Here Are The Highest Revving Engines Ever Made & Fit Into A Production Car

The heart of any car is undoubtedly its engine and when they have a high redline, it becomes a surreal experience overall to redline every gear and then shift! Usually higher cylinder engines tend to rev higher, but in this article, we have curated these 14 cars that have the highest redlines!

Enzo Ferrari once said, “I don’t sell cars. I sell engines. The car I throw in for free since something has to hold the engine in” and after countless hours of testing and validations, these mighty engineering marvels have graced some of the most sought-after cars in the world and make up for a sensation that cannot be described in words. So without further delay, let’s have a look at the highest revving engines till date!

13. 2015 Audi R8 Competition-8,800 RPM

Source: Audi Driver(YT)

Seeing a Volkswagen rev almost as high as a Honda is quite impressive. Jokes apart, the Audi R8 V10 Competition launched back in 2015 is one of the highest-revving R8s and Audis of all time! 

With the addition of the competition suffix, the power figures of the Audi R8 Competition also increased to 570 horses, which is even higher than the current rear-wheel drive R8 model by 8 German ponies. 

The Audi R8 Competition came with a naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V8 engine producing 570 HP and 398 lb-ft of torque. It can go from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.2 seconds and reach a top speed of 199 mph. 

12.  1999 Honda S2000 – 9,000 RPM

The 1999 Honda S2000 starts this list of the fastest engines ever made with a small 2.0-liter naturally aspirated F20C inline-4 engine that produced 237 hp at 8,300 rpm and 153 lb-ft of torque at 8,300 rpm. However, it could be taken to its redline limit of 8,800 rpm, which was thanks to Honda’s V-TEC technology; however, the engine is designed to go up to 9,000 rpm, where the fuel cut-out would happen.

The fast engine did improve the performance numbers of the small S2000, delivering a 0-60 time of 6.2 seconds and a top speed of 150 mph, which was good. However, from 2004 to 2009, the S2000 did come with a larger 2.2-liter inline-4, which made the same power and had a max redline of 8,000 rpm, and the fuel cut-out came in at 8,200 rpm. This was done so that people would achieve maximum power at a lower rev range and improve 0-60 by a bit.

11.  2011 Mazda RX-8 – 9,000 RPM: 

The 2011 Mazda RX-8 in its R3 Coupe featured a RENESIS 13B-MSP 1.3-liter 2-rotor Wankel engine that made 232 hp at 8,500 rpm and 159 lb-ft of torque at 5,500 rpm and came with a redline of 9,000 rpm. These specs were only available with the 6-speed manual transmission; the automatic redlined at 7,500 rpm. The RX-8’s 1.3-liter RENESIS engine is the only rotary engine on the list and is the fastest rotary engine ever made.

However, the engine did give it performance numbers of a 0–60 time of 6.3 seconds and a top speed of 147 mph. The 2011 Mazda RX-8 was the one given the facelift and the performance tuneup to have better starts off the line with a revision to the final gear ratio. The R3 Coupe was the sportier trim and came with a Bose sound system, Bilstein shocks, 19-inch wheels, a sporty front bumper, Recaro sports seats with leather upholstery, and a keyless entry and start system.

10. 2011 Ferrari 458 Italia-9,000 RPM

Ferrari is considered one of the most enthusiastic, exclusive, and legendary sportscar manufacturers in the world. No matter how many competitor brands come up, Ferrari will always be the most prominent example of a sportscar manufacturer!

However, when it comes to screaming engines, Ferrari has the upper hand with their V8 and V12 motors. Among V12s, we have the F12 TDF and the 812 series, and they do scream like hell, but it’s quite unusual to find a V8 screaming over 7000-8000 rpm in the current era of automobiles. 

The Ferrari 458 Italia comes with one of those few V8 engines that rev as high as 9000 RPM, and it’s one of the purest fun you’d have with a big V8 motor. Check out the specs of the 458 below-

The Ferrari 458 Italia used to come with a naturally aspirated 4.5-liter V8 engine producing 562 HP and 398 lb-ft of torque. It can go from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.0 seconds and reach a top speed of 202 mph. 

