The V8 sedan has almost disappeared from the American automotive scene overnight. Once a staple of the American auto industry, they now number few, and in addition to the nameplates that have been retired over the last few years, we’re also seeing long-time V8-equipped nameplates like the Dodge Charger drop the eight-cylinder powerhouses for straight sixes. Even V8 muscle cars like the Ford Mustang GT have become an endangered species.
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The V8 is getting close to taking its last breath in the automotive world. Here’s a list of the last V8 sports cars you can buy.
There are still some V8 sedans out there, but they’re becoming an increasingly niche type of vehicle built primarily for the luxury market. If you like AMGs and BMWs, you’ve got plenty to choose from, but elsewhere, where V8s once dominated, you’re out of luck. These are the last V8 sedans on sale in the USA in 2024.
In order to be eligible for this list, vehicles must be available as either a 2024 or 2025 model year and be available to purchase during the 2024 calendar year. Vehicles are listed in ascending order of power based on the base V8.
1 2024 Lexus IS 500
5.0-Liter Naturally Aspirated V8 – 472 hp
Lexus
Trim
IS 500 F Sport Performance
Price
$58,870
Engine
5.0-Liter V8
Power
472 hp
Torque
395 lb-ft
Transmission
8-speed automatic
Drivetrain
RWD
It’s the lowest-output V8 sedan on this list, but the Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance (we’ll call it the IS 500 from here) is also the cheapest V8-powered sedan you can buy for the 2024 model year with an MSRP of $58,870. But the reason for it being the most affordable (and weakest) of the lot is also the reason we love the IS 500 so much. The 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine is unhindered by turbochargers, meaning the Yamaha tuning comes to the fore with a glorious soundtrack and unmatched naturally aspirated build of power through the rev range. Still no slouch, it’ll hit 60 mph in 4.4 seconds from a standstill and top out at 149 mph, all while cosseting occupants in luxury the way only Lexus can.
Related The Cheapest V8-Powered Performance Sedan On Sale In 2024
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2 2024 Porsche Panamera (incl. GTS, Turbo E-Hybrid, Turbo S E-Hybrid)
4.0-Liter Twin-Turbo V8 – 496+ hp
Porsche
Trim
Panamera GTS
Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid
Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid
Price
$152,205
$191,000
$226,500
Engine
4.0-Liter Twin-Turbo V8
4.0-Liter Twin-Turbo V8 Hybrid
Power
493 hp
670 hp
771 hp
Torque
486 lb-ft
685 lb-ft
737 lb-ft
Transmission
8-Speed PDK Automatic
Drivetrain
AWD
Once the ugly duckling of the executive sedan world, no one is laughing at the Porsche Panamera now, and if you are, then you haven’t seen what either of the three V8-powered derivatives is capable of. Revamped for the 2024 model year the Panamera has taken a huge leap forward with new active chassis technology and a swathe of new interior tech like a digital instrumentation system. The Active Ride chassis control system is partly responsible for a new Nurburgring record in the Executive Cars class, with the range-topping Turbo S E-Hybrid recently lapping the Green Hell in 7:24.172. To achieve this, the Turbo S E-Hybrid pairs a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine with a plug-in hybrid system developing a total of 771 hp and 737 lb-ft, bringing up 0-60 mph in 2.8 seconds before topping out at 202 mph.
If that’s too much for you, a lesser Turbo E-Hybrid variant produces only 670 hp, dropping the 0-60 sprint time to three seconds flat and topping out at 196 mph. But if you can’t stand the thought of needing to plug in your V8 Porsche, then the new GTS has you covered, with the V8 tuned to produce 493 hp and 486 lb-ft, enough for a 3.6-second 0-60 sprint and a 188 mph top speed.
