There is much to be said for the sound of a high-performance engine with the reins off, screaming in all its glory.
With the advent of electronic cars and new technology to “enhance” the sound of the engine--à la the BMW F10 M5--we thought it important to celebrate some of the best-sounding vehicles from today and years past.
Here is a list of 10 modern street cars that sound pretty incredible. Most are not stock, and while many purists might cry foul, in this author's opinion there are times when some things are just better when meddled with.
Make sure to leave your Comments in the section below. Which is your favorite? If you had to pick your top five, which cars would you include? Which ones did we miss?
Don't fret, racing fanatics, we have a “best-sounding race cars” list in the works.
Editor's Note:Some of the following videos appear to not be filmed under closed or controlled conditions. Autoweek does not encourage illegal or irresponsible behavior. Take it to the track.
Honda/Acura NSX
The Honda NSX--the Acura NSX in North America--is still a highly sought after mid-engine high-performance car. The original NSX was produced from 1991 to 2005. It then went into hibernation for almost a decade, until Acura revealed the forthcoming 2015 Acura NSX at the Detroit auto show in January 2012. This particular example is said to have a set of DC Sport headers and an aftermarket clutch.
BMW E46 M3 CSL
It wasn't long after BMW dropped the E46 M3 on the public in 2000 that enthusiasts and purists wanted a lighter, higher-performance variant. In 2004, BMW responded with a 1,400-unit run of BMW M3 CSLs. The Coupe Sport Leicht variant was 240 pounds lighter and not available in North America. The sound of that BMW's S54 inline-six is both intoxicating and arousing. This M3 CSL is equipped with a straight-pipe exhaust system and sounds just the way an M3 should.
2011 Corvette ZR1
The Chevrolet Corvette has long been the domestic performance-car king, and as General Motors prepares the next generation of the Corvette, the C7, the ZR1 is still tops in the Corvette world. This ZR1 sounds as if it has some serious work done under the hood, with an aftermarket cam and full exhaust. While the aggressive sound and lope may not be for all, the Chevrolet small-block comes in so many different varieties that it's hard to imagine that there isn't one to suit every taste.
Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale
Ferrari is known for its racing pedigree and heritage, and the Italian marque has an endless list of beautiful- sounding and -looking cars. The often overlooked and sometimes problematic 360 brought the curves back to Ferrari's styling when it succeeded the 355. The Challenge Stradale version was a track-focused street model with lighter weight and more performance. This clip features a 360CS touched by the hands of Novitec Rosso, a famed aftermarket Ferrari tuner. A 3.6-liter V8 never sounded so good.
2003-2004 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra
The 2003-04 FordMustang SVT Cobra is lovingly known by the enthusiast crowd as “the Terminator.” The factory-built supercharged V8 churned out 390 hp stock, and when Kenne Bell tuning gets its hands on one, more than 600 hp is attainable.
Lamborghini Gallardo
Lamborghini introduced the “baby Lambo” Gallardo in 2003, and with its relatively lower price and 500 hp, it has become the best-selling Lamborghini platform of all time. With plenty of used Gallardos on the market, aftermarket tuners such as Heffner Performance began building twin-tubocharged monsters that quickly--pun intended--became popular. If forced induction and a 5.0-liter V10 isn't your cup of tea, then this is not the car for you.
Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale
While Maserati sources many parts from other brands within the stable of parent company Fiat--see Ferrari--the Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale stands on its own quite nicely. The growl of this V8 appears to be coming from stock equipment, making this one of three stock vehicles on this list. This car sounds spectacular as is.
Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren
Before Mercedes-Benz gave us the SLS AMG, there was the SLR McLaren. It was codeveloped with McLaren Automotive, which is responsible for the McLaren F1, the MP4-12C and countless race cars. The 722 Edition SLR is a nod to Stirling Moss and Denis Jenkinsons' 1955 Mile Miglia win; 722 was their starting number in the race. The pure muscle-car growl is surprising on first listen, but it's appropriate when the car is in action.
Pagani Zonda Cinque
The old saying “If you have to ask, you can't afford it” is true of Pagani. The Italian company is known for its Zonda supercar and its variants, as well as the Huayra, it's latest GT hypercar endeavor. The Pagani Zonda Cinque was a special edition--only five were built--and each sold for about $1.6 million new. This video has one of the Cinques giving test rides. This car, also stock, is one car that will never require any aftermarket work. Ever. If you can find one of the Mercedes-powered rolling pieces of performance art for sale, remember, if you have to ask ...
Porsche Carrera GT
Even though the Porsche Carrera GT was made for only two years, the car's impact is impressive. Whenever a company such as Porsche puts a V10 in a mid-engine chassis, you should pay attention. With a reputation for being unforgiving on the best of days and expensive clutch replacements, the Carrera GT is a labor of love, but, oh, what an affair. AWE Tuning had a hand in unleashing some audible delight from this car. Welcome to audio nirvana.
I'm surprised the Lexus LFA and Aventador aren't on this list they have a sound that's absolutely phenomenal. Woot ^_^ Kenne Bell Mustang gotta love that Supercharged whine!
I disagree with so many of these. Ferraris sound horrible. The wail does nothing for me. Same for the NSX. A screaming high pitched sound is not a good sound. Cars are supposed to be deep and rumbly. Think 5.0 Fox Mustang with Flowmasters. Thats what a car should sound like. Mustang 5.0, Hemi, Chevy V8s, AMG V8s. Not small displacement V8s or anything with less then 8 cylinders. Anybody who finds any of that ricey crap good may as well cut off their dick and hand in their man card. They don't deserve to be called a man.
Some of my honorable mentions: (note, I focus mostly on cars that can be afforded by us mere mortals; and it has a decidedly Japanese bent as per my tastes)
Any rotary engine; especially when it has a bridge-port or a peripheral port done to it. Because no other engine in the world sounds like you have just woken a grizzly bear from hibernation by kicking it in the balls. And that bear has a running chainsaw in each paw.
2.0L MZR in the NC series Miata. I never knew that engines really could purr until I had a Miata. Honda F20C in the AP1 series S2000. See above but with a higher redline.
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