9. 2012 Lexus LFA-9,000 RPM 

Source: Throttle House(YT)

The Lexus LFA is mostly known for its symphonic and hypnotizing exhaust note, and even though it was misunderstood when launched, after a decade, it has finally got the value it deserves and is selling for millions of dollars in the used car market, while the original price was less than half a million dollars back in 2012. 

However, have you ever wondered what was behind this beautiful sound other than the contribution of Yamaha in tuning the exhaust note? Well, there’s a 4.8-liter V10 motor under the hood of the LFA, and it screams at 9000 RPM! And that’s one of the most contributing reasons why the LFA sounds so good. 

Check out the specs of the Lexus LFA below, and don’t take it for granted, back in the day, it was quite a fast Supercar with an automated manual transmission!

The Lexus LFA came with a naturally aspirated 4.8-liter V10 engine producing 553 HP and 354 lb-ft of torque. It can go from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds and reach a top speed of 202 mph. 

8. 2023 Porsche 911 GT3-9,000 RPM

The Porsche 911 was always about being a dynamic and fun sportscar, that would match the performance of some serious supercars. However, there are a lot of trims of the 911, and one of the most iconic, and enthusiastic 911s is the GT3 models, which are born with a naturally aspirated motor, and a manual transmission is a must-have option in them, even though the PDK automatic transmission is quite impressive!

The current generation of 911s, codenamed 992, has recently received its 911 GT3 as well, and it is available in two trim levels, the 911 GT3 and the GT3 with Touring package, both of which are priced at $182,900. 

No matter how much I write, it’s not possible to describe the 911 GT3 because of its raw power and mechanical feel. The naturally aspirated flat-6 motor screams to 9000 RPM. But don’t be fooled by the numbers, it is a very fast car, even though it has significantly fewer horses than some (almost-million-dollar) supercars, third-party testing has recorded the GT3 with a 0-60 time of just 2.7 seconds, about five-tenths of a second faster than the official time. 

Check out the specs of the Porsche 911 GT3 below-

The Porsche 911 GT3 comes with a naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-6 engine producing 502 HP and 346 lb-ft of torque. It can go from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.2 seconds and reach a top speed of 197 mph. 

7.  2015 Porsche 918 Spyder – 9,150 RPM:

The 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder is the only V8 that has made this list with a 4.6-liter V8 (MR6) and two electric motors that make 887 hp at 8,700 rpm and 944 lb-ft of torque at 6,700 rpm but have an engine redline at 9,150 rpm. This was only possible because Porsche installed smaller pistons in the engine, and without the hybrid power assist, it revved to 8,600 rpm, making 615 hp.

The Porsche 918 Spyder did sport impressive performance numbers with a 0-60 time of 2.6 seconds, 0-124 mph in 7.2 seconds, 0-186 mph in 19.9 seconds, and a top speed of 214 mph; however, independent testing did reveal it could go faster in each of the performance tests.

Along with this, the 918 Spyder with the optional $84,000 Wiessach Package set a Nurburgring lap record of 6 minutes, 57 seconds, and was the first car to break the 7-minute lap time barrier

6.  2015 Ferrari LaFerrari – 9,250 RPM:

The 2015 Ferrari LaFerrari was Ferrari’s first full hybrid vehicle, powered by a 6.3-liter V12 (F140FE) engine with an electric motor and KERS system that made a combined 950 hp at 9,000 rpm and a combined 516 lb-ft of torque at 6,750 rpm. 

However, it did have a redline at 9,250 rpm. Ferrari’s 6.3-liter engine would seem to be the largest engine on this list, but it is not.

However, its fast and large engine offered very fast performance numbers as well, with a 0-62 time of 2.6 seconds, 0-124 mph in 6.9 seconds, and reaching 186 mph in 15 seconds, not to mention its top speed of 217 mph.

Being the first hybrid vehicle from Ferrari, it had the largest engine on offer, but due to the hybrid assist, it decreased fuel consumption by 40%.

5. 1993-1995 Suzuki Cappuccino – 9,500 RPM

Source: RHD Specialties(YT)

The Suzuki Cappuccino might just be a small little two-seater from Japan, but it is not insignificant! If you look at the specs of the Cappuccino, you’ll find that it is a unique small sportscar with a lot of fun. It weighs just over 1500 lbs, and the 63 horsepower engine, 

The power-to-weight ratio is not that impressive if you compare it to today’s standards, but it is a fun little JDM convertible that you could buy back in the day. And with the Suzuki Cappuccino being over 25 years old now, you can finally import one to the US legally. 

