So You Want a V6 Engine?

What is the appeal of a V6 engine? It seems to be the perfect balance of power and weight to give you the performance you want.

If you think a four-cylinder engine is too small and a V8 is simply too heavy, you’ll want to find one of the cars on this list and enjoy driving a car with a great V6 engine. Here are ten cars that can give you what you’re looking for:

Ferrari 246 Dino

The Ferrari 246 Dino was first introduced to the world in 1968 but it was initially offered as a 206 Dino. This sports car caused quite an uproar among car loves because they expected to see a massive V12 engine coming from Ferrari. The configuration of the engine put Ferrari on the map with a smaller and more agile powertrain.

The engine offered for the Ferrari 246 Dina was a 2.4-liter V6 that made 195 horsepower making it one of the most affordable powertrains ever put in a Ferrari. The low, sleek, and seductive build of the 246 Dino made it an instant hit and allowed car lovers to forget the V12 they had hoped for.

Citroen SM

The style of the Citroen SM might not be one that you want to see, it appears to be a basic hatchback, but this ca is pretty cool. The current version retains the design of the past and packs a nice V6 engine under the hood to give you the power you want when you take it out for a drive.

Enjoy the 2.7-liter V6 engine of the Citroen SM and it will give you 170 horsepower to give you a dynamic drive and the fun you’re looking for. You’ll also find a hydro-pneumatic suspension system in the SM which gives you the option to raise and lower the car.

DeLorean DMC 12

Until the downfall of the DeLorean company, the DMC 12 represented a good sports car that had the performance desired and a great V6 engine. This car is famous for being the flying car in the Back to the Future movies, but it has been revitalized to be a modern model with internal upgrades and powerful engines.

The original version of the DeLorean DMC 12 featured a 2.8-liter V6 engine that made 130 horsepower. This was a respectable number for the time and gave us a car that was cool and fun to drive.

Buick GNX

During the 1980s, automakers were having trouble with performance because of the emissions regulations that were choking them to death. Thankfully, we had the Buick GNX. This car had the power to compete with V8 machines while giving you the right V6 engine to offer the ride you desired.

The Buick GNX carried a 3.8-liter turbocharged V6 under the hood which gave it 275 horsepower and enough acceleration to reach sixty mph in 4.7 seconds. This was one of the best V6 cars in the history of the world and was preferred to the Mustangs and Corvette models of the 1980s.

Nissan 300ZX

The development of the Z-car for Nissan gave us the 300ZX in the early 90s which made use of a strong V6 engine. The sleek sports car design certainly didn’t hurt at all either. This car could reach highway speeds in a hurry and looked good doing it.

Where did the power of the Nissan 300ZX come from? This car uses a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine with an intercooler. This setup gave you 300 horsepower and a sprint time to sixty mph of only 5.5 seconds. The Nissan 300ZX was respected for its good technology and high performance as it left the 1980s behind.

Jaguar XJ220

When the Jaguar XJ220 was released, it was considered the fastest car in the world and it had a high price tag. This car could reach 213 mph, which rivaled models from Porsche, Ferrari, and McLaren. The gorgeous Jaguar design made it the car we wanted to drive.

The decision to use a V6 engine was shocking at first, but the 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine was able to win fans over with the 542-horsepower it produced. There was no doubt the Jaguar XJ220 was a car that led to better engine development and more power coming from V6 models that followed.

Ford Taurus SHO

The largest sedan in the Ford lineup was made more thrilling with a great V6 engine. The Ford Taurus SHO gave us the power needed for some instant speed. The SHO part of the name stands for Super High Output, which should have been a dead giveaway for this car.

What engine powered the Ford Taurus SHO? This car made use of a 3.0-liter V6 engine to give you 220 horsepower and the speed desired. While it wasn’t a sprint champ, it could get to highway speeds quickly and was a car in the 1980s that was easy to admire and enjoy every day.

Nissan Skyline GT-R R35

One of the most highly-respected cars in the world used a V6 engine for power. The Nissan Skyline GT-R R35 was the performance car we wanted to drive and show off on a track. The look and aggression of this car were daunting and undeniable.

The power for the Skyline came from a 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine in the R35 generation. This engine was capable of giving you 570 horsepower and it could reach sixty mph in three seconds. The AWD layout of the Nissan Skyline GT-R R35 made this car one of the most fun to drive and fastest on most tracks.

Ford GT

The historical significance of the Ford GT name is undeniable. The current model of this car is absolutely incredible and it might surprise you to know that a mid-engine layout with a V6 is what you’ll find in this car. Everything about the Ford GT is made to make sure you can have the speed and performance desired.

Enjoy the power of the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine in the Ford GT and you’ll have 656 horsepower to give you the acceleration you’re looking for. You can get this car to its top speed of 216 mpg if you want and spring to sixty mph in only 2.8 seconds when you head to the track.

Renault Clio Sport V6

Another surprise in this list is the Renault Clio Sport V6. This car doesn’t look like much until you take the lowered drive height and the package of features into consideration. Here’s an excellent car that has a great V6 engine, which is made in Sweden to give you the power you need.

What engine is used for the Renault Clio Sport V6? This car has a 3.0-liter V6 engine that made 227 horsepower. Not bad for the early 1980s, but later models of this car were boosted to 255 horsepower to give you more of what you want during your drive.