Buy before the ban: new cars with amazing engines
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The best engines you can buy
© PorscheThe Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate and the 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars mean that cars with combustion engines are on borrowed time. The sad thing is that engines are better than ever, with many offering a superb blend of performance and efficiency. With this in mind, here are some brilliant new cars with amazing engines, including some that have electrified assistance.
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Porsche 911 GT3
© PorscheIn October, Porsche announced that its 4.0-litre flat-six engine, as found in the likes of the 911 GT3 (pictured), 718 Cayman GT4 RS and 718 Spyder RS, will be axed in around two years. Porsche GT boss Andreas Preuninger told Autocar the engine can’t “handle Euro 7 without electrification or without turbos”, so make the most of this naturally aspirated flat-six while you can.
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Aston Martin Vanquish
© Aston MartinAston Martin chairman Lawrence Stroll says his customers are more interested in “the smell, feel and noise” of petrol engines than electric motors. Having driven the new Vanquish, with its 5.5-litre twin-turbo V12 producing 835bhp and 738lb ft of torque, it’s not hard to see why. It’s a fabulous engine; zero to 62mph takes just 3.3 seconds and top speed is 214mph. And that’s without mentioning the blue-blooded roar of the V12.
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Mercedes-AMG A45 S
© Mercedes-BenzSome of us are old enough to remember when a 200hp hot hatch seemed crazy, so the 421hp Mercedes-AMG A45 S still manages to blow our minds. AMG forged its reputation using V8 power, so a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine might seem a little inadequate. That’s until you remember that it’s the most powerful four-pot in the world. The result is a five-door family hatchback that can hit 62mph in 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 170mph.
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Range Rover D350
© JLRYou could buy a new Range Rover with a V8 engine or with plug-in hybrid power. Alternatively, you could wait for the all-electric version. You could, but you shouldn’t, because the best Range Rover is arguably the D350 diesel. Yes, really. As we said in our review, the 350hp 3.0-litre straight-six is creamily smooth and hauls the 2.5-tonne machine to 62mph in 6.1 seconds, but can still achieve 35.6mpg in the official test.
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BMW M3 Competition
© BMWFresh from its 2024 facelift, the fabulous 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight-six engine in the BMW M3 Competition now produces 530hp, which is enough to reduce the 0-62mph time to 3.5 seconds. Top speed is 155mph, although this can be raised to 180mph with the £2,175 M Driver’s Pack fitted. Prices start from around £86,000 for the saloon or £88,000 if you choose the more practical M3 Touring estate.
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Toyota GR Yaris
© ToyotaIn today’s world of 300hp and 400hp hot hatches, a Toyota Yaris powered by a 1.6-litre three-cylinder turbocharged engine producing 280hp might seem a bit underwhelming, but this is no ordinary Yaris. Indeed, the GR Yaris has very little in common with the Yaris your aunt drives. It’s the most powerful three-pot engine in the world and is the heartbeat of the most exciting hot hatch of the modern era.
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Audi RS3 Sportback
© AudiThe Audi RS3 Sportback might be less powerful than the Mercedes-AMG A45 S, but it has one ace up its sleeve. Its 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine provides the unmistakable growl of a five-pot motor, so you can pretend you’re a Scandinavian rally driver with an unpronounceable surname driving a classic Audi Quattro through a Welsh forest. The RS3 delivers 400hp, enough for a 0-62mph time of 3.8 seconds.
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Ferrari 12Cilindri
© FerrariThe Ferrari 12Cilindri is a front-mid-engined supercar powered by a 6.5-litre V12 engine producing 830hp at 9,250rpm and 500lb ft of torque at 7,250rpm. If you’re going to name your car after its engine, it needs to be great. Thankfully, this one is. A 0-62mph time of 2.9 seconds and top speed of 211mph only tell half the story, because the V12 has a ferocious appetite for revs and a soundtrack to match any racing car.
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Toyota GR Supra
© ToyotaToyota has announced the end of GR Supra production with the appropriately named A90 Final Edition. The BMW-sourced but Toyota-tweaked 3.0-litre straight-six engine gets a 95hp boost in power, taking it up to 435hp, improving the acceleration and increasing top speed to 167mph. We’re going to miss the classic front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout, so the retirement of the GR Supra feels like the end of an era.
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Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
© GMPowering the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray is a 6.2-litre LT2 aluminium small-block V8 producing 482hp. European cars are fitted with the Z51 Performance Package as standard, which is good for 0-62mph in 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 184mph. Other highlights include Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres, larger brakes, an aero pack and firmer suspension. There’s also a performance exhaust to make the most of the V8 soundtrack.
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Honda Civic Type R
© HondaWe reckon the Honda Civic Type R is the best hot hatchback currently on sale. Like its predecessors, the FL5 is powered by a revvy VTEC engine, in this case a 2.0-litre four-pot producing 320hp and 310lb ft of torque: good for 0-62mph in 5.4 seconds and a top speed of 171mph. In true VTEC style, you have to rev it to get the best from it, which makes it a very different proposition to an Audi RS3 or Mercedes-AMG A45 S. If this is the last traditional Type R, it’s a brilliant swansong.
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BMW M5
© BMWThe BMW M5 is a prime example of how electric and traditional power can work together to produce brilliant results. Its 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 is paired with a lithium-ion battery and electric motor to produce a combined 727hp. That’s supercar power in a family saloon or estate (Touring in BMW-speak). It means that the M5 can hit 62mph in 3.5 seconds, yet can offer up to 42 miles of electric range if you remember to plug it in. Remarkable.
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Lamborghini Revuelto
© LamborghiniLike the M5, the Lamborghini Revuelto relies on hybrid power to propel it kicking and screaming into the era of electrification, but its 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12 engine is a peach. In isolation it delivers 825hp, but this figure rises to 1,015hp when combined with the lithium-ion battery and three electric motors. Our Tim Pitt said: “Like every mid-engined V12 Lamborghini since the Miura, the Revuelto stimulates all of your senses. From its shock-and-awe styling, to its thunderous soundtrack, to its nuanced steering and handling, it transforms even the most mundane journey into an event.”
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Toyota Prius
© ToyotaWe were disappointed when Toyota said the new Prius wouldn’t be sold in the UK, so it’s great the company has had a change of heart. This is by far the best Prius to date, with funky styling, a smart interior and excellent quality. The self-charging hybrid version isn’t sold here, so you get a 2.0-litre plug-in hybrid that’s good for a 0-62mph time of 6.8 seconds and 53 miles of electric range.
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McLaren 750S
© McLarenBefore you accuse us of going soft by including a trio of cars with electric assistance, here’s something old-school from McLaren. The 750S is powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 producing 750hp, enough for a 0-62mph time of 2.8 seconds and a top speed of 206mph. We said: “Whether you’re a novice or a Woking class hero, this is a car that breeds confidence and encourages you to push at its limits. Among supercars, its balance and throttle-adjustability are second-to-none”.
