Epic naturally aspirated engines | Six of the Best
Still the holy grail of performance car ownership - here are the NA motors to lust after
Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS, 2022, 4k, £129,995
Fans yearned for a 911 engine in the Porsche Cayman ever since it launched in 2005. The standard flat-six offering was good, but it was clear that the chassis was capable of managing more. And while that never arrived in the first 987 generation, prayers were finally answered for the 981: the 3.8-litre Carrera S motor moved to the middle of a Porsche to create the fabulous GT4. But once the genie was out of the bottle, there was no cramming it back in. The 718 GT4 got its own bespoke 4.0-litre, though even that wasn’t enough - enthusiasts began to wonder what the other Porsche 4.0-litre, the 9,000rpm GT3 unit, might be like in a Cayman. A 4.0 (sort of) fitted, after all. The GT4 RS, launched in 2022, was the dream Cayman many thought would never happen, a glorious amalgamation of GT3 powertrain with mid-engined sports car. Maybe a tad too hardcore for its own good, but the snort from those intakes right by your ear is the perfect distraction.
Ferrari F12berlinetta, 2013, 33k, £147,950
Clearly, a celebration of the great naturally aspirated engines had to include a Ferrari V12, a mainstay of the range for decades (and hopefully for a while to come, too). But which one? It’s possible to spend millions on one, and it’s possible to spend as little as £40k for a 456. This time around, we’ve gone for an F12berlinetta, surely as significant a car to the Ferrari V12 story as the 458 was to the V8 berlinetta. Like the mid-engined model, the F12 ushered in the era of dual-clutch gearboxes, super-quick steering and a plethora of chassis tech to the front-engined flagship to astonishing effect: Ferraris became more capable and more usable, yet more exciting as well. With a naturally aspirated engine absolutely at the centre of proceedings. For 2012 the Enzo-derived F140 was up to 6.3-litres in capacity and 740hp at 8,250rpm - in a series production Ferrari! Almost 20 per cent more power than a 599 and nearly 30 per cent better fuel economy was some going for a Ferrari V12. These days the F12’s rep ensures strong residuals, but £150k is also new 911 GTS money.
Mercedes C63 AMG, 2013, 70k, £25,989
Another shoo-in was a Mercedes V8, and the decision process wasn’t a long one. Because if you can feature AMG’s first ground-up V8 in some form or another, it’s going to happen - even 20 years after its introduction. An engine that ended up almost everywhere, from CLK drop-top to R-Class MPV, the M156 6.2 was and remains one of the 21st century’s finest naturally aspirated motors. For the limited-run Black Series cars and the dry-sumped SLS (with the M159 designation, but you knew that already), hundreds of thousands can be paid for a 6.2. But the undeniable swagger - the huge torque from the capacity, the appetite for 7,200rpm, the thunderous soundtrack - is there for much less. As much less as £13k, if you fancy. At double that is this stunning C63, arguably the most loved home of the M156. It’s from late in the ‘204 generation C-Class run, sounds well-cared for and looks great with some choice options. V8s come little greater.
Honda Integra Type R (DC2), 2000, 51k, £59,990
Hopefully you’re noticing the theme now. If Ferrari is famous for V12s and AMG legendary for V8s, then it’s Honda you call on for the four-cylinder fizz. Even its turbocharged VTECs were a cut above the rest for energy and response; the legend was forged, however, with natural aspiration, crazy specific outputs and induction noises to die for. There aren’t many dual overhead camshaft four-cylinders that spawn their own meme culture, but then nothing so ostensibly humble had been as exciting as 8,000rpm Honda Civics. Yo indeed. Whether Accord, CRX, S2000 or NSX, the effect was the same: as smooth and docile as any other, with a feral flourish beyond 6,000rpm. This Integra is as good as DC2s get, a lighter Rx from the very end of production in the most desirable colour. It’ll cost ya, and you can feel VTEC just kick in from £3k, but the best never did come cheap…
Lexus LFA, 2012, 262 miles, £1,149,995
Speaking of which, remember when the £330k Lexus LFA looked like a lot of money? Now the very best cars are million pound classics, because the LFA has come to be recognised as one of the great 21st century supercars - and one of the best vehicles ever to leave Japan. Exquisite construction and fine handling contributed to that - a Nurburgring Edition lapped the Nordschleife in 7:15 long before it was the norm - but the engine was the LFA’s USP. An epic 4.8-litre V10 built with Yamaha, it revved like a superbike and sounded like an F1 car - with 200mph potential on top. A special car and a special engine even by the standards of the genre, all this LFA needs is driving. A lot.
Autodelta Alfa GT, 2005, 38k, £19,495
Not all iconic engines need to cost the earth, as this Alfa GT demonstrates. And even this £20k car is towards the upper end of Busso values; perhaps the most famous naturally aspirated V6 ever created is available from £5k on PH in a 156. It costs significantly more than anything comparable - see here for a 3.2 GT at four figures - because it’s significantly different to anything else. See it’s an Autodelta converted GT, meaning the Busso is 3.7-litres and more than 300hp strong. With a carbon intake and racy exhaust - just imagine the sound. Plus coilovers, a limited-slip diff and an Autodelta bodykit. For sale at Autodelta with very miles as well. Pretty cool, right?
I had the opportunity to use one as a daily for a few weeks last year and I was very impressed. It was great to drive, the power and performance was outstanding and being the estate it was very practical for all the family clobber that required shifting about.
Definitely a car that recalibrated my thinking about Mercedes and their performance estates.
I d have the F12 if I could though, and the Merc for practical stuff. The LFA would be a Euromillions pick.
I d have the F12 if I could though, and the Merc for practical stuff. The LFA would be a Euromillions pick.
I had one B Series (EG9 Vti -B16A) and quite fancy another but the prices now are just too high
Can't beat the linear pull and rising crescendo of Nat-Asp. My next fun car will be Busso powered.
It's a great list of cars, the Integra is lovely too, not worth £60k to me but they are great cars.
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