End of an era: American sedans with V8 engines near extinction
There is much talk about the end of gasoline-powered cars in the European Union and the end of large "true" engines. Meanwhile, in the United States, the direction is similar. When considering sedans with V8 engines, European brands have more to offer.
Are sedans with V8 engines the norm in the U.S.? They were, but that was several decades ago. Currently, the market for sedans with V8 engines in the U.S. consists mainly of European cars. Audi S8 and RS7, BMW M550i, M5, 850i, and M8, Mercedes-AMG E63 and GT63. There are the BMW 7 Series and the Mercedes S-Class. Additionally, there's the Alpina B8, Bentley Flying Spur, Porsche Panamera Turbo, Maserati Ghibli, and Quattroporte. And what about American cars?
The Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing is among the few American sedans with a V8 engine. The Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 also have V8 engines, but their production has ceased, and the final cars are being sold. The Chrysler 300 is not offered for the 2024 model year, and at the end of 2023, production of the Charger for the 2024 model year ended.
The last naturally aspirated American V8
Among the dozen or so sedans equipped with a V8 engine, only one stands out. It's the Dodge Charger in R/T specification, which has a 5.7-litre HEMI engine under the hood and is the last American sedan with a naturally aspirated V8 engine in history—at least for now.
However, there is one more sedan with a naturally aspirated V8 in the U.S. market, though it is not American. It's the Lexus IS500 with a 5-litre engine. Although rumours say 2024 will be its last year, it is still in production. For now, it is the only sedan with a naturally aspirated V8 that one can configure and buy in the U.S..