Also, this little turbocharged inline-3 screamed as high as 9500 RPM, so if you are a redline-addicted driver, it can be a perfect choice for you!

The Suzuki Cappuccino came with a turbocharged 660 CC inline-4 engine producing 63 HP and 78 lb-ft of torque. It can go from 0 to 60 mph in just 7.0 seconds and reach a top speed of 87 mph. 

4.  2022 Ferrari 812 Competizione – 9,500 RPM:

The 2022 Ferrari 812 Competizione is a track-focused limited-run version of the 812 Superfast and features the same 6.2-liter naturally aspirated V12 but redlines at 9,500 rpm as compared to the standard 812’s 8,900 rpm. This engine in the Competizione makes 819 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque, which allows for a 0-62 time of 2.8 seconds and a top speed of 211 mph.

Ferrari, to get the additional 600 rpm, made many changes in the engine, like titanium connecting rods, a new cylinder head with actuated valves, a lighter crankshaft, and carbon coating on surfaces to reduce friction. It also uses a thinner oil, allowing an oil pump to move the oil better, allowing for more efficient power at higher revs, making this a fast engine but not the fastest naturally aspirated engine on this list.

 4.2026 Zenvo Aurora – 9,800 RPM:

The Zenvo Aurora is one of the newest hypercars in the market, with an estimated base price of about $2.8 million. It will be available in two trim levels, one is road-focuesd and called Tur and the other one is track focused Agli. The Aurora Tur being the road focused model, gets less power, but does better 0-60 time and top speed, however, the Agli model gets two extra electric motors, which helps it accelerate better on a long run.

For those who want to get this Aurora in their garage, it will go on sale by 2026. Check out the 2026 Zenvo Aurora’s specs below-

The 2023 Zenvo Aurora has a 6.6-liter turbocharged V12 engine assisted by a hybrid setup, and in total you can get a maximum 1850 horsepower, and 1254 lb-ft of torque! It is claimed that the road-focused  Zenvo Aurora can do 0-60 in just 2.3 seconds and has a top speed 280 mph.

3. 2008 Ariel Atom V8-10,600 RPM

Being lightweight is a massive factor in the automobile industry, and when you put a high output, high revving V8 motor at the back of it, it becomes a rocket ship on wheels. I’m talking about the Ariel Atom V8, a single-seater open-wheel track car with a screaming V8 engine!

If you ever wanted to go racing in Formula 1 or Formula 2, but never really got a chance to achieve it thanks to the crowd of talented youngsters biting the available seats to death, then you should make money and get yourself an Ariel Atom V8, or at least the supercharged variant of it!

Both of these are furious track cars that you can actually buy and race, but the Ariel Atom V8 is something that screams at 10,600 rpm, and that’s the favorite part among enthusiasts. And thanks to the 550 kgs of weight, it is super quick, quicker than quite a lot of supercars of today! Check out the specs of the Ariel Atom V8 below, which had an approximate starting price of $.

The Ariel Atom V8 comes with a naturally aspirated 3.0-liter V8 engine producing 507 HP and 295 lb-ft of torque. It can go from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.3 seconds and reach a top speed of 170 mph. 

2.  2022 Aston Martin Valkyrie – 11,100 RPM:

The Aston Martin Valkyrie features the largest engine on this list, a 6.5-liter V12 engine with an electric motor with a redline of 11,100 rpm. The large engine makes a combined 1,160 hp, with 1,000 hp just from the ICE unit, and 663 lb-ft of torque, which makes this do a 0-60 sprint in 2.5 seconds and has a top speed of 250 mph, making it the world’s fastest hybrid car ever made.

It came from Aston Martin’s collaboration with the Red Bull Racing Formula 1 Team and was codenamed AM-RB001. To help it perform faster, the Aston Martin came with an optional AMR Track Performance Pack, which is claimed to deliver 8% quicker lap times.

It also has a convertible sibling called the Valkyrie Spider, which, like the $3 million Valkyrie, is all sold out, as both models are said to offer the same thrills as a Formula 1 car.

