10 Fastest V6 Cars

2016 Chevrolet Camaro on road blue ・ Photo by General Motors

You don't need eight cylinders to lead the performance pack these days—the fastest V-6 cars out there are more than capable of eating up a V-8 engine in a straight line. For the most part, this has been accomplished through the miracle of forced induction, with superchargers and turbochargers playing a starring role in pushing V-6's to the pole position. Some of the most potent six-cylinder engines out there hail from the more exotic side of the automotive spectrum, but there are a few affordable entries worth checking out, too.

Let's take a quick look at the ten fastest V-6 cars from 0-60 mph.

10) 2016 Chevrolet Camaro

Remember when 5.1 seconds to 60-mph was the exclusive province of big-bore muscle machines? The 2016 Chevrolet Camaro's V-6 model proves just how far we've come in terms of engine development technology, what with its 335 horsepower and 284 lb-ft of torque from 3.6 liters of displacement. A six-speed manual transmission is standard with the all-new Camaro, but to achieve the most impressive 0-60-mph time you'll have to opt for the available eight-speed automatic. Credit goes, too, to the lightweight chassis that the Chevrolet coupe has adopted for the 2016 model year, which sheds significant pounds compared to the previous version of the car.

9) 2016 Mercedes-Benz C450 AMG 4MATIC

The 2016 Mercedes-Benz C450 AMG 4MATIC's name takes more time to type than the car actually requires to scoot to 60-mph from a standing start. With all-wheel drive as standard, and a turbocharged, 3.0-liter V-6 under the hood, the C450 AMG 4MATIC can count on a robust 362 horsepower and 384 lb-ft of torque to propel it onto our list of the fastest V-6 cars to 60 mph. You also get a seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission with the Mercedes-Benz sedan, which delivers lightning-quick shifts and offers manual control over ratio swaps if desired.

Photo by Mercedes-Benz Media

8) 2016 Jaguar F-Type S

The 2016 Jaguar F-TYPE S coupe ties with the C450 AMG 4MATIC in the sprint to 60 mph, requiring a respectable 4.8 seconds to get the job done. Jaguar's gorgeous sports car features a 3.0-liter supercharged V-8 engine that in S trim generates 380 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque. Choose between a six-speed manual and an eight-speed automatic transmission for the S, with the latter providing more consistent acceleration and easier launches. The F-Type S roadster is nearly as quick as the coupe, for those who want to let the sunshine in.

Photo by General Motors

7) 2016 Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400

The 2016 Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400 is the very first version of the Japanese luxury brand's entry-level sedan to make use of a turbocharged engine. The end result is predictably enticing: with 400 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque on tap from a 3.0-liter, twin-turbo V-6 engine, it's no wonder that the Red Sport 400 is able to best its Mercedes-Benz competitor with the pedal down. With just 4.6 seconds required to reach 60 mph (and with a seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission calling the shots), the new Infiniti is the sportiest version of the Q50 to have reached American shores.

Photo by Infiniti

6) 2016 Cadillac CTS Vsport

The 2016 Cadillac CTS Vsport doesn't feature the fire-breathing V-8 of its CTS-V sibling, but its V-6 engine is certainly no handicap as evidenced by its considerable hustle on the way to 60 mph. In just 4.4 seconds the twin-turbo 3.6-liter six-cylinder offered by the Cadillac CTS Vsport applies its 420 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque through an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive, which is more than enough to overcome the inertia of the mid-size sedan's curb weight. Suspension and styling upgrades are also part of the Vsport package when ordering this top-tier edition of the CTS.

Photo by General Motors

5) 2016 Porsche Panamera 4S

The 2016 Porsche Panamera 4S proves that the decision to switch to V-6 from V-8 power in the brand's flagship luxury sedan was a prescient one. Despite its large size and being weighed down with a long list of premium features, the Panamera 4S is able to hit 60-mph in a very quick 4.3 seconds—provided you opt for the available Sport Chrono package, which includes Porsche's excellent launch control system. Once activated, the Panamera 4S is able to fully leverage its all-wheel drive system and the 420 horsepower and 384 lb-ft of torque produced by its twin-turbo 3.6-liter V-6 engine.

Photo by Porsche

4) 2016 Cadillac ATS-V

The 2016 Cadillac ATS-V is the smaller sidekick to the CTS Vsport, but it's also a much more potent performance package. In addition to track-ready aero, suspension, and brakes, the Cadillac ATS-V benefits from a 3.6-liter V-6 engine that has been twin-turbocharged to produce 464 horsepower and 445 lb-ft of torque. It's up to you whether you want to shift the vehicle via a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic gearbox, but the latter offers the quicker ride to 60 mph, checking in at a blistering 3.7 seconds to make it the fastest V-6 car with four doors on our list.

Photo by Cadillac

3. 2017 Acura NSX

The 2017 Acura NSX doesn’t just feature a twin-turbo V-6 engine—it also brings a trio of electric motors to the table. Two sit at the front of the vehicle, and the other at the rear, where they each motivate their respective axles. Altogether, the all-wheel drive Acura NSX produces 573 horsepower and 476 lb-ft of torque, and conducting this high tech symphony is a nine-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission. With the pedal to the metal, the NSX leaps to 60-mph in a scary-quick 3.0 seconds, making it the quickest V-6 hybrid supercar currently available.

Photo by Acura

2) 2016 Nissan GT-R NISMO

The 2016 Nissan GT-R NISMO just barely undercuts the Acura NSX in the stoplight grand prix, but it manages to do so at a greatly reduced window sticker. The Nissan GT-R NISMO is the hottest version of the automaker's famed sports coupe, and its 3.8-liter twin-turbo V-6 has been tuned to produce 600 horsepower and 481 lb-ft of torque. The car's amazing launch control software is able to massage the twin clutches contained within its six-speed automatic transmission to work hand-in-hand with all-wheel drive to rattle off a 0-60-mph time of 2.9 seconds.

Photo by Nissan

1) 2017 Ford GT

So we don't have the official performances specs for the 2017 Ford GT yet—but we’re confident in putting it at the top of our list of the fastest V-6 cars to 60-mph. With a 3.5-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V-6 offering up over 600 horsepower, race-derived body design and aerodynamic shaping, and a seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission along for the ride, it's easy to predict that the Ford GT will smash through the three-second barrier on its way to a 200-mph top speed. Ford isn't about to be embarrassed on the world stage once the GT hits the streets, which gives us faith that a 2.8 second time to 60-mph is in the cards.

Photo by FCA Media