The Current State Of V-8 High-Performance Sedans

The current automotive landscape has experienced the side effects of innovation, felt none more than in the efficiency and power department, with countless manufacturers investing more resources and marketing efforts toward efficient power options.

Many of the well-known and well-loved high-performance V-8 sedans of the past are wrapping up production including the Dodge Charger V-8 options, and the brand-defining Hellcat power plant, as well as the Chrysler’s luxury beast, the 300C. Though there are still V-8 options available for current high-performance sedans, they are usually found in high-dollar foreign models including the BMW M850i xDrive and Mercedes-AMG E63. Only 16 new sedans currently on sale, offer a V-8 engine and just one of them is available with a stick.

The more advanced automotive production becomes, the more big engine sedans are scrutinized, especially when compared to a turbo four-cylinder supercar or naturally aspirated V-6 that can tackle a quarter-mile drag strip in nine seconds flat.

Plainly put, the appeal of the V-8, as well as its viability in today’s environment, falls short in key aspects of efficiency and modern standards. That said, the V-8 isn’t completely extinct, and there is a thriving community that still defends the use of big-engine performance in sedans, even if only for nostalgia’s sake.

The innovation of hybrid power and fuel-efficient engines has transformed nearly every class and segment, from full-size pickups and crossover SUVs, right down to sedans and coupes, prompting automakers to push the envelope of efficiency and power to uncover alternatives to large gas-powered engines.

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The End Of The V-8 Sedan Era Sees A Brawny Lexus

With Chrysler and Dodge discontinuing their flagship performance sedans in favor of a more efficient future, the list of available and upcoming V-8 sedan options continues to fall.

But there is hope yet, found in the most unlikely of places. The 2023 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance is a four-door sports sedan that harbors a powerful V-8 and sport tuning. This punchy four-door is among the last V-8 performance sports sedans in production today, standing beside its German and European classmates.

Nevertheless, it would be unwise to write the IS 500 F Sport Performance’s power plant off as a novelty or relic powertrain, as the performance it puts down speaks to the refinement of the modern V-8. Though Lexus offers the 2023 IS 500 with smaller engines including a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder and a 311-horsepower V-6, the range-topping performance trim, the IS 500 F Sport Performance, features the 472-horsepower V-8.

The 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V-8 in the 2023 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance can launch the sports sedan from 0-60 MPH in 4.4 seconds, faster than the smaller engine options available for the 2023 model IS line.

Adaptive variable sport suspension, eight-speed automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive pair with the 2023 IS 500 F’s brawny powertrain to deliver a well-mannered and exhilarating driving experience that makes use of every horse offered by the eight-cylinder mill.

Lexus managed to outlast Dodge and Chrysler in the big-engine sedan arena, likely due to the everyday driveability of the IS 500 F Sport Performance paired with the ample agility of the sport suspension and respectable fuel economy compared to its larger counterparts.

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Cadillac V-Series To Ditch Gas-Powered Engine

Models like the Cadillac V-series sedan garner a fair amount of praise from the performance community, not only for the stellar accomplishments in motorsports achieved by the V-series performance division, but the quality of the engineering involved in producing such models including the V-8 powered CT5-V Blackwing.

The 2023 CT5-V Blackwing is the pinnacle of modern muscle sedans, boasting top-tier stats thanks to the powerhouse 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 engine that produces 668-horsepower, superb chassis tuning, and high-performance suspension.

Complimenting the big mill in the sports sedan is a standard six-speed manual transmission. This aspect of the 2023 CT5-V Blackwing alone is among the standout features, as the manual transmission offers an engaging experience that driving purists hold in high regard.

Considering the CT5-V’s performance ability, this is one experience that is sure to leave a mark. The CT5-V Blackwing’s launch abilities are impressive, to say the least, with the sedan able to sprint from 0-60 MPH in 3.6-seconds, and that’s when running a manual transmission. The CT5-V Blackwing offers an optional ten-speed automatic transmission, which is theorized to shave a few ticks off the 0-60 time, slotting it well above par with foreign V-8 sports cars like the BMW 5 Series sedans and Mercedes-AMG E63.

2023 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing Peformance Specs

But the speed and takeoff abilities of the Blackwing aren’t the only selling points. Along with the premium materials and features we’ve come to expect from the luxury manufacturer, the Cadillac sports sedan features magnetorheological dampers that sense the driving conditions as well as the driver’s intentions and adjust accordingly, providing a smooth, sharp handling sedan with an explosive personality and a classy aesthetic, earning it a spot on Car & Driver’s 10Best list for 2023.

Not including the Escalade V, the 2023 CT5-V Blackwing, and CT4-V Blackwing are to be the last gas-powered vehicles in Cadillac’s iconic V-series line-up. Future endeavors will likely see Cadi’s performance division implementing efficient power options such as hybrid integrated engines.

And though the American automaker’s past frustrations with hybrid power have left a sour taste in buyers’ mouths, Cadillac continues to experiment with efficient options, as observed in the Escalade hybrids and the plug-in hybrid ELR, refining their recipe.

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Dwindling Options For Those Seeking V-8 Performance Sedans

Today’s auto engineers can do more with less in terms of power and economy, sending the big engine well on its way to becoming dated technology in the sedan segment. And though bigger vehicle classes still regularly employ the V-8, more and more brands are pushing efficient power options to the forefront, including big names like Ford and Chevrolet.

Ford not only plans to increase production on their efficient EcoBoost power plant, but they also plan to increase the availability of modern power and technology by making efficient options more affordable, only further alienating the general buyer from big engine options. That said, Ford still offers an optional power upgrade, which features a naturally aspirated V-8, most commonly found in the performance pickup, the Raptor R.

Rumors have swirled about Chevrolet’s plans to transform their flagship Camaro into an electric speedster, with speculation regarding the American automaker pointing to the end of the internal combustion Camaro for good. For now, the V-8 sports sedan seems to be phasing out of the larger automotive market. And though they still find considerable popularity, the future doesn’t favor excess power so much as it does practicality.