Car & Driver - The Best Naturally Aspirated Engines of All Time

[Mook]

(I could only get this link to work in Chrome)

CARandDRIVER

8. Chevrolet Small-Block V-8
7. Ford Flathead V-8
6. Toyota 4AGE Inline-4
5. Ferrari 458 V-8
4. BMW E30 M3 Sport Evo Inline-4
3. Acura Integra Type R B18C5 Inline-4
2. McLaren F1 S70 V-12
1. Honda S2000 F20C Inline-4

Honorable Mention

Ferrari LaFerrari/F12berlinetta 6.3-liter V-12
Lexus LFA 1LR-GUE 4.8-liter V-10
Peugeot 405Mi16 XU9J4 1.9-liter Inline-4
Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0-liter flat-6

Click to read more...

 

[YoushallgoFo]

I thought #2 was considered a BMW engine.

 

[RICH17]

That list is stupid

 

[Mook]

People commenting on C&Ds FB are so pissed

 

[EmersonHart13]

Do not like.

No VQ? Smallblock is way too low.

 

[Intel]

Seems like a great list to me.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

Flathead v8 in front of small block chevy? Uhhhhh

 

[NOMIEZVR4]

#1 is the right choice...no doubt there.

 

[Ear Rak]

#1 is the right choice...no doubt there.

 

[daturbosix]

there must be a error in the article..
i dont see LS1 mentioned anywhere. they must have forgotten to put that at the #1 spot.

 

[Spivitz]

Small Block Chevy FTW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


My 1976 Nova Shark’s 305 2 Barrel…..
That motor would run 100,000 w/o oil…. OK, that is extreme but my point is I tried to blow that fucker up
Every single time I drove it & it never even had a lifter tick.


I will point out, my current LS2 had a horrible oiling system from the factory. Course if I did not modify my SS I’d still have my stock rotating system….

 

[rz79]

I always thought the flatheads were terrible breathers?

 

[Ti28]

75hp Ford flat head in front of a Chevy small block? TWHAT?

And um, where the fuck is the LS series of engines on that list?

Lame list!

 

[Yaj Yak]

id bet they consider the LS engines a small block chevrolet...

 

[YoushallgoFo]

if #1 is so good how come they swap #8's into them?

 

[Spivitz]

1. Small Block Chevy
2. Hemi

.......hahahahaha

 

[OffshoreDrilling]

do they give any reasoning behind these choices? don't feel like trying to thumb through the article on my phone.

 

[Thirdgen89GTA]

#1 Should read "7.0L LS7 V8"

 

[Turk]

#1 Should read "7.0L LS7 V8"

More like 5.2 FSI V10

 

[Intel]

if #1 is so good how come they swap #8's into them?

I mean it puts out 240hp out of a 2 liter revving to 8900 rpm, takes boost like a champ and is just fun to drive.

Not denying the power of chevy v8's but the 4 cylinders they picked are some of the best... still confused by the flatheads though other then for nostalgia.

 

[Yaj Yak]

I mean it puts out 240hp out of a 2 liter revving to 8900 rpm, takes boost like a champ and is just fun to drive.

Not denying the power of chevy v8's but the 4 cylinders they picked are some of the best... still confused by the flatheads though other then for nostalgia.

i fucking loved the turbo s2000's at the half mile event

 

[RICH17]

I think the list is sort of "for its time" in order to include the S2000 engine and the flathead

 

[1quick]

sbc for the win, sure the s2000 motor is fine but they get 200hp out of 1 liter motorcycle motors that spin 13k rpm what makes the s2000 motor special

 

[NOMIEZVR4]

if #1 is so good how come they swap #8's into them?

lots of rustled jimmies....a stock block f20C absolutely rapes when boosted...show me any other motor making 3x factory output. I'll wait for your replies.

made over 700whp...into the 9's..




-unopened stock block on both cars

 

[Ti28]

id bet they consider the LS engines a small block chevrolet...

GOD! I hope not! If that's the case, then they rank a flat head better than the LS.