20 Interesting V6-Powered Automobiles

2. Ferrari 246 Dino

The Dino was a big step for Ferrari, even if it was the smallest model they ever made. Ferrari presented it in the mid-60s as the 206 Dino. It was a small, entry-level model with a V6 engine. However, most car purists were outraged since it was the first sports car Ferrari made without the big V12 engine.

But when Ferrari introduced the 246 Dino in 1968, their sales picked up. And that made this little car responsible for the financial stability Ferrari always needed. And all of this makes the Dino and its V6 important, and not just for Ferrari, but also in the annals of car history.

3. Jeep Commando

The U.S. car industry slowly accepted the V6 configuration. But Buick was the first company in the early ’60s with a V6 engine, which was basically a chopped-off V8. However, the Jeep Commando was the first successful model that used a V6. It showed how this type of engine was more than enough to power this capable off-roader. Interestingly, under the hood was a 225 V6 Buick built and named the Dauntless V6.

4. Citroen SM

Citroen wanted to enter the GT market in the early ‘70s, so they designed an elegant two-door coupe they named the SM. It had all the signature Citroen technology, but it didn’t have a proper engine. So, Citroen asked Maserati for help and the Italians delivered a 2.7-liter V6 engine. It gave the SM a decent performance and some exclusivity; however, it lacked the reliability and dependability GT buyers wanted.

5. Alfa Romeo GTV6

Alfa was one of the first companies to widely use a V6 engine. And they called it the Busso V6, after its designer, Giuseppe Busso. One of the best examples is the beautiful Alfa Romeo GTV6 with its high revving 2.5-liter V6. The GTV6 delivered a head-spinning 160 to 170 HP and a vivid performance by the standards of the day.

Interestingly, they sold this car in the USA. It even came with an optional turbo kit by Callaway performance that was good for a whopping 233 HP.

6. General Motors 60

The V6 craze hit American car manufactures in the early ‘80s as an alternative to those big, thirsty V8 units. And yet, it was a big step above those small and weak four cylinder engines. But one of the most popular and long-lasting engines was the General Motors 60.

It was in production from 1980 to 2005 in various forms, displacement and power levels. GM installed this engine was installed in numerous cars and trucks. In fact, they produced millions of them.

7. De Lorean DMC 12

The legendary DMC 12 was one of the first sports cars to feature a V6 engine. Unfortunately, this proved to be one of its weak points since the 2.8-liter V6 delivered just 130 HP. They named their 2.8 V6 the PRV V6 since Peugeot, Renault, and Volvo designed and produced it.

De Lorean bought the engine to turbocharge it, but eventually, they released the car as a naturally aspirated machine. But unfortunately, the performance was disappointing.

8. Buick GNX

The Buick GNX was probably the first and for a long time, the only V6 powered muscle car that could fight any V8 machine. It featured the 3.8-liter turbocharged V6, producing 275 HP and achieving a 0 to 60 mph acceleration time of 4.7 seconds. This outstanding performance, along with modern turbo technology promoted the GNX to become one of the best V6 cars they ever made.

9. Nissan 300 ZX

One of the best cars in the long line of Z-named Nissan sports coupes was the 300 ZX they introduced in 1990 and discontinued in 1996. Car enthusiasts respect this model since the 300 ZX was a proper sports coupe. Better yet, it came with the technology and performance to rival much more expensive, exclusive cars.

The twin-turbo V6 engine pumped out 300 HP. Also, the 300 ZX could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.5 seconds and top 150 mph.

10. Jaguar XJ220

When Jaguar released it, the XJ220 was the world’s fastest road-going model with an enormous price tag. Under the hood was a new 3.5-liter twin turbo V6 unit with 542 HP. The design of the car was fantastic with flowing lines along the sides.

Also, the wide stance emphasized its performance and speed. But the supercar world was shocked when Jaguar decided to use a V6 instead of V12. Surprisingly, the stellar performance speaks for itself.

11. Honda NSX

When the NSX first appeared in 1989 it revolutionized the supercar market. Basically, the buyers got a Ferrari performance and look for supermarket prices, along with Honda’s signature reliability and maintenance costs. The heart of the NSX was a 3.0-liter V6 with 274 HP.

