There Are Only Two Naturally Aspirated V8 Sports Cars Left In America
The naturally aspirated V8 sports car segment was once home to several manufacturers, from Mercedes to BMW, just over a decade ago. Now the segment has all but vanished, with the Ford Mustang GT Dark Horse and Chevrolet Corvette Stingray being the final bastions of a once great subspecies of cars. The common reason for the en masse exodus from the segment is that many automakers moved to turbocharging or supercharging to further the performance standards of their vehicles, and Americans seemingly falling out of love with the segment.
An example is the venerated 2008 BMW M3 E92 coupe and its sonorous 4.0-liter naturally aspirated core that was a staple of the late 2000s NA V8 segment. The successor to the E92, the F80 M3, ditched the V8 powerhouse and instead employed a much smaller engine, with two fewer cylinders and two turbochargers.
The information in this article was sourced directly from Ford and Chevrolet. For the purposes of this article, we chose the traditional definition of a sports car, which is a two-door coupe or roadster with a performance engine. If you want to know more about how we classify sports cars and supercars, read our
opinion piece on how we separate them
.
3 Mustang Dark Horse
In 2022, Ford unveiled the seventh generation of the Mustang bloodline, the S650 Mustang. It was distinguished by a radically different exterior and interior design than the preceding generation and powered by the fourth-generational rendition of the 5.0-liter Coyote platform. It was a significant step forward for the Mustang moniker, but it wasn’t the most potent S650 Mustang offered by Ford. Alongside the EcoBoost and GT models, Ford debuted the domineering Mustang Dark Horse, which, considering the models that would follow, was equivalent to the S550-generation’s GT350 within the S650 Mustang hierarchy. The Dark Horse was more hardcore than the Mustang GT and featured a slew of enhancements that made it a more capable street and track performance vehicle.
At the center of
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the Dark Horse is the same fourth-generation Coyote V8 that’s employed in the lower-ranking GT model. Ford had slightly upgraded the 5.0-liter power plant for its tenure in the Dark House. The hardcore Mustang’s beating heart featured forged piston connecting rods that were first introduced in the mighty S550-generation GT500. The Coyote engine was pushed to produce 500 hp at 7,250 rpm, while no additional torque was introduced compared to the new GT. Another noteworthy change introduced to the Dark Horse was its 6-speed manual transmission, which is rare these days. The standard GT model utilizes a Getrag MT-82 six-speed manual, whereas the Dark Horse employs a TREMEC TR-3160 six-speed manual as standard, which features a model-exclusive titanium transmission oil cooler. Outfitted with a new engine and transmission, the Dark Horse can gallop down a quarter-mile strip in 12.5 seconds. It also features a Torsen limited-slip differential as standard in both the automatic(3.55:1) and manual (3.73:1) configurations.
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When comparing chassis, the main difference lies in the accompanying components like the suspension. Employed at the front axle is a double-ball-jointed MacPherson strut system accompanied by a stabilizer bar, aluminum control arms, and MagneRide dampers, which are standard on the Dark Horse. The rear is outfitted with an integral-link independent system alongside coil springs, and MagneRide dampers. Aiding handling and steering response is the Ford Performance-designed strut tower brace and K-brace. The S650 Dark Horse also features unique chassis tuning, larger rear sway bars, and heavy-duty front shock absorbers. Stopping power is derived from the Brembo 19-inch front brakes and 13.9-inch rotors. Interestingly, the front track on the Dark Horse is wider than on the GTs, but the rear track is narrower, measuring 63.9 inches, compared to 64.7 inches.
By making these changes, Ford transformed a muscle car into a true BMW M4 rivaling sports car, albeit with a highly responsive naturally aspirated V8 engine.
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2 Chevrolet C8 Corvette
Chevrolet’s striking C8-generation Corvette is one of the most capable and athletic American sports cars available in 2024. The first rendition of the Corvette moniker debuted in 1953 and has, since then, evolved into one of the most prolific sports car nameplates in the automotive world. The Stingray was the first offering from the eight-generation Corvette range and was also the automaker’s first production mid-engine Corvette, designed to mimic exotic supercar proportions, build quality and performance. Since its debut in 2019, the C8 range has grown, now home to the venerable Z06, lauded as America’s supercar, and the even more potent 1,064 hp ZR1.
One of the main aspects of the Stingray’s overall package is the 6.2-liter, naturally aspirated Small Block LT2 V8 engine. This mid-mounted engine is positioned low within the C8’s engine compartment, and lowers the C8’s center of gravity, bolstering the two-seat sports car’s handling capabilities. The V8 engine summons 459 hp and 470 lb-ft, all of which are sent to the rear wheels. The LT2 engine block and vent system were also new, accompanied by a crankshaft with a centerline that sat one inch lower to the ground where it connected to the transaxle, which improved handling.
2:03
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The V8 is paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, which was the first of its kind by Chevrolet. The transmission, which is the result of the collaborative effort between Chevy and TREMEC, was designed to offer customers a transmission that would retain the feeling of a satisfying manual and the comfort of an automatic. This transmission also offers a double-paddle de-clutch system that allows drivers to disconnect the clutch by holding both paddles for a more engaging and demanding experience.
The Stingray’s foundation is built around its center tunnel, which is the backbone of the C8’s platform. The benefits of utilizing this platform range from improved torsional rigidity compared to predecessors and commendable ingress and egress for a mid-engine car. The composition of the C8 is a medley of high-strength materials. Its main body consists of six high-pressure diecast aluminum sections, dubbed the Bedford Six, which was manufactured at the firm’s Indiana plant, minimizing the number of joints within the Stingray’s structure. Supporting the Stingray are double-wishbone suspension systems at the front and rear, alongside a coil-over damper system. Forged aluminum upper control arms and cast aluminum L-shape lower control arms are employed at both ends and 46mm monotube shock absorbers.
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1 Honorable mentions
Chevrolet Camaro SS
The Camaro is a revered American sports car spanning six generations but is no longer in production. When it debuted in 2016, this generation of the Camaro featured a chassis of which 70% was bespoke to the Camaro and the body-in-white mass was reduced by 133 pounds compared to the previous generation. At its core, the SS model featured the 6.21-liter, naturally-aspirated LT1 V8 engine that utilized a new tubular exhaust manifold, variable valve timing, direct injection, and an Active Fuel Management system. 455 hp and 455 lb-ft of torque were generated by the LT1 engine, which at the time, made this version of the Camaro, the most powerful SS model ever. A six-speed manual was paired with the V8. The interior featured an 8-inch center console screen next to the instrument cluster. The Camaro also blurred the line between muscle car and sports car thanks to its epic handling.
You can still get a new one, as Chevrolet still has stock left at some dealer.
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Lexus RC F
Lexus’ Grand Tourer offers all the performance of a typical sports car. The model received an update in 2020, and a revision to its design and increased performance was made. A 472 hp 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine, boasting a throaty exhaust note, a 7,300 rpm redline, and an eight-speed automatic transmission pairing, is the sole motivator of the sleek but aggressive rear-wheel-drive Lexus RC F. Alongside the update was the more hardcore variant of the standard RC F, the RC F Track Editon, which was, and still is positioned as the zenith of the two-door Lexus model. 0-60 mph could be achieved in 4.2 seconds in the standard RC F, and the top speed is rated at 168 mph. An independent double wishbone suspension system is employed at the front axle, while the rear relies on an independent multi-link system with forged accompanying components.
