Epic engines still for sale new | Six of the Best

On New Year’s Eve, we showed you all the cars (or the most interesting ones, at any rate) that had shuffled off in 2024 and honestly it was depressing because with them went some very fine petrol engines, with almost none of them being directly replaced. So consider this something of a companion piece to that rundown and the much more optimistic side of the combustion coin. Even without dipping a toe in more extravagant supercar waters, there is still a heartening choice of new cars that will melodically and enthusiastically burn petrol – none more so than the latest Audi RS3. Devotees will recall that it’s just been facelifted (for the last time) but the previous generation contains much the same turbocharged 2.5-litre inline-five, and while it might not be quite as vocal as it once was, it’s still a wonderful testament to a seldom-seen configuration and turns Audi’s family-friendly saloon (or hatch) into a giant-slayer. Not cheap, of course – but what is these days? 

While Audi’s five-pot has always been a collector’s item, when it arrived aboard the Mustang, Ford’s 5.0-litre V8 originally stood out for its affordability rather than its rarity. Boy, has that changed. The fact that you will still be able to buy a naturally aspirated, big-capacity engine – with a manual gearbox! – in 2025 and for the foreseeable future is clearly something to be thankful for and also a good reason not to pillory its maker’s decision to stop making hot hatches. Moreover, the very latest Mustang is probably the best one yet. But there’s no need to wait for one of those to become available if it’s chiefly the hit of eight cylinders that you’re after; the classifieds are chock full of them, from as little as £20k. Although, given the choice, we’d plump for the previous Mach 1 on account of it being the best to drive. Here’s a lovely looking one-owner example with just 13k on the clock for handily less than £50k. 

Of all the engines listed here, Alfa’s steroidal V6 is the one you really need to drive to grasp just how good it is. Sure, if you list its attributes on paper, it already sounds good – it is after all a very modern 2.9-litre twin-turbocharged unit that revs to 7,400rpm and outputs 520hp – but that doesn’t fully prepare you for the firework display that occurs when you’re underway. Little wonder that the V6 was breathlessly measured against Ferrari’s F154 V8 when it first appeared; it is similarly explosive and very nearly as spellbinding. And while the rear-drive Giulia is very good without it, it becomes something very special indeed with it installed. Again, there is plenty of choice (at £30k the car is outrageous value) but if you want to push the boat out before Alfa puts the Giulia and Stelvio to the sword, you won’t do much better than the lightly used 100th Anniversary Edition about to make its way through PH Auctions. A statement car and no mistake. 

You’ll probably have your favourite S-designated BMW M car engine already, be it high-revving, muscular or mad – perhaps all three. Don’t be surprised if the 3.0-litre S58, as found in cars like the M3 and this M2, joins a few lists in time. Perhaps not as sweet sounding as before, but monstrously powerful, fantastically responsive, and freakishly tuneable on top. Plus, in the case of the smallest M car, still pairable with a manual gearbox. There’s nothing (bar about £70k) to stop the average PHer in 2025 buying a new rear-drive M car with the power of a 911 Carrera S and six stick-selected gears. Could even get a cool colour now. No special lists or allocations, just manual, straight-six M car goodness for the ages. It’s enough to lift any January gloom. This one is 2023 registered, boasts the eight-speed auto that makes the M2 even faster, and sneaks in under £50k. 

Even advocates of the turbocharged 718 GTS models couldn’t deny that the return of six horizontally opposed cylinders was the more fitting, emotional, evocative powertrain choice. Strawberries with fat-free yogurt are nice, but they’re delicious with single cream – that’s the difference. Indeed Porsche made the 4.0-litre six so good that it now faces something of a dilemma; the 718 EV is in development, but the existing combustion-powered car – complete with buttons on the dash, unassuming good looks and a joyous engine – arguably looks more appealing than it has for a while. There’s just nothing like it anymore, and it doesn’t take long on the configurator to imagine yourself behind the Race-Tex wheel of a Shark Blue GTS with Satin Aurum wheels, the Carmine Red interior package, perhaps some snazzier seats… you get the picture. But very soon you’re heading towards a new £100k Cayman; undoubtedly cool in 2025, if a tad hard to justify. Particularly when low mileage cars like this, with the manual gearbox, Bose stereo and Power Steering Plus, are £65,000. Whether from this year, five years or 20 years ago, there’s not much beating a flat-six Cayman. 

Yes, it’s a lot of money; yes, it’s pretty big to be classed as a hot hatch; and no, there aren’t very many of them, but as proof of what can now be achieved with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four, a six-speed manual and front-wheel drive, the FL5 Civic Type R simply knows no equal. Partly because there are next to no three-pedal alternatives in the middle of the 2020s, but even if there were it’s hard to imagine them rivalling the Honda for sheer engineering excellence. The engine revs with trademark VTEC abandon (and in a fashion little comparable does, save for the A45 AMG), the gearbox is sublime, and the chassis unrivalled in its ability to meld comfort with control. Some minor if worthwhile changes from the FK8 predecessor turned the Civic Type R from a fantastic hot hatch into a landmark performance car. Forget what you know about Civics, hot hatches, or 2.0-litres – this is a different gravy. So you’ll pay accordingly for the privilege; handily, however, this one offers up almost £10k off the new price after 7,000 miles. Red with red has to be the fastest spec, too…