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3 2024 Mercedes-Benz S-Class (incl. AMG S63 E Performance, Maybach S580)
4.0-Liter Twin-Turbo V8 – 496+ hp
Trim
S580 4Matic
Maybach S580 4MATIC
AMG S63 E Performance
Price
$128,150
$198,300
$182,250
Engine
4.0-Liter Twin-Turbo Mild Hybrid V8
4.0-Liter Twin-Turbo V8 Plug-In Hybrid
Power
496 hp
791 hp
Torque
516 lb-ft
1,055 lb-ft
Transmission
9-speed automatic
Drivetrain
AWD
One of only three cars on this list where you can have the V8 in three different models, the S-Class caters to the whims of just about every type of Mercedes buyer with Benz-, Maybach-, and AMG-badged derivatives. In the former pair, you get the same mild-hybrid equipped twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 in an identical state of tune, generating 496 hp and 516 lb-ft. The differences between these two models, aside from a $70,150 price difference, is in how much luxury and comfort you’re given, with the Maybach being the plushest version of the S-Class you can buy, as evidenced by a 0.4-second slower 0-60 time. Meanwhile, the Mercedes-AMG S63 E Performance focuses on performance, employing a plug-in hybrid system to bump total outputs to 791 hp and 1,055 lb-ft, dropping the 0-60 time down to 3.3 seconds. That’s a feat no 5,720-lb sedan should be capable of, and yet the S63 manages it with ease.
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4 2025 BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe (incl. M8 Gran Coupe, Alpina B8 Gran Coupe)
4.4-Liter Twin-Turbo V8 – 523+ hp
BMW
Trim
M850i xDrive Gran Coupe
M8 Competition Gran Coupe
Alpina B8 Gran Coupe
Price
$106,300
$138,800
$151,500
Engine
4.4-Liter Twin-Turbo V8
Power
523 hp
617 hp
612 hp
Torque
553 lb-ft
590 lb-ft
Transmission
8-speed automatic
Drivetrain
AWD
BMW is still committed to the V8, selling no fewer than seven models. Of those, however, only three are sedans, and the BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe is the halo model of those. You also get a greater variety of V8 flavors, here, as you can get a ‘regular’ 8 Series (in M850i xDrive trim), an M8, and an Alpina variant with the V8 engine. At its core, it’s a variant of the 4.4-liter twin-turbo N63 engine in all three models, but in the M8 Gran Coupe, it’s dubbed the S63, while in the Alpina, it gets an Alpina-spec tune to rival the M8’s power outputs. Pricing for this trio ranges from $106,300 to $151,500, proving you can get a V8 for a song, or a small fortune.
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At the lower end of things, the M850i Gran Coupe makes do with 523 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque, while the M8 is the most potent a 617 hp and 553 lb-ft. The Alpina may only have 612 hp, but it’s a torque monster with 590 lb-ft of the twisty stuff. But the extra torque doesn’t give it an edge in the standard 0-60 performance barometer, taking 3.3 seconds versus the M8’s three seconds flat. However, it has a higher top speed – peaking at 201 with the limiter removed, while the M8 only reaches 190 mph. The Alpina also has the honor of being the last Alpina-badged sedan we’re likely to see for a while after the B7 was discontinued.
5 2024 BMW 7 Series
4.4-Liter Twin-Turbo V8 – 536 hp
BMW
Trim
760i xDrive
Price
$121,300
Engine
4.4-Liter Twin-Turbo V8
Power
536 hp
Torque
553 lb-ft
Transmission
8-speed automatic
Drivetrain
AWD
The 2024 BMW 7 Series is arguably one of the most versatile full-size luxury sedans around, available as pure electric, hybrid, or combustion-driven with two available combustion engines. The peak of the latter is found in the 760i xDrive, which pairs a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 with an eight-speed automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive. You might think a V8 engine, a 4.1-second 0-60 mph sprint and a BMW badge on the nose mean this is a driver’s sedan, but the reality is that this latest generation of the 7 aims straight at the heart of Mercedes’ luxury lineup, the S-Class. The focus is on those sitting in the back, with cushy seats, space to stretch out, and the pièce de résistance, a 31-inch Theater Screen that drops from the ceiling and streams content via a built-in Fire Stick.
The combination of luxury, comfort, and technology led to the BMW 7 Series being crowned a winner of the 2022 CarBuzz Awards in the Tech Lover’s Dream category, and two years on, it’s still as impressive as ever. Even more so given the limited number of V8s left.
