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The first automobile that was acknowledged as a sedan debuted in 1912. In the more than 100 years that the sedan has been available to the public, there have been countless variations of the platform. Within the expansive sedan range, there exists all manner of offerings, including vanilla passenger carriers purposed as basic A to B appliances and, on the other end of the spectrum, ludicrously overpowered road warriors built to torture tarmac and elevate heart rates.

These are the most powerful sedans ever made. Spoiler alert, they’re all from the modern era.

10 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing

668 hp

The Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing is one of the bastions of unbridled performance within Cadillac’s range, standing alongside its smaller sibling, the CT4-V Blackwing, and the much larger Escalade-V. It is also one of the last enthusiast-pleasing sedans. A large-displacement V8 purposed for performance and fitted to a production series car is an uncommon offering in the modern automotive world, let alone one that is further agitated by a 2.65-liter supercharger. Add to that the fact that the driver conducts the engine via a six-speed transmission with a short throw and, serves as the middle between the hulking engine and the rear wheels, which are the sole recipients of the CT5-V Blackwing’s power.

9 BMW G90 M5

717 hp

It’s almost procedure for BMW’s latest offerings to be met with pitchforks and torches at the ready, arguably none more so than the latest G90 M5. The most recent rendition of the M5 nameplate has been heavily criticized for its weight, looks, and performance compared to the F90 M5 that it supersedes. Regardless, the effect of the G90’s high curb weight (5,400 lb) is lessened as it’s supplemented by one of the most powerful V8 power units in the Bavarian automaker’s fleet, second only to the same power unit featured in the 748 hp XM Label Red. Despite an eyebrow-raising curb weight, we have yet to see the M5 driven in anger with the full breadth of its ability on display.

8 Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 4MATIC+

751 hp

This is the first all-electric model on this list and it’s not the last. In its least potent form, the Mercedes-AMG EQS can rival many established ICE automakers. Although the EV segment has no shortage of dissenters, one thing that can’t be discounted is the pure performance offered by the segment’s performance-oriented inhabitants. The EQS 53 4MATIC+ is one of those models. Its two permanently synchronous electric motors, sourcing power from a liquid-cooled 107.8 kWh lithium-ion battery, allow for the 5,911 lb to cross a 1/4 mile strip in less than 12 seconds. Alongside neck-spraining acceleration, the EQS offers occupants typical sublime Mercedes interior comfort.

7 Bentley Flying Spur Speed

771 hp

The Bentley Flying Spur Speed is the most recent spawn for the Crewe-based automaker and is powered by an engine, dubbed the Ultra Performance Hybrid, that superseded the iconic W12. The twin-turbocharged V8 is accompanied by a competent hybrid drive system offering 188 hp alongside the 591 output from the V8 to achieve one of the highest outputs in Bentley’s modern fleet. Compared to the forbearing Flying Spur Speed, the latest variant offers almost 20% more power and 11% more torque. A plush interior soothes the driver while the hybrid powertrain coaxes the sultry sedan to a top speed of 177 mph.

6 Mercedes-AMG S63 S E Performance

791 hp

The S-Class has always stood for ultimate luxury and the S63 S E Performance brings about a level of performance that almost rivals the firm’s established performance-centric offerings. The S63 S E Performance is the most powerful version of the S63 nameplate, a feat made possible by the pairing of an already powerful 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 with a rear-axle mounted permanently excited synchronous motor to achieve an output a hair away from 800 hp. The benefit of the positioning of the electric motor is that it circumvents the transmission to utilize its energy for instantaneous forward propulsion.

5 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye Jailbreak

807 hp

The muscle car segment is outrageous. Ludicrous amounts of power motivating hulking frames are commonplace, and the Charger SRT Hellcat is one of the zenith models of the segment and its manufacturer’s fleet. Much like the CT5-V Blackwing, the Charger Hellcat is powered by a brutish 6.2-liter V8 accentuated and ultimately characterized by a sonorous supercharger which is a staple of the Charger’s driving experience. Additionally, the insanity of the Charger is also attributed to the fact that its nearly uncontested power is fed exclusively to the rear wheels.

4 Audi RS e-Tron GT Performance

912 hp

The e-Tron GT was Audi’s first all-electric RS model and is the most powerful model within its ranks. The e-Tron GT range has received a handful of upgrades in the latest revision, one of the most notable being the increase in power, with even the least powerful model in the e-Tron GT range commanding 671 hp. Two electric motors are purposed to provide forward propulsion, drawing energy from a 97 kWh lithium-ion battery and capable of sprinting from a standstill to 62 mph in less than 3 seconds despite weighing 5,114 lbs.

3 Porsche Taycan Turbo GT

1,019 hp

Porsche’s Taycan Turbo GT is one of the better-looking electric vehicles, given that the segment’s masses are akin to kitchen appliances in terms of design, even more so when kitted with the Weissach package. Alongside the sublime styling is an extremely powerful electric powertrain consisting of two electric motors, one for each axle, capable of hurtling the 195-inch four-door sedan at neck-breaking speeds. The Taycan Turbo GT is an extremist in the EV segment, especially within Porsche’s stables. It is capable of completing a 1/4-mile sprint in less than 10 seconds and a standstill sprint to 60 mph in almost 2 seconds flat.

2 Tesla Model S Plaid

1,020 hp

It’s no surprise that the tarmac-twisting Model S Plaid ranks high on this list. The spaceship-esque physique shrouds the power-laden tri-motor powertrain that allows the 4,776 lb to sprint from one end of a quarter-mile strip to the other in 9.23 seconds. We’ve also made the argument before that the Model S Plaid is the perfect candidate for the consideration of EVs being capable of being classified as muscle cars. In that same vein, if it is, then the Tesla Model S Plaid is one of the last American-made muscle cars, alongside the Ford Mustang.

1 Lucid Air Sapphire

1,234hp

The Lucid Air Sapphire stands at the forefront of performance not only in the high-performance EV segment but in the ICE arena too. The Sapphire is lauded as the pinnacle of electric performance and reigns over the Air range, superseding its stablemates like the Air Grand Touring, Air Touring, and Air Pure. A three-motor powertrain is the supplier of propulsion, consisting of a twin-motor unit positioned in the rear and a single-motor unit positioned in the front. One of the most notable features of the Lucid Air Sapphire is its ability to recoup enough charge to travel up to 200 miles within 15 minutes.

Sources:
BMW
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Dodge
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Porsche
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Lucid Motors
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Tesla
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Audi
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Mercedes
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Bentley
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Cadillac