The list of the best-sounding cars is pretty expansive, as the world of motoring and internal combustion engines has given us an incredible legacy of exhaust sounds. With the popularity of my previous publication, let’s look at five more legendary car sounds.
BMW E92/E90 M3
The BMW E92 M3 is renowned for the legendary S65 naturally aspirated V8 engine revving to a staggering 8400 rpm while producing 420 horsepower with 400nm of torque and most importantly, an unforgettable noise. Starting with a deep V8 growl at lower revs and gradually becoming more and more high-pitched as it approaches the redline, this engine with the iconic sound is truly a masterpiece. Paired with exotic aftermarket exhaust systems such as Powercraft, Kreissieg, and so on, it’s an experience to behold.
LAMBORGHINI AVENTADOR
Ah! The Lamborghini Aventador. The quintessential supercar. Hailed by the motoring community as the most iconic supercar of our generation this side of a Veyron, it boasts a mindbending 6.5 liter V12 producing up to 780 horsepower and 720nm of torque at 8500 rpm with a redline of 8700 rpm. It is most renowned for rev-offs where the driver puts the car in neutral and revs it to the moon. It sounds as good as it looks! A classic high-pitched F1 sound, what makes the Aventador unique is its basey and true-to-lambo fashion, brutally aggressive noise. There is nothing beating the Aventador.
FERRARI 458
The Ferrari 458 is a legend in the history books of normally aspirated cars. Its 4.5 liter V8 produces arguably the most beautiful sound ever from a flat plane crank engine. Not only that, but it was once the most powerful normally aspirated V8 of all time!
DODGE CHALLENGER HELLCAT
Now you didn’t think I would talk about V8s without mentioning a big thumping thunderous cross-plane pushrod American V8. The most iconic combination of deep growling 8 cylinders and an insanely high revving supercharger whine is something to behold. Slap on an aftermarket exhaust on it and it sounds as if a volcanic eruption is taking place.
BMW E46 M3 CSL
Ah yes….the legend of the CSL. There is nothing like the sound of a BMW straight six with no turbos, wailing away at 8,0000 rpm. But that isn’t even the best thing about this engine. The best thing is the induction noise. The CSL has a different air intake manifold plenum compared to the ‘‘standard’’ E46 M3 which makes it sound like a fire-breathing dragon!