1.   2022 Gordon Murray Automotive T.50 Supercar – 12,100 RPM 

Gordon Murray Automotive’s T.50 comes with the fastest engine ever made and fitted into a production car. It features a 3.9-liter naturally aspirated V12 engine, which has a redline at 12,100 rpm and makes 654 hp at 11,500 rpm and 344 lb-ft of torque at 9,000 rpm. To help get such figures, the engine was developed at Cosworth, which in the past has worked on many cars, including the Aston Martin Valkyrie.

The GMA T.50’s engine is a bit of an engineering marvel, as in dimensions, the T.50 is smaller than a Porsche 718 Cayman and lighter in weight than a Mazda MX-5 while having a V12 engine and a three-seat cabin, with the driver sitting in the middle. The engine alone weighs 178 kg or 392 lbs.

It does have a fan on the rear, but that is for aerodynamics, which does make it a unique car. Priced at £2.6 million or $3,000,000, all 100 examples are sold out.

Honorable Mentions:

1.  2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 – 8,600 RPM:

The 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 is available for sale and orders. It does not make the list as its production has not yet begun, but it will feature a 5.5-liter LT6 V8 that revs all the way up to 8,600 rpm and will make 670 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. In the near future, it will be one of the fastest Corvettes ever made.

Officially, the performance data of the Z06 has not yet been released, but there has been a leak that the 0–60 time of the 2023 Z06 is 2.3 seconds and a quarter-mile time of 10.6 seconds. Credit for this speed goes to the LT6 engine and chassis, which are borrowed from the C8.R race car. They are tuned differently but can still produce 1.22 lateral Gs in the turns.

2. 1963 Chrysler Turbine Car – 44,600 RPM

Source: Jay Leno’s Garage(YT)

In 1963, Chrysler released a Turbine car, which was a test car. Powering the turbine car was Chrysler’s A-831 gas turbine engine, which had a redline of 44,600 rpm; however, it only made 130 hp and 425 lb-ft of torque, which resulted in a 0-62 time of 12 seconds and a claimed top speed of up to 228 mph (141 mph).

The turbine engine, according to the manual written by Chrysler, could run on diesel fuel, unleaded gasoline, kerosene, JP-4 jet fuel, and even vegetable oil. The Turbine car was a hardtop two-door coupe, and only 55 were ever made with bodywork coming from Ghia. As all of them were test cars, nine of the 55 ever made were damaged or destroyed. Jay Leno is one of the owners of the two vehicles that are actually held in private car collections, the first being an owner in Australia.

3. 1949/ 1950 Rover JET1 – 56,000 RPM

Source: collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk

The Rover JET1 is a turbine-powered car by British manufacturer Rover Company. Using a gas turbine engine, it could rev up to 56,000 rpm and produce around 100 bhp, and in testing, it achieved a top speed of 88 mph. The Rover JET1 to be further developed was sent to speed trials in Belgium, where it exceeded a speed of 150 mph.

In 1952, the Rover JET1 achieved a world speed record for the fastest gas turbine-powered car, setting a speed of 152.691 mph. The JET1 used to run on petrol, paraffin, or diesel but offered fuel economy ranging from 5-7 mpg. In 1963, Rover JET1 was entered into the 24 Hours of LeMans to be driven by Graham Hill and Richie Ginther. Currently, an example of the Rover JET1 is in the London Science Museum.

What are the cars that rev over 10,000 RPM?

Cars like the Ariel Atom V8, Gordon Murray T.50, and Aston Martin Valkyrie come with engines that can rev well over 10,000 RPM. 

How high can a V12 rev?

V12s with small displacement can rev as high as 12,000 rpm, and one of the most prominent examples of that is the Gordon Murray T.50 Supercar, which comes with a small 3.9-liter V12 that revs over 12,000 rpm and the F1-inspired Aston Martin- Redbull Valkyrie.

What is the quickest revving engine?

The Koenigsegg Jesko’s twin-turbo V-8 engine revs from idle to 8000+ rpm redline in 0.213 seconds

Why can’t V8s be high?

Usually, V8 engines are oversized and have longer strokes, and V8s are famous for their torque-full nature. This results in a longer duration of revolution of the crankshaft compared to short-stroke engines. This is the reason why V8 engines top out at significantly lower RPMs than other engine specifications.