No other genre of automobile incites more passion or fanaticism among car aficionados than the muscle car. Even today, 40 years since the muscle car's heyday, what is and what is not a muscle car remains hotly debated. But one thing is universally agreed upon: At the core of every muscle car is a big, powerful engine. With this in mind, we decided to have some fun with the definition of muscle car, asking ourselves: What foreign automobiles would meet that defining standard — i.e., a car with a big, powerful engine?
While Americans would like to think that the muscle car has never really had a foreign equivalent, the world's best automakers have been producing cars with an emphasis on power for decades. The differentiating factor is that cars "over there" typically perform at their best in more than just a straight line. As we all know, American cars are best on the straightaway, not in the twisties. Regardless, here are our picks for the best non-American muscle on the streets today.
Porsche 911 GT2 (2008 - 2011)
Not that any of the standard 911 models are considered pokey, but the folks at Porsche apparently thought otherwise when creating the GT2, the most extreme 911 available for public consumption. Holding the power crown for Porsche, the GT2's turbocharged 3.6-liter flat-6 engine develops 523 horsepower, or a stupefying 612 horsepower in its 2011 RS guise. The GT2 isn't just about power, though. It has massive skills around a track, providing its driver has the guts to make the most of them. Given its lack of the popular all-wheel-drive system found in many of the 911's other variants, the rear-engine GT2 is not a car for the faint of heart.
Read: Porsche Brings Latest 911 to L.A.
Bentley Continental Supersports (2010 - present)
How does six liters of V12 grunt sound? Pretty good, right? Now add two turbochargers. The result: 620 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque, a perfectly reasonable amount for cruising town quietly in the lap of luxury. Wait, no it's not. It's actually an insane amount of power for a posh tourer. You could argue the horsepower is to compensate for a 5,000-pound curb weight, except that doesn't explain the 3.7-second warp to 60 mph, or the 204-mph top speed. Again, this isn't a race-bred supercar — that power is there just because. As far as we're concerned, that's a trait worthy of the muscle-car moniker.
View Pictures: Bentley Continental GTC Supersports
Audi RS 4 (2006 - 2008)
In many ways, Audi tipped its hat to the muscle cars of yore with the RS 4, considering that the German automaker shoehorned a powerful V8 engine into an otherwise mild sedan. The snarling 414-horsepower engine even sounds the part, with a throaty roar that never fails to bring a surprised smile from behind the wheel. However, that's where the similarities to muscle cars end, thanks to the RS 4's exceptional all-wheel-drive handling abilities and Audi's famously solid build quality and Bauhaus design. Also, the naturally aspirated 4.2-liter engine achieves an output just shy of 100 horsepower per liter, something that most American muscle cars can only dream about.
See: AWD Sedans With More Than 400 Horsepower
BMW M5 (2012)
Although some enthusiasts are dismayed that BMW's M cars are evolving away from high-revving, naturally aspirated engines toward beefy, turbocharged mills and dual-clutch transmissions, the change was bound to happen sooner or later, thanks to modern emissions and efficiency standards. The 2012 M5 supersedan is the latest example, with its gutsy, turbocharged V8 producing gobs of constant power, as opposed to the shrieking V10 of the previous generation, which, although thrilling, required a good deal of "winding up" to fully enjoy. This change provides a staggering 560 horsepower and a hugely increased 502 lb-ft of torque. The way power erupts from this engine is reminiscent of good old American big blocks.
Compare: BMW M5 vs. Audi S6 vs. Jaguar XF Series
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X (2008 - present)
The all-wheel-drive, 291-horsepower Lancer Evolution X earns a spot here not just because of its "big speed in a regular car" formula, but also due to its decades-long battle with its rally-racing archrival, the Subaru STI. This feud is essentially a Japanese analogue to the never-ending Ford Mustang versus Chevy Camaro muscle-car debate that rages in the United States. While faster Japanese sports cars are available — the Nissan GT-R, for instance — it's the way that the demure Lancer was transformed into an unflappable, unstoppable performance machine that earned the Evo a spot on this honorary list of foreign muscle cars.
