The Greatest V-10-Powered Cars Ever Made
All hail the power of ten.
Production cars that use V-10 power are rare. There are just a small handful that exist, each greater than the last. We love them for their mighty power delivery and unique pitch. These are the best V-10-powered cars ever made.
2008-2010 Audi RS6 Avant
Though it was never sold in the U.S., the last-gen Audi RS6 Avant remains one of the coolest ten-cylinder cars out there. Equipped with a twin-turbo 5.0-liter V-10 originating from the naturally aspirated Lamborghini Gallardo, it makes an explosive 572 horsepower and 479 lb.-ft. of torque. Not bad for a station-wagon.
2015-2023 Lamborghini Hurucán
No matter which version of the Lamborghini Huracán you prefer, you're getting a naturally aspirated 5.2 V-10 that can make up to 631 hp. Whether you want to set a Nürburgring lap record or leave your Raptor-driving friends in the dust, there's a mid-engine Italian supercar for you.
2006-2010 BMW M5
The mid-2000s was an age where carmakers could slap big engines into big sedans and no one complained. The 2006 M5 is the product of such a sentiment. Bellowing up to a redline of 8250 rpm, the 5.0 liter, F1-inspired V-10 produced 500 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque.
2006-2010 Audi S8 5.2 FSI quattro
As one of the ultimate sleeper cars, the Audi S8 uses a 5.2 liter Lamborghini-related V-10 to haul its 4,300 lb. body from 0-60 in 4.8 seconds. The tuxedo-trim good looks and everyday usability made this car an excellent balance between work and play.
2004-2006 Dodge Ram SRT-10
Gaudy body kit and flashy wheels aside, the Dodge Ram SRT-10 doesn't look much different from your average 1500. But under the hood rests a gargantuan 8.3-liter naturally aspirated V-10 borrowed from the Viper, paired to an optional T-56 manual transmission. It remains the ultimate performance truck.
2004-2014 Lamborghini Gallardo
The Gallardo will always have a special place in our hearts as the first baby Lambo, as it was the car that saved the brand. An Italian beauty with a German heart, the mid-mounted V-10 produced 493 bhp and matured across 10 model years, birthing dozens of iterations and special editions.
1991-2017 Dodge Viper
The Viper may be dead now, but it sure went out with a bang. The track-ready ACR version is a beast on the circuit, with a big 645-horsepower 8.4-liter V10 that makes one hell of a noise. Too pricey for you? Early models are exciting too, and can be had for about the price of an average new car.
2010-2012 Lexus LFA
Have you heard the pipes on this thing? Lexus teamed up with Yamaha's musical instrument division and they tuned the LFA's engine note like it was a guitar. Described by Toyota engineers as a "roar of an angel," we agree wholeheartedly. The 553 hp seems almost secondary. Almost.
2002-2008 Volkswagen Touareg V10 TDI
How cool is a diesel-powered V-10? Cool enough for U.S. emissions regulations to cancel the Touareg TDI's sales here (twice). Twin turbos aid the ten cylinders, and the engine produces 310 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque—enough to move the 5825 lb. body out and around town.
2004-2006 Porsche Carrera GT
Where to begin with this holiest of holies, the infamous Widow-Maker? Perhaps that it can trace its lineage back to Le Mans and F1 cars? Or that the 5.7-liter V-10 produced 605 hp? Amidst the engine shrieks from the lighter-than-air flywheel, this is one of the greatest sports cars ever made.
2023 McLaren Solus GT
The McLaren Solus GT is the by far the newest V-10-powered car on this list. It's a track-only special with a unique 5.2-liter engine that revs to 10,000 rpm and has 829 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque. Thanks to its slim single-seater design and carbon fiber monocoque, it weighs just 2205 pounds. Sounds like a riot to us.
Road & Track staff writer with a taste for high-mileage, rusted-out projects and amateur endurance racing.
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