Naturally Aspirated Power Lives On in 2025

A high-performance four-cylinder engine such as Honda's K20 or a powerful V8 engine similar to what was available in the Corvette at the time Performance engines in the mid-2000s generally did not rely on forced induction. From Honda Civic Si to BMW M5 to Infiniti G35 to Porsche 911 Automakers during that time were mastering the art of improving engine performance by increasing their speed and allowing them to intake air more efficiently than before. Naturally aspirated gasoline engines reached their peak period, offering consumers a wide range of options as car manufacturers showcased their technical capabilities globally through several iconic engines.

By 2025, numerous once-popular free-breathing engines from previous years have been succeeded by smaller, turbocharged units that offer greater power while consuming less fuel. Here, we will look at the car manufacturers continuing to produce naturally aspirated high-performance engines for vehicles available in 2025, covering some reasonably priced options as well as others that are not.

Here is an alphabetical list of each carmaker that provides a naturally aspirated high-performance engine in 2025. All technical details come directly from the manufacturer; all performance numbers are approximations.

Chevrolet

6.2-liter V8 engine / 5.5-liter V8 engine

General Motors offers two naturally aspirated high-performance engines, both of which are V8 configurations. The first one serves as the base option for the Corvette C8 Stingray a reliable 6.2-liter engine producing nearly 500 horsepower designed to trouble rivals costing double. If that isn’t sufficient to send shivers down your spine, think about the high-pitched 5.5-liter V8 featuring a flat-plane crankshaft that becomes the main attraction in the Corvette Z06 This powerful V8 offers motorists a novel take on the classic Corvette feel.

Ferrari

6.5-liter V12

Perhaps no car manufacturer is more closely associated with the V12 engine than Ferrari Technological progress over recent years has decreased the necessity for 12-cylinder engines, with many being substituted by hybrid and/or turbocharged six- or eight-cylinder options, even within Ferrari's own collection. Nevertheless, there remains an exceptional quality to a front-mounted free-flowing V12 engine and Ferrari will continue to offer you one in models such as the Purosangue and 12Cilindri For the 2025 model year, it is designated as F140HD. The 6.5-liter engine reaches a redline of 9,500 RPM and produces 819 horsepower for the rear wheels of the 12Cilindri. You need to listen to this one in operation .

Ford

5-Liter V8

Ford's 5-liter The Coyote V8 reintroduced the five-point-zero emblem to the Mustang. For the 2011 model year, it featured an outstanding 412 naturally aspirated horsepower. Over subsequent years and across different generations, Ford refined and upgraded the 5-liter engine through limited-run models and continuous improvements to the powertrain, resulting in increased performance and torque. As of 2025, the most recent iteration of Ford’s iconic five-liter V8 offers Mustang GT vehicles generate 480 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque at an attractive cost.

GMA T.33

4-Liter V12

The 2025 Gordon Murray Automotive model T.33 was unveiled earlier this year To honor automotive icon Gordon Murray as he celebrates six decades of crafting some of the most iconic racing vehicles and stylish street cars ever made. The $1.8 million supercar has already been fully reserved, largely due to its compact, naturally aspirated V12 engine positioned just above the ground, producing 607 horsepower and reaching an 11,100 RPM redline, which makes the T.33 the highest-revving road-legal vehicle in the U.S. To get a better understanding of this mechanism, make sure to give this a read .

Lexus

5-Liter V8

In the last twenty years, the Lexus IS have moved over 1.3 million units. Only a limited quantity of these used an engine known as the 2UR-GSE, also known as the Lexus 5-liter V8 This engine is among the most reliable high-performance engines available, and a power unit that takes great pride in its naturally aspirated design, featuring a flap in its airbox that allows for an exhilarating engine noise experience when fully revved. The IS has been around the longest Lexus available for purchase, and compared to today's technology, its V8 engine feels outdated. If you're interested in experiencing this exclusive drive firsthand, move quickly—production will end later this year, ending the iconic Lexus 5-liter V8 forever.

Mazda MX-5

2-Liter I4

Although the Mazda MX-5 Miata had previously been fitted with a stock turbocharger engine However, the trend did not endure for long, with only a small number of units produced. Rather, Mazda's well-known two-seater convertibles have generally been equipped with a naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine. The most recent MX-5 employs a uniquely set-up edition of the company's Skyactiv four-cylinder engine That has been strongly validated and takes advantage of annual improvements. Sleek, effective, and simple to maintain, the MX-5’s engine offers the most dynamic version of the naturally aspirated Skyactiv technology, and it is designed to intake air more efficiently and rev higher than its more conventional models.

Porsche

4-Liter Flat Six

A six-cylinder inline engine is among Porsche's notable achievements. Nowadays, many of Porsche's flat-six engines are equipped with turbochargers, although the highest performance variants are the sole ones granted the 'Turbo' designation. The one exception is the brand’s four-liter flat-six engine. This model is used exclusively in some of Porsche's more dynamic vehicles and can rev up to an impressive 9,000 RPM. In the 2025 Porsche 911 GT3 The 4-liter flat-six engine features this year's updates such as redesigned cylinder heads, a new camshaft configuration, enhanced oil cooling systems, and a newly designed throttle valve. To add some excitement, the final gear ratio has been reduced by eight percent. It produces 500 rear-wheel horsepower, with performance peaking at extremely high RPM levels.

Toyota / Subaru

2.4-Liter Flat Four Boxer

Naturally aspirated high-performance engines are uncommon, and those with a flat configuration are even rarer. If you're searching for an economical naturally aspirated performance vehicle featuring a distinctive engine, the Toyota... GR86 and Subaru BRZ Should be included on your list. Arrive because of the affordable cost and a high-revving flat-four engine, remain due to the specially designed rear-wheel drive performance chassis and factory-installed limited-slip differential. If you appreciate a powerful four-cylinder that performs optimally at higher RPMs, you could very well develop affection for these vehicles, which receive both accolades. Toyota and Subaru a position on our list.

Sources: Ford, Lexus, Chevrolet, Porsche

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