundai Genesis Sedan 5.0
Korean automakers aren’t typically associated with V8 muscle, making Hyundai’s 5.0-liter Tau V8 all the more surprising.
The Genesis sedan packed 420 horsepower of luxury-challenging performance while wearing a badge more commonly found on economical commuter cars.
Executives could silently slip into parking lots without the status-symbol fanfare of European brands.
The sleeper appeal was undeniable – a Hyundai that could sprint to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds while cradling passengers in leather-lined comfort. It was Korea’s opening salvo in the luxury performance war.
7. Porsche Cayenne GTS (Early Models)
Purists clutched their pearls when Porsche announced an SUV, then fainted outright when they stuffed a 4.8-liter V8 into it.
The early Cayenne GTS models delivered 405 naturally-aspirated horsepower and a soundtrack that betrayed its sports car heritage.
Weekend warriors could haul mountain bikes to trails then carve canyon roads on the return trip.
While later GTS models switched to turbocharged six-cylinder engines, these original V8 versions remain the sweet spot in the lineup. They combined the practicality of an SUV with the heart and soul of a 911.
8. Morgan Aero 8
Handcrafted wooden frames and BMW V8 power create the automotive equivalent of a gentleman wearing running shoes with his tailored suit.
This quirky British sports car combines old-world craftsmanship with a modern BMW-sourced 4.4-liter V8 producing 325 horsepower.
Each Aero 8 takes hundreds of hours to build by hand, with ash wood frames and aluminum panels shaped by artisans.
The juxtaposition of traditional coach-building techniques with contemporary German V8 power creates an utterly unique driving experience. It’s essentially a time machine that somehow found a modern powertrain.
9. Lexus IS F
Toyota’s luxury division threw away their reputation for quiet refinement when they created this tire-smoking sleeper.
Engineers somehow wedged a 5.0-liter V8 developing 416 horsepower into the compact IS body, creating a BMW M3 hunter that few saw coming.
Stacked quad exhaust tips and subtle bulges were the only exterior clues to this sedan’s performance potential. Inside, the IS F featured racing-inspired seats and aluminum pedals.
The real magic happened at 3,600 RPM when the secondary intake opened, transforming the exhaust note from subdued luxury to primal scream.
10. BMW X5 4.8is
Bavaria’s answer to the question nobody asked: “What happens when you give a family SUV supercar acceleration?”
The X5 4.8is packed a 4.8-liter V8 producing 355 horsepower, enough to hustle this two-ton-plus vehicle to 60 mph in just 5.6 seconds.
Parents late for school pickup found themselves with supercar-baiting acceleration and a gloriously angry exhaust note.
Massive 20-inch wheels and subtle body modifications gave hints to its performance potential. Before the X5 M existed, this was BMW’s idea of a practical performance vehicle – emphasis on the performance.
11. Saab 9-7X Aero
Swedish quirkiness meets American muscle in this automotive oddity.
Based on a Chevrolet Trailblazer, the 9-7X Aero borrowed the 6.0-liter LS2 V8 from the Corvette, giving this Saab SUV a shocking 390 horsepower.
Journalists dubbed it the “Trollblazer” – a nod to both its Trailblazer roots and Swedish folklore. Only about 500 were ever built before Saab’s demise, making this one of the rarest V8-powered vehicles on our list.
The center-mounted ignition switch – a Saab trademark – remained, but turned over a very un-Saab-like American V8 rumble.
12. Audi S6 (C6 Generation)
Lamborghini DNA hiding in a sensible German sedan? The C6 generation S6 borrowed its 5.2-liter V10 engine from the Lamborghini Gallardo, albeit slightly detuned to “only” 435 horsepower.
Business executives could enjoy supercar pedigree while maintaining professional appearances.
The subtle exterior gave few clues to the exotic engine lurking beneath – just discreet badges, slightly wider fenders, and aluminum mirror caps.
At idle, the engine whispered professionally, but under full throttle, the Lamborghini genetics revealed themselves with a spine-tingling wail worthy of its Italian cousin.
13. Kia K900
From economy car maker to V8 luxury purveyor, Kia’s transformation culminated in this flagship sedan.
The K900 packed a silky-smooth 5.0-liter V8 producing 420 horsepower, challenging established luxury marques at a fraction of their price.
Buyers got Lexus-level luxury with surprising performance credentials. The K900’s biggest challenge wasn’t its engineering but overcoming badge snobbery.
Few expected the brand known for budget-friendly Rio and Soul models to produce a rear-wheel-drive V8 luxury yacht.
LeBron James even became a brand ambassador, giving this Korean luxury sleeper some much-needed star power.