6 2024 Bentley Flying Spur
4.0-Liter Twin-Turbo V8 – 542 hp
Bentley
Trim
Flying Spur S
Price
$248,400
Engine
4.0-Liter Twin-Turbo V8
Power
542 hp
Torque
568 lb-ft
Transmission
8-speed automatic
Drivetrain
AWD
Bentley used to rely on the W12 engine, but the W12 is now dead and gone, and the V8 is the way of the immediate future for the brand. With the W12 out of the picture, the most potent Flying Spur you can get for now is powered by a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 – the same as you’ll find in a variety of Porsches, Audis, and even a Lamborghini. It may lack the aural uniqueness of the W12, but the Flying Spur S is every bit as potent, matching the old Speed version with a 0-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds.
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It may start at shy of $250,000, but the price can quickly soar when you get to adding options. We feel it’s well worthwhile, however, as the Flying Spur is a luxury sedan focused on the driver, despite luxurious rear appointments ensuring comfort for all occupants. The good news for Flying Spur fans is that the V8 dream has a guaranteed future, as the W12’s replacement has already been announced: a plug-in hybrid V8 with 771 hp and 738 lb-ft.
7 2024 Audi S8
4.0-Liter Twin-Turbo V8 – 563 hp
Audi
Trim
2024 Audi S8 4.0 TFSI
Price
$123,400
Engine
4.0-Liter Twin-Turbo V8
Power
563 hp
Torque
590 lb-ft
Transmission
8-speed automatic
Drivetrain
AWD
Audi’s never built an RS version of the flagship A8 sedan, but why does it need to when the S8 does the job perfectly? More than just a long-wheelbase luxury sedan, it’s a mile-crushing monster that rides like a cloud. It’s also the only Audi A8 variant to employ a V8 engine, the ubiquitous 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 tuned here to develop 563 horsepower. Paired with Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive, it’ll hit 60 mph from a standstill in 3.8 seconds and top out at an electronically limited 155 mph. But to try and corral the S8 into a particular segment by its performance is to do it a massive disservice, as it’s more than just a one-trick pony. It boasts sumptuous rear seats ideal for being chauffeured in, and the Predictive Active Suspension provides Rolls-Royce level comfort, despite the available performance.
12:01
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Best of all, the V8’s future is secure here, for at least a few more years, as, Audi plans to keep the A8/S8 around until 2027, despite the brand’s commitment to an electric future.
8 2024 Mercedes-AMG GT 63 4-Door Coupe (incl. GT 63 S E Performance)
4.0-Liter Twin-Turbo V8 – 496+ hp
Mercedes-AMG
Trim
GT 63
GT 63 S E Performance
Price
$153,350
TBC
Engine
4.0-Liter Twin-Turbo V8
4.0-Liter Twin-Turbo V8 Plug-In Hybrid
Power
577 hp
831 hp
Torque
590 lb-ft
1,032 lb-ft
Transmission
9-Speed Automatic
Drivetrain
AWD
Mercedes classes the AMG GT 4-Door as a four-door coupe, but we’ll call it what it is – a sedan with four doors and a trunk and a whole lot of power. Available with the V8 in two trims, neither of which leaves you starved for performance, the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 is at the heart of either. In the standard AMG GT 63, it cranks out 577 hp and 590 lb-ft, bringing up 60 mph in just 3.3 seconds. But if you opt for the range-topping plug-in hybrid GT 63 S E Performance, AMG drops the mic with 831 hp and 1,032 lb-ft. That’s enough to catapult you to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds. In either incarnation, you get four seats to bring your friends along for the ride, while the 4Matic+ all-wheel drive system has a neat party trick letting you disengage the front axle for all the sideways fun you can dream of.