But later, they used a 3.2-liter V6 with 290 HP. Since the car was light, it got a 0 to 60 mph time that was a lightning-quick five seconds. And best of all, its top speed was over 170 mph.

12. Ford Taurus SHO

The SHO, which stands for Super High Output, was a performance model in the Taurus lineup that featured a Yamaha-sourced 3.0-liter high revving V6 with 220 HP. Today, this doesn’t sound like a lot, but for 1989, it was a lofty figure. And the performance was outstanding with just 6.7 seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph.

This was the first truly modern American sedan that ditched the heavy ladder-type chassis and big engines. Instead, it went in a different direction with a sleek and aerodynamic body, new technology and front wheel drive.

13. Volkswagen Golf R32

In 2003, Volkswagen took the Mk4 body shell and installed the best hardware they had in the early 2000s. That meant the R32 got intelligent all-wheel drive and a 240 HP 3.2-liter V6 engine. And they topped all that off with a luxury interior and a host of electronic aids. All of this makes the R32 a definitive future classic and an extremely capable everyday car.

14. Alpine A610

They presented the Alpine A610 in 1991 as a replacement for the Alpine GTA and the old A310 from the late ’70s. The fiberglass-bodied coupe featured several interesting features like a futuristic interior. With a rear-mounted turbocharged V6 engine from Renault, it provided a vivid performance. The 3.0-liter V6 produced 247 HP, which was enough to launch this lightweight coupe from 0 to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds. Also, it attained close to 170 mph top speeds.

15. Nissan Skyline GT-R R35

The R35 Skyline GT-R is a car that doesn’t need a special introduction. One of the fastest, most capable and best-handling sports cars you can buy, the GT-R is globally famous for its sublime characteristics and performance. But the biggest part of its appeal is the engine.

The Skyline has a signature turbocharged 3.8-liter V6 that delivers 570 HP or 600 in the NISMO trim. In combination with intelligent all-wheel drive, the GT-R can go from 0 to 60 mph in less than three seconds.

16. Renault Clio Sport V6

The original Ford GT 40 made history in the ‘60s, but its early 2000s counterpart became one of the fastest cars of the period. But now, Ford has presented a superbly advanced but still basic Ford GT with modern technology and an unbelievable performance.

The engine of the new GT is particularly interesting. It is a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 with 656 HP that gives the car a 0 to 60 mph acceleration time of just 2.8 seconds. Better yet, the top speed of this rocket is 216 mph.

17. Ford GT

The original Ford GT 40 made history in the `60s and its early 2000s counterpart become one of the fastest cars of the period. Now, Ford presented superbly advanced but still basic Ford GT with modern technology and unbelievable performance. The engine of the new GT is particularly interesting, it is a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 with 656 HP which gives the car 0 to 60 mph time of 2.8 seconds and the top speed of 216 mph.

18. Cadillac ATS-V

With the ATS-V, Cadillac attacked the likes of the Mercedes C Class and BMW 3 Series. The car is a modern executive sedan with recognizable styling and brutal power. Under the hood is a twin turbo 3.6-liter V6 engine delivering 464 HP.

It gets 445 lb-ft of torque, which is enough to launch the ATS-V from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds. Amazingly, the top speed is an astonishing 189 mph.

19. Ford F-150 Raptor

The F-150 Raptor and supercar Ford GT have a lot in common besides the Ford badge on the front. Both vehicles use the same EcoBoost 3.5-liter V6 engine. But in the Raptor, it delivers 450 HP and 510 lb-ft with its mated to 10-speed automatic transmission. The result is a sub-five second 0 to 60 mph time. And that is astonishing for a V6 powered, full-size pickup truck.

20. Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio

What do you get when you take a Ferrari V8 engine, chop two cylinders off and cover it with a gorgeous Alfa Romeo body? You get the infamous Giulia Quadrifoglio. This car is one of the fastest four-door sedans you can own thanks to a 2.9-liter twin turbo V6 with 510 HP on tap.

Although it is not an Alfa engine per se, it is still from a company historically connected to Alfa. And that is good enough.

These are the 20 best and most interesting V6-powered cars they ever made. More powerful than the V4, yet more compact than the V8, this engine was the perfect compromise. And in a lightweight vehicle and with the proper mechanics, it could provide an impressive performance.