10 Luxury Cars with a V8 Engine

Luxury cars with V8 engines simply aren’t as common as they once were. With automakers concerned about fuel efficiency, many companies have begun using smaller turbocharged and supercharged engines in their premium cars. Those units, as readers may recall, can provide the same kind of power numbers as naturally aspirated V8s, but with better fuel economy.

What they can’t supply is the distinctive low-end burble of a big-time V8, and that’s a soundtrack many enthusiasts cannot do without. So if that’s on your shopping list, we’ve got some sound choices in today’s gallery that blend both luxurious settings and the unique experience of a classic V8 powerplant.

Many of the luxury cars with a V8 engine are also notably athletic, and that’s certainly the case with the 2017 Cadillac CTS-V. Cadillac’s mid-size sports sedan is track-ready straight from the factory, thanks to help from the latest Magnetic Ride Control suspension, Brembo high-performance brakes, Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires and supercharged 6.2-liter V8.

That engine is then good for 640 horsepower, 630 lb-ft of torque, a top speed of 200 mph and 0-60 times of 3.7 seconds. Beyond that, the CTS-V blends premium comfort with that premium performance, with features like 20-way power-adjustable seats trimmed in supple semi-aniline leather, a standard mobile Wi-Fi hotspot and a video-display rearview mirror.

If you’re interested in Lexus luxury cars that include a V8 engine, you better move fast: The brand’s all-new LS flagship is expected at the end of the year, and while the new car is no doubt impressive, its only powertrains stop at six cylinders. For eight, you’ll need a 2017 model.

Lexus' current range-topper comes standard with a smooth-running V8 that produces 386 horsepower and 367 lb-ft of torque. Of course, it also comes with a lot more than that, like two rows of luxury seating. Heated and ventilated leather seats are available up front, and the rear is offered with an executive-class package with a rear seat that reclines, includes an ottoman and provides a relaxing shiatsu massage.

Some luxury cars with V8 engines — such as the 2017 Infiniti Q70 — extend their appeal with both standard- and long-wheelbase models. Thus, the Q70 and its longer sibling, the Q70L, can be ordered with a 5.6-liter V8 engine that serves up 416 horsepower and 414 lb-ft of torque. And both showcase leather-upholstered climate-controlled seating along with real wood cabin trim and a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel.

The Q70L rides on a wheelbase that’s about six inches longer, which creates what Infiniti calls “First Class” accommodations for rear-seat passengers. More specifically, they gain an extra 5.6 inches of legroom and 5.9 inches of knee room, as well as heating functionality, individual lighting and power door cinchers.

Audi also supplies luxury cars with a V8 engine and multiple wheelbase choices, but the four-rings brand takes a slightly different approach to the process than Infiniti — at least here in the United States. For U.S. drivers, the company’s flagship sedan is offered with its regular wheelbase as the high-performance 2018 Audi S8 “plus,” while the more lux-focused model is the longer A8L.

Since luxury also is our focus today, we highlight the 2018 A8L with its turbocharged 450-horsepower V8, 22-way climate-controlled and massaging front seats, Valcona leather cabin surfaces, four-zone automatic climate control and extensive array of technologies. Among the highlights: a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot, a head-up display and an infotainment system that can recognize handwritten instructions.

Meanwhile, the 2018 Audi RS 7 is an example of the brand’s mid-size luxury cars with a V8 engine. The RS 7 traces its roots back to the A6 premium sedan, which was then transformed into the A7 with a sporty liftback body style. The S7, in turn, is the high-performance edition of the A7, and the RS 7 kicks the excitement up even further. In that model, drivers enjoy a 4.0-liter turbocharged V8 engine that’s been tuned for 605 horsepower, 516 lb-ft of torque, and 0-60 acceleration of 3.6 seconds. Also enjoyable is a list of upscale standard content that extends to heated Valcona-leather front sport seats, carbon-fiber inlays and a flat-bottomed racing-style multi-function steering wheel.

Flagship luxury cars with a V8 engine, like the 2018 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, can raise the comfort bar even higher. Take the S 560 4Matic: It boasts a hand-tailored leather cabin, plenty of real-wood accents and superior seating options. These include heated and ventilated multi-contour massage seats up front, along with individual rear seating for two. The rear passenger-side seat even has power leg and foot supports. Additional incredible features are the car’s optional Magic Sky Control panoramic roof, which can go from transparent to tinted, and its 4.0-liter biturbo V8. With that unit resting beneath the S 560’s long and sculpted hood, drivers can tap into 463 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque and take advantage of MB’s 4Matic all-wheel drive.

One of the most stylish luxury cars with a V8 engine is the 2018 Mercedes-Benz CLS. Just know that, despite its "coupe" marketing, the CLS 550 actually has four doors and gets called a coupe because of its sporty and dramatic shape. Particularly attractive are the long, sweeping lines along the car’s flanks, which emphasize powerful rear-wheel arches. But beyond the aesthetics, the CLS 550 also delivers serious performance, complete with a 4.7-liter biturbo V8, 402 horsepower, 443 lb-ft of torque and a 0-60 sprint time of 4.9 seconds. Nor is there any shortage of serious comfort, since the CLS 550’s standard four-seat cabin is a leather-filled lounge on wheels.

Another of the premier German luxury cars with a V8 engine is the 2018 BMW 7 Series. In fact, the 7 Series is so ritzy that its 4.4-liter turbocharged V8 is only the mid-range engine choice, sandwiched between a four-cylinder turbo and a turbocharged V12 from BMW’s M division. Now, that doesn’t mean that the V8 engine in the 750i xDrive sedan offers middle-of-the-road performance. Instead, it kicks out 445 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque — enough to run from 0-60 mph in a brisk 4.3 seconds. Yet as the engine does all that hard work, owners can take it easy in standard Nappa leather multi-contour seating with 20-way power adjustability and multi-stage heating.

With the 2018 5 Series, BMW also competes against mid-size luxury cars with a V8 engine. Setting the pace, however, is the new M550i xDrive. It’s the first 5 Series sedan to ever get the M Performance treatment and — according to BMW— it’s the “fastest and most agile” member of the family yet. To be exact, the M550i xDrive can go from a full stop to a mile a minute in 3.9 seconds, backed by a 4.4-liter biturbo V8 that furnishes 456 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque. As with the 7 Series, the range-topping 5 Series also pampers owners with lux cues like 20-way multi-contour seats, Harman Kardon audio, and a trunk with hands-free power opening and closing.

Shoppers looking for luxury cars with a V8 engine may also want to check out the 2018 Chrysler 300. Its powerplant, for instance, is a 5.7-liter "Hemi" V8 that makes 363 horsepower and 394 lb-ft of torque, and the rear-wheel drive 300 with a standard eight-speed automatic transmission can propel go from 0-60 in less than 6 seconds. Moreover, Chrysler offers a surprisingly high-end interior in the 300C model, with heated and ventilated front seats trimmed in quilted Nappa leather, premium Poltrona leather for many cabin surfaces, and a heated and leather-wrapped steering wheel.