10 Cars With The Most Horsepower Per Liter
There is a saying that there is no replacement for displacement, but for our purposes today, it does not apply too much. Back in the day, if a manufacturer wanted to produce more power, it would simply increase the displacement of that particular engine. As we progress, and engines become more packed with technology, we see a shift from this old-school trend.
An internal combustion engine requires an air and fuel mixture to ignite in order to produce power. A bigger engine would have a bigger space to be filled by the so-called air-to-fuel mixture, meaning it can produce more power due to its ability to take more fuel and air. While this is amazing for car enthusiasts, it is not so great for today’s emission regulation standards, which are getting stricter and tighter. This is a big reason why we see engines getting smaller and aiming for more fuel efficiency.
Modern engines can now produce as much power as their larger counterparts thanks to forced induction, meaning turbochargers or superchargers. Here are the 10 cars with the highest horsepower per liter ratio.
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In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from the manufacturer’s official websites.
McLaren 765LT
188.8 HP/LITER
Ferrari and McLaren have a few things in common, such as their involvement in the motorsport world and their renowned supercars and hypercars. Where they differ, however, is in the engine department. While Ferrari proudly creates their engines in-house, McLaren relies on other manufacturers to create potent powerplants for them.
Nonetheless, McLaren engineers are creating some of the most aggressive and breathtaking cars. The 765LT and the 765LT Spider are powered by a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 that puts out an impressive 755 horsepower and 590 pounds-feet of torque. The engine supplier is Ricardo.
Powertrain Specifications
McLaren Artura
192.3 HP/LITER
The McLaren Artura is part of a new breed of supercars that utilize a hybrid powertrain. In this case, the ICE engine is assisted by an electric motor. This Motor, however, only contributes with 94 horsepower, allowing the 3.0-liter V-6 engine to do most of the hard work.
This engine can rev up to 8,500 RPM where it delivers 577 horsepower. The engine, like the 765LT, uses a twin-turbo setup for maximum efficiency. McLaren states that they placed the somewhat heavy turbo setup low down on the engine, so the Artura can enjoy a lower center of gravity.
Powertrain Specifications
Ferrari SF90 Stradale
193 HP/LITER
The Ferrari Stradale marks the iconic brand’s first plug-in hybrid. It utilizes three electric motors that have a total output of 217 horsepower. The final output of the SF90 is a whooping 986 horsepower, a very respectable number even for a supercar.
If we put the electric motors to the side, we are left with Ferrari’s 4.0-liter turbocharged V-8 which has a peak output of 769 horsepower.
Powertrain Specifications
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Bugatti Chiron Super Sport
198 HP/LITER
As we progress further on with this list, a common trend of engines getting smaller and smaller will arise. This is not the case with any Bugatti, especially with the Chiron Super Sport.
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The Bugatti hypercar boasts an enormous 8.0-liter W-16 engine that has four turbochargers. The outcome is an eye-watering 1,578 horsepower. A 4,350-pound all-wheel drive missile with a claimed top speed of 273 MPH.
Powertrain Specifications
Maserati MC20
207 HP/LITER
Maserati has been out of the supercar scene for quite some time, but as it turns out, absence makes the heart grow fonder. The MC20’s 3.0-liter V-6 “Nettuno” engine produces 621 horsepower. It can achieve these incredible numbers as the engine utilizes technology pulled straight out of Formula 1.
The secret is a pre-chamber ignition system that ensures that the air and fuel mixture is fully ignited. It does this by having a second, smaller chamber where the mixture is half ignited, which then goes into the main combustion chamber.
Powertrain Specifications
Mercedes-AMG CLA 45
208 HP/LITER
The Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 is clearly not a supercar, as it possesses one of the smallest and weakest overall engines on this whole list. But at the same time, it showcases the beauty of power density.
The 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder has an impressive output of 416 horsepower. To add to the attributes of this car, it manages an impressive 28 MPG on the freeway and can be picked up for around $60k. You do not need to splash out a kidney to have fun!
Powertrain Specifications
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Ferrari 296 GTB
218 HP/LITER
The Ferrari 296 GTB is the first car to come out of Maranello with less than eight cylinders for the first time in nearly 50 years. This is proof that regulations are slowly choking out manufacturers, but we are not here for that.
The 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-6 is capable of revving up to an impressive 8,500 RPM where it outputs 654 horsepower. Sounds similar to the McLaren Artura? It very much is, employing the same ratio of electric motor and ICE, as well as having a very similar V-6 layout.
Powertrain Specifications
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X FQ-440 MR
220.2 HP/LITER
Having reached this list’s podium, you would expect this spot to be taken up by some exotic hypercar. Though only 40 of these models were ever made, that is not quite the case. As we have seen all along the list, there is a place for ordinary cars and wagons to shine. This Mitsubishi Lancer holds the world’s most powerful four-cylinder engine used in a road-legal car. The brand’s long-time nemesis, Subaru, tried to snatch this title but had a considerable failure with the WRX STi (141hp/liter).
The manufacturer first displayed the car at the 2015 Tokyo Auto Show. That prototype showcased the 2.0-liter engine with 473 horsepower thanks to an excessive amount of HKS aftermarket parts. This concept would also have held the title of the most powerful EVO, but unfortunately, it remained a concept. The 2.0-liter DOHC turbocharged four-cylinder that puts out 440 horsepower at 6,800 RPM is, without a doubt, more than enough.
Powertrain Specifications
Koenigsegg Jesko
320 HP/LITER
Excluding the previous entry on the list, the rest of this podium is indeed made up of exotic hypercars that very few people would ever get to drive. Despite their extortionate price tags, these machines are wild and one-of-a-kind. With a price tag of over $3,000,000 and only 125 ever made, this car is bound to be nothing but special.
The Koenigsegg Jesko is an absolute technical marvel, being a direct rival to cars such as the Pagani Utopia and even the earlier-mentioned Bugatti Chiron Super Sport. The 5.0-liter twin-turbocharged “Hot’ V-8 engine manages an outrageous power output of 1,578 horsepower and 1,100 pound-feet of torque. As you might assume, these numbers are no joke. The Koenigsegg Jesko is able to reach proposed speeds of over 300 MPH, accelerating from 0 to 60 MPH in just 2.5 seconds.
Powertrain Specifications
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Mercedes-AMG One
353 HP/LITER
Sitting right at the top of the list is the Mercedes-AMG One, a car that deserves the most praise. This is not because it is the fastest, or because it has the highest horsepower per liter ratio (even though this is hugely impressive). The Mercedes-AMG One deserves the most praise because it is so different from the other track-focused hypercars.
The One uses an engine pulled straight from a Formula 1 car, literally. The 1.6 turbocharged V-6 engine is a slightly tuned-down version of a modern Formula 1 hybrid powertrain. The overall power of the Mercedes-AMG One is 1,063 horsepower, which is a stunning number to have in this light and aerodynamic chassis. Strip away the two electric motors attached to each of the front wheels, and you will find that the tiny 1.6-liter V-6 outputs a gigantic 566 horsepower, meaning that it has the highest horsepower per liter ratio out of any production vehicle ever made.