Car enthusiasts have been panicking about the supposed extinction of the V8 for years now, even in supposedly “safe” territories such as the supercar segment. Granted, some of this panic is partially justified: it is true that many automakers have chosen to leave V8 power by the wayside in an effort to modernize and electrify their lineup. Even in the world of full-size pickup trucks, famous for having embraced V8 grunt in decades past, only three models are available with a V8 for 2024. In other areas of the market, things aren’t much better. The availability of V8 power is dwindling in every segment, from sedans to SUVs. However, some carmakers have either made a U-turn on their decision to drop V8s or simply refused to consider the idea altogether. Here are 10 models that will carry V8 power into the next decade and beyond.
Porsche Cayenne
The iconic Porsche Cayenne was one of the first models to introduce the concept of a sporty luxury SUV to the market. The 2024 model received a facelift, along with a powertrain upgrade for the top-tier S trim, which is now powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 producing 468 hp. There is also a more powerful Cayenne Turbo version, with a 650-hp 4.0-liter V8 under the hood. Last month, Porsche made a major announcement regarding the future of the V8: while the fourth generation of the Cayenne is going to have an all-electric powertrain, the V8-powered third-gen version will survive alongside it rather than be replaced by it. This setup will continue up to and beyond 2030, securing the V8’s place in Porsche’s future.
Add CarBuzz to your Google News feed.
Ford Mustang
Sitting next to the Corvette in the American automotive pantheon is the Ford Mustang. This icon of the muscle car world also relies on a V8 to take it from A to B while having some fun along the way, and that’s the way things will stay for the foreseeable future. As Dodge’s electrification program marches on, Ford is now the only automaker left building a V8 muscle car. The Blue Oval is taking things even further for 2025, declaring their love of V8 power with a bonkers road-legal version of the Mustang GT3 race car, dubbed the Mustang GTD. The GTD is powered by a supercharged 5.2-liter V8, with an output somewhere in the 800-hp region.
McLaren P18
While some V8 purists reject electrification in all its forms, including hybrid setups, McLaren is choosing to embrace it as a way to keep the V8 alive for longer. A successor to the iconic McLaren P1 is in the works, with much speculation going on regarding its as-yet-unknown name. However, we do know its internal codename: P18. We also know what we can expect to find under its hood when it comes out: McLaren has confirmed a V8 engine will be incorporated in a hybrid powertrain, courtesy of engine supplier Ricardo, which has forged a new long-term partnership with the Woking-based company. The hybrid V8 powertrain is a crucial part of what McLaren calls its “Future of Performance” strategy for the future.
Lamborghini Temerario
The long-awaited successor to the Huracan, the Lamborghini Temerario, is finally here. The new entry-level model in the Lamborghini family sports an innovative hybrid powertrain, whose internal-combustion element comes in the form of a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 producing 789 hp on its own. The V8 is paired with three electric motors for a total power output of 908 hp. This is a significant departure from the V10s and V12s typically associated with the brand; it’s also one of the most power-dense engines ever sported by a Lambo. Another highlight of the new V8 is its very high revving ability. According to Lamborghini, its redline is 10,000 rpm, 500 rpm higher than the Revuelto.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado (and its GMC-badged counterpart, the Sierra) are not planning on ditching their V8 engines. While there is now an all-electric member of the Silverado lineup in the form of the new Silverado EV, the V8 isn’t going anywhere. There are currently two different V8 options on offer for this year’s model. The smallest is a 5.3-liter unit, producing 355 hp. The larger one is a 6.2-liter engine producing 420 hp, which also unlocks the Silverado’s maximum towing capacity of 13,300 lbs. The larger V8 is also paired with an active dual exhaust, which produces a more aggressive note. Both V8 options are also available in the Sierra.
BMW M5
Another V8 whose long-term survival comes thanks to hybridization is the one that powers the BMW M5. The model’s seventh generation, making its debut for the 2025 model year, has now been revealed. The most major update comes in the form of its new hybrid powertrain, which has already been introduced in the XM SUV. The 4.4-liter twin-turbo engine, producing 577 hp on its own, is paired with the M Hybrid drive system, consisting of an 194-hp electric motor incorporated in the transmission and powered by a 14.8-kWh battery. The resulting combined output is 717 hp.
Aston Martin Vantage, DBX, and DB12
Aston Martin has pledged to keep its internal combustion engines well into the 2030s. The British firm believes that plug-in hybrid technology is not just a bridging technology, but rather the answer to extending external combustion’s life. Aston’s CEO, Lawrence Stroll, has also delayed the company’s EV rollout, citing a lack of interest in the high-end segment. Because of that, the automaker will keep its V8 and V12 engines alive.
As you might know, Mercedes supplies Aston Martin with 4.0-liter V8 engines, used in the Vantage, DBX, and DB12. Thankfully, Mercedes agrees with Aston Martin and believes there is room for V8s beyond 2030. Like Aston Martin, Mercedes-AMG will likely add electricity to the 4.0 V8, and we’ve already seen what ridiculous output figures it can achieve in products like the AMG GT 63 S E Performance.
Cadillac Escalade
The beloved Escalade is going electric, but GM isn’t putting all of its eggs in one basket. In January 2023, GM announced that it would be investing $854 million in its sixth-generation small-block V8. Not much has been heard about this engine since, but it will likely power every GM model that is closely associated with the V8 engine, including the ‘Sclade. The Escalade is now 26 years old, in its fifth generation, and has never been powered by anything but a V8 engine. Caddy offered a turbocharged diesel for the current model, but it was dropped for the 2025 model year due to a lack of interest.
Cadillac is still going ahead with the Escalade IQ, but if you look at its entry-level price and standard features, it’s clear that it will be a niche model, much like the Escalade-V.
BMW X5 M
BMW is already working on the next-generation X5, which will include ICE and EV models. Since the X5 M was always one of the best all-round and best-selling M models, we have no doubt that the X5 M will once again be part of the range. According to BMW, its famous S58 4.4-liter V8 will be clean enough to meet the tougher 2025 EU regulations, which means they’ll likely stick around until 2030, possibly beyond.
Like the M5 and M5 Touring, the X5 M will likely use the PHEV version of the S58 that made its debut in the XM. That means at least 717 hp and 738 lb-ft of torque, and some all-electric driving range to keep the greenies happy.
Koenigsegg Gemera
The Koenigsegg Gemera made its debut a few years ago, but production only started recently. The Gemera was supposed to be available with two engine options, including the Tiny Friendly Giant, or a twin-tubocharged V8. As you can imagine, most hypercar customers opted for the larger engine, because why not? A combined power output of 2,269 horsepower beats 1,381 hp by a significant margin, and less isn’t always more.
Production of the Gemera will be limited to 300 units, but Koenigsegg only has the capacity to build 60 per year, so it will take at least six years to get them all out the door.