Top 10 best sounding cars of all time.
Magnitude Team
From V12 to 4-cylinder, we rate the world’s best-sounding cars.
The sound of a car’s engine can be the most memorable — and perhaps overwhelming — of all the ways to adore it. Sure, you can look at the curves and surfaces with your eyes, smell the warm leather baking in the sun, and feel the sheet metal and trim beneath your fingertips… but none of that matters when an operatic tune blasts from the engine and sends shivers down your spine.
There are nearly too many to select from, but in our opinion, these are the 10 finest sounding car engine notes ever. So, get your headphones out, max out the volume and get yourself some popcorn, this will be a fun one.
#1 1969 Ford GT40
The GT40 went on to win the Le Mans four times in a row between 1966 and 1969, cementing its place in racing history and elevating Carroll Shelby up to legendary status. The GT project was shut down after the 1969 model year, and manufacturing of the GT40 was confined to just 107 cars, which quickly brought the spectacular run to an end.
Engine: 4.2-litre V8
BHP: 440
RPM: 6,000
#2 2017 Porsche 911 RSR
The Porsche 911 RSR is a racing car designed by Porsche to participate in the LM GTE categories of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest-sanctioned FIA World Endurance Championship, European Le Mans Series, and GTLM class of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. It is intended to take the place of the Porsche 911 RSR (991). The automobile was revealed at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November 2016.
Engine: 4.0-liter flat-six
BHP: 510
RPM: 9,000
#3 1991 Mazda 787B
The 787B’s victory at Le Mans in 1991 was significant in two ways: it was the first (and only) triumph for a Japanese manufacturer, as well as the first (and only) victory for a car powered by a Wankel rotary engine. Nigel Stroud, an Englishman, created the 787B. In 1991, three 787Bs competed in the event, placing first, sixth, and eighth.
Engine: 2.6-liter four-rotor rotary
BHP: 700
RPM: 8,500-9,000
#4 2007 Pagani Zonda R
While the Zonda F is certainly not short on performance, lapping the Nürburgring in 7:32 and achieving lateral G forces of nearly 1.5 G, it is first and foremost a road car, easy to drive, intuitive, and setting the standard for comfort, safety, and lightweight. The combination of a high-quality finish and meticulous attention to detail made the Zonda F one of the most sought-after supercars, with all 25 Coupé variants selling out in record time.
Engine: 6.0-liter V12
BHP: 739
RPM: 8,000
#5 Subaru Impreza
A tiny automobile made by Subaru in 1992, the Impreza is a well-known model. The EA series engines of the Leone were swapped out for the new EJ series in order to make way for the new model. At this point, it’s in its fifth generation.
Engine: Naturally aspirated flat-four (boxer)
BHP: 226
RPM: 12,000
#6 1979 Ferrari 512BB LM
The Ferrari 512 S is the designation for 25 sports vehicles with five-litre 12-cylinder engines that were constructed in 1969–70 and are connected to the prototype Ferrari P sports. The factory Scuderia Ferrari and private teams entered the V12-powered cars in the 1970 International Championship for Makes.
Engine: 4.9-liter flat-12
BHP: 440
RPM: 6,800
#7 1964 Ferrari 250 GTO
The Ferrari 250 GTO is a sports automobile that Ferrari constructed between 1962 and 1964 for homologation into Group 3 of the FIA’s Grand Touring Car category. It was powered by a Tipo 168/62 Colombo V12 engine from Ferrari. The “250” refers to the cubic centimetre displacement of each of its cylinders.
Engine: 3.0-liter V12
BHP: 300
RPM: 8,000
#8 2004 Porsche Carrera GT
The Porsche Carrera GT (Project Code 980) is a mid-engine sports car produced by Porsche from 2004 to 2007. The Carrera GT is ranked number one on Sports Car International’s Top Sports Cars of the 2000s list and number eight on their Top Sports Cars of All Time list.
Engine: 5.7-liter V10
BHP: 605
RPM: 8,200
#9 1992 McLaren F1 GTR
The McLaren F1 is a sports car created and manufactured by McLaren Cars in the United Kingdom. It is powered by a BMW S70/2 V12 engine. Gordon Murray came up with the initial concept.
Engine: 6.0-litre V12
BHP: 600
RPM: 7,500
#10 1962 Alfa Romeo GTA
The successor to the wildly popular Giulietta series debuted in 1962. The Alfa Romeo Giulia, AKA the “Series 105” in the company, was the vehicle in question. Bertone created the 105 series coupé, which was based on Giulia Berlina’s reduced floor plan. In the late 1960s, the car’s name was changed from Giulia Sprint GT to Giulia Sprint, then to GTJ (Junior) and GTV (Veloce).
Alfa Romeo was heavily active in motorsport at the time. Alfa’s racing branch, Autodelta, created a race car that was quite similar to the roadgoing type. Instead of being named as a GT, these automobiles were dubbed GTA, with the ‘A’ standing for “Alleggerita,” Italian for “lightweight.”
Engine: 1.6-litre inline-four
BHP: 115
RPM: 5,600