The Greatest V-10-Powered Cars Ever Made

Though it was never sold in the U.S., the last-gen Audi RS6 Avant remains one of the coolest ten-cylinder cars out there. Equipped with a twin-turbo 5.0-liter V-10 originating from the naturally aspirated Lamborghini Gallardo, it makes an explosive 572 horsepower and 479 lb.-ft. of torque. Not bad for a station-wagon.

It can even humble modern supercars

No matter which version of the Lamborghini Huracán you prefer, you're getting a naturally aspirated 5.2 V-10 that can make up to 631 hp. Whether you want to set a Nürburgring lap record or leave your Raptor-driving friends in the dust, there's a mid-engine Italian supercar for you.

Check out our review of the Huracán Tecnica

Not long after the R8 came out, Audi introduced the 5.2 liter V10 version, an engine also based off of Lamborghini's Gallardo LP560-4. Performance was impressive: 525 bhp and 391 lb.-ft. of torque. Now, the top-level R8 makes an incredible 602 hp.

Here's our rear-wheel-drive R8 review

The mid-2000s was an age where carmakers could slap big engines into big sedans and no one complained. The 2006 M5 is the product of such a sentiment. Bellowing up to a redline of 8250 rpm, the 5.0 liter, F1-inspired V-10 produced 500 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque.

Check out our V-10 M5 project car series

The M5 wasn't the only BMW M car to receive that magnificent 5.0-liter V-10 power plant. The big-boy two-door M6 got the same powertrain, paired to either a seven-speed single-clutch automated manual or a traditional six-speed.

It sounds equally amazing

As one of the ultimate sleeper cars, the Audi S8 uses a 5.2 liter Lamborghini-related V-10 to haul its 4,300 lb. body from 0-60 in 4.8 seconds. The tuxedo-trim good looks and everyday usability made this car an excellent balance between work and play.

Read our review of the new S8 right here

Gaudy body kit and flashy wheels aside, the Dodge Ram SRT-10 doesn't look much different from your average 1500. But under the hood rests a gargantuan 8.3-liter naturally aspirated V-10 borrowed from the Viper, paired to an optional T-56 manual transmission. It remains the ultimate performance truck.

The Ram SRT-10 was the first Hellcat

The Gallardo will always have a special place in our hearts as the first baby Lambo, as it was the car that saved the brand. An Italian beauty with a German heart, the mid-mounted V-10 produced 493 bhp and matured across 10 model years, birthing dozens of iterations and special editions.

Read our 20-year retrospective review of the Gallardo

The Viper may be dead now, but it sure went out with a bang. The track-ready ACR version is a beast on the circuit, with a big 645-horsepower 8.4-liter V10 that makes one hell of a noise. Too pricey for you? Early models are exciting too, and can be had for about the price of an average new car.

Check out our full buyer's guide

Have you heard the pipes on this thing? Lexus teamed up with Yamaha's musical instrument division and they tuned the LFA's engine note like it was a guitar. Described by Toyota engineers as a "roar of an angel," we agree wholeheartedly. The 553 hp seems almost secondary. Almost.

Here's a tech deep dive on the LFA

How cool is a diesel-powered V-10? Cool enough for U.S. emissions regulations to cancel the Touareg TDI's sales here (twice). Twin turbos aid the ten cylinders, and the engine produces 310 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque—enough to move the 5825 lb. body out and around town.

Check out our review of the V-8-powered Touareg here

Where to begin with this holiest of holies, the infamous Widow-Maker? Perhaps that it can trace its lineage back to Le Mans and F1 cars? Or that the 5.7-liter V-10 produced 605 hp? Amidst the engine shrieks from the lighter-than-air flywheel, this is one of the greatest sports cars ever made.

Low-mileage examples are now worth several million dollars

The McLaren Solus GT is the by far the newest V-10-powered car on this list. It's a track-only special with a unique 5.2-liter engine that revs to 10,000 rpm and has 829 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque. Thanks to its slim single-seater design and carbon fiber monocoque, it weighs just 2205 pounds. Sounds like a riot to us.

Here's all you need to know on the Solus GT