9 2024 Audi RS7
4.0-Liter Twin-Turbo V8 – 621 hp
Audi
Trim
RS7 performance
Price
$127,800
Engine
4.0-Liter Twin-Turbo V8
Power
621 hp
Torque
627 lb-ft
Transmission
8-speed automatic
Drivetrain
AWD
Audi has trimmed down the 2024 RS7 lineup, now limited to the most potent version available, the RS7 performance. With a starting price of $127,800, it’s not cheap, but it backs it up with the most powerful version of Audi’s 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 fitted to an RS7 to date, cranking out 621 hp and 627 lb-ft. With the ‘performance’ suffix attached, it’s more visceral than ever, too, thanks to a reduction in the amount of sound deadening used, quicker shifts from the eight-speed automatic gearbox, and a lighter mechanical self-locking differential. Zero-60 comes up in 3.3 seconds and it’ll top out at a limited 155 mph, meaning others on this list are much faster. Does that matter? Not really, as the RS7 performance (and its RS6 sibling) is arguably the best the RS7 has ever been:
Expert Opinion
It blurs the line between practicality and a supercar in spectacular fashion with its speed, poise, and cornering ability. However, there’s something more visceral about the driving experience than we’ve experienced in more than just a few of the current crop of supercars, which are all insanely capable at the expense of something else… joy
But does the RS7 really qualify as a sedan? Technically, this is a five-door liftback, and we can debate whether it belongs on a list of sedans. But with no RS6 sedan on the market, this is close enough.
10 2024 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing
6.2-Liter Supercharged V8 – 668 hp
Cadillac
Trim
CT5-V Blackwing
Price
$93,495
Engine
6.2-Liter Supercharged V8
Power
668 hp
Torque
659 lb-ft
Transmission
6-speed manual, 10-speed automatic
Drivetrain
RWD
We’re getting closer and closer to the day when Cadillac no longer sells a V8 sedan. Thankfully, that day is not today. The Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing is a big performance sedan with big numbers to back it up. Cadillac could’ve easily rested on its laurels as the last manual-transmission sedan with a V8 and rear-wheel drive in the US, but instead of getting lazy, Cadillac’s engineers got busy and gave the CT5-V Blackwing a supercharged V8 with gargantuan outputs: 668 hp and 659 lb-ft. As if that wasn’t impressive enough, the manual is standard, and all that power is sentsolely to the rear axle.
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So it must be remarkably hardcore, right? Not quite. Yes, it can shred rubber on a whim, but the magnetorheological dampers ensure it maintains the ride comfort you typically expect of something wearing the Cadillac badge. With a sub-six-figure price tag (the 2025 updates may impact that, although pricing is not yet available), the CT5-V Blackwing is the most affordable midsize luxury sedan with a V8 engine but it’s also one of the best sedans we’ve ever driven.
Expert Opinion
I don’t say this lightly; the 2023 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing is the perfect sports sedan. I’d change nothing about it… except maybe make it a wagon. Money no object; I’d take the CT5-V Blackwing over any sports sedan in history. It’s a perfect blend of performance, driver connectivity, and comfort. Cadillac has built the perfect luxury muscle car… just in time for the electric takeover.
11 2025 BMW M5
4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 PHEV – 717 hp
Trim
M5 Sedan
Price
$119,500
Engine
4.4-Liter Twin-Turbo V8 Plug-In Hybrid
Power
717 hp
Torque
738 lb-ft
Transmission
8-speed automatic
Drivetrain
AWD
While Mercedes can’t seem to decide whether it wants to hybridize V8s or drop to four-cylinder hybrids for its core AMG models, BMW M has made it clear the V8 is here to stay. The 2025 BMW M5 is the latest model – following the XM – to pair the familiar 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 with a plug-in hybrid system. In BMW’s venerable super sedan, total outputs are pegged at 717 hp and 738 lb-ft, sent to an all-wheel drive system via an uprated eight-speed automatic gearbox. But there’s a large elephant in the room, and that’s the additional weight added to the M5 by the hybrid system. Tipping the scales at 5,390 lbs, it’s more than 1,000 lbs heavier than the old M5, resulting in a slower 0-60 mph time of 3.4 seconds.
BMW M boss Frank van Meel told CarBuzz this was “the best we could do,” and while we’re happy the V8 has been retained, time will tell whether the weight penalty results in a bad M5 or not.
Sources:
Nurburgring