Top 12 Best-Sounding Cars Ever Made [2022]

Have you ever heard racecars scream around a track? Or maybe an extremely modded car laying rubber at a drag strip? The sounds of speed that are generated from said cars can be compared to the musical masterpieces written by the greatest composers of all time. A piece of music that’s produced when you assemble the finest mechanical parts together to create a high octane symphony. Unfortunately, owning top fuel dragsters or F1 cars are out of reach for us mere mortals. Thankfully, there have been plenty of cars made by manufacturers in the past, present, and hopefully in the future (as long as the internal combustion engine lives on)that are relatively obtainable that sound absolutely amazing.

The manufacturers of these cars know that the sound of the car is one of the most important parts of the driving experience and, in order to give enthusiasts the best possible driving experience, an amazing exhaust tone should be a part of their car’s character. Due to the exhaust note these cars produce, they have been acclaimed by the whole automotive world, especially by enthusiasts, because they have got amazing exhaust notes, with the performance to match. Let’s dive in and see some of the best sounding cars of all time.

12) Ford Shelby GT350R

Ford’s decision to use a flat-plane crank V8 in this car turned out to be as good as it could get. The 5.2-liter naturally aspirated Voodoo V8 makes intoxicating sounds and, paired with a 6-speed manual, makes you feel like a musician. A great engine, a great chassis, and a great driving experience are amplified by a great soundtrack.

11) Dodge Challenger SRT Demon

Is anything better than a hemi engine? Yes, a whining supercharger. Air being forcibly pushed into the engine gives another touch to the sound of the car, especially when the engine is in front of you. The growls of the Hemi V8 are highlighted with a supercharger whine, making it a characteristic aspect of the car.

The engine produces a maximum of 840 hp when race fuel is used. With the drag strip prepared, it can put down numbers like hitting 60 mph in 2.3 seconds and completing the quarter-mile in 9.54 seconds.

10) Jaguar F-Type SVR

Hailing from Great Britain is the turbo-charged beast that can produce a whole orchestra all by itself. The Jaguar F-Type SVR uses a V8 and makes 567 hp. As a Grand Tourer, it pampers its passengers on the road and provides an exhaust sound that cannot be criticized.

9) BMW M5 (E60)

The one time when BMW jammed a V10 under the hood of one of their executive sedans, was one of the best decisions they could have made. The world’s first production sedan to use a V10 engine had a spine-tingling 8,250 rpm redline. It produced 500 hp and pushed the car to a top speed of 190 mph (with an optional M driver package).

Thanks to the involvement of the BMW F1 team in the production of this car, it set a Nürburgring lap time of 8 minutes and 13 seconds and was the fastest sedan of its time. A set of equal length headers helped it scream, which could be heard miles away.

8) Aston Martin V12 Vantage

Aston Martin has always been known for their bespoke cars. That also means that Aston Martin’s cars have also been known to have bespoke sound. The Aston Martin V12 Vantage, which was produced from 2009 to 2018, is no exception. I mean, when I say it, it roars.The engine was sourced from the DBS and was tuned to produce 510 hp. But its deep and sonorous sound was different from anything on the market. The V12 Vantage could turn heads with its sharp looks, and if people were out of the line of sight, the sound would definitely snap their necks.

The V12 Vantage nameplate still lives on to this day, with an improved V12.

7) Chevrolet Corvette C6.R

Given these aren’t C6.R’s but the regular C6 z06/zr1 are no slouches either

The omnipresent Chevy LS V8 has seen a lot of applications in its time, but in its racing form, it is in a whole new league. The LS7 V8 tuned for racing, sounds like the four horsemen of the apocalypse riding down the road. Its deep rumble and roar are different from the high-pitched screams of many other GT cars. It sustained the previous dominance of the C5-R in its racing class with numerous American Le Mans Series championships and race wins in the Le Mans Series, FIA GT Championship, and 24 Hours of Le Mans.

6) Ferrari 458 Italia

Before going turbocharged, Ferrari’s epilogue to the V8 was the 458 Italia. A flat-plane crank spinning at up to 9,000 rpm provided one of the most legendary soundtracks that we will ever hear. Although this engine was also used in the Maserati, their cross-plane crank setup gave them a different characteristic sound.

The naturally aspirated V8 swan song was quite the performer as well. With a top speed of over 202 mph, it was awarded many accolades over its lifetime. The 458’s exhaust note is so legendary that many other manufacturers use it to benchmark their new vehicles, notably the soon to be released Chevrolet C8 Z06.

5) Ferrari 812 Competizione

The Ferrari 812 Superfast was already an accomplished supercar, but Ferrari felt the need to push the needle and improve its racing prowess. The 812 Competizione was born as a track-focused, limited-production sports car. The star of the show is the engine. This 6.5-liter V12 spins up to an out-of-this-world 9,250 RPMs. Ferrari sure does know how to handle such a high revving beast of an engine. It produces 819 hp, which is a number also out of this world.

The latest model from Ferrari's lightweight limited edition front mid-engined V12 Berlinetta platform will only be produced in a quantity of 999. The predecessors of this car include the equally amazing F12 TDF and 599 GTO.

4) Pagani Zonda R

Another wild beast from Italy, this exotic and powerful work of art produces equally exotic sounds. Brutal performance and killer looks are backed by shrieks from the V12 that can pierce your ears. It is a track car and will be illegal on the road, maybe because the sound will distract people too much and would wreak havoc in the city.

3) Lexus LFA

You will find this car present in every best-sounding car list,no doubt, the legendary Lexus LFA. Rightfully so because it is arguably one of the most exotic and erotic sounding cars to ever be heard. Everything about this car was developed by Lexus with so much thought and effort that it has become an automotive icon.

A 4.8-liter V10, producing 553 hp and redlining at 9,000 rpm, was developed in collaboration with Yamaha. The engine is so quick to rev that an analog tachometer could not be used. There is so much going on with the LFA’s engine alone, that it very well may need a separate article. Just know that engineers exhausted every avenue and option in search of improving their creation. The result was an advanced supercar that could shame hypercars just by the sound of its exhaust. It went on a spree, hunting tracks to set lap times.

The highly awarded, critically acclaimed, and enthusiast favorite Lexus LFA will always reside in the Automotive Hall of Fame.

2) Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SV

Lamborghini’s legendary Bizzarrini V12 went out of production with its last concert, the SV. With only 186 produced, Lamborghini made sure that it was the greatest. The V12 was pushed to its boundaries, shrieking and howling while producing an astounding 670 horsepower. A lighter exhaust system, a larger intake, and a redline of over 8,000 rpm all worked together to produce the best sound your ears could possibly hear.

The farewell car was not short of performance either because the Murcielago SV took 3 seconds to reach 60 mph and completed the quarter-mile in 10.9 seconds. The top speed was 213 mph with an optional smaller spoiler or 337 km/h (209 mph) with the standard Aeropack spoiler.

1) Porsche Carrera GT

There is something about V10’s that make them end up with the best-sounding cars. The Porsche Carrera GT uses an engine that was originally built to be used in Formula 1 and Le Mans racing. But that never happened, so instead we ended up with the amazing Porsche Carrera GT. The engine makes 603 hp and redlines at 8,400 RPMs.

It is notable for its lack of driving assistance features and 6-speed manual transmission, giving the driver full control over the car. Without a question or providing the ability to refute its status, the CGT will go down in history as one of the greatest automobiles ever made.

Honorable Mentions:  Porsche 911 GT3, Aston Martin Vulcan, Mercedes AMG C63, Chevrolet Corvette Z06 (C8)