If you travel back in time to when the first car was created, you will see that the vehicle's engine did not have anything attached to it that helped it gain horsepower. No turbochargers were connected to the exhaust system, and no superchargers perched on top of the engine, with belts running to the main pulleys. The only help the first engines ever had was from the air around the car and the atmospheric pressure that was created.

Naturally-aspirated engines do not rely on turbos or superchargers to make big horsepower. As such, they either need to have a large displacement or be capable of high RPMs. Some of the greatest engines ever made are naturally aspirated. Unfortunately, some of them have already been replaced with smaller turbocharged units.

That said, as enthusiasts, it is our duty to remember them. Without further ado, these are the greatest and most powerful N/A cars ever made.

Updated April 18, 2023: Even though the days of the internal combustion engine may be numbered for production use, some will always be available for those who want to go all-out on the track. Hopefully, the world will continue to push back a little and keep some of these great naturally aspirated cars on the roads for all of us to enjoy, but time will tell. For now, let's review some of the already listed models and look at a few more that have been added.

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15 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT Black Series: 622 Horsepower

The AMG Black Series is one of those cars that has transformed over to using turbochargers on its new models. But in 2014, the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT Black Series car had a 6.2L naturally aspirated engine under the hood. Everything between the engine and the road was stiffened up to give the vehicle better handling at high speeds, and the electronically controlled limited-slip differential ensures road-hugging security.

14 Chevrolet Corvette C8 Z06: 670 Horsepower

C8 Corvette is the first production, mid-engine Corvette, but the Z06 takes it even further by introducing an entirely new, 5.5-liter DOHC V-8 with a flat-plane crankshaft. Without forced induction, the new engine develops 670 horsepower at 8,400 RPM and 460 pound-feet (623 Nm) at 6,300 RPM. It also allows the C8 Z06 to sprint to 60 mph (97 km/h) in just 2.6 seconds to a top speed of 195 mph (315 km/h). With a starting price of $105,300, the C8 Corvette Z06 is also among the biggest sports car bargains.

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13 Ferrari GTC4 Lusso: 680 Horsepower

The V-12 slid into place in the Ferrari GTC4 Lusso has been refined and perfected to offer exceptional performance while giving great power and torque. The car has a unique four-wheel drive system that only kicks in when needed. Otherwise, the rear wheels are all that is necessary. Plus, let's not forget about the rear-wheel steering that this two-door sports car has, which gives the driver even better control in every situation.

12 Brabham BT62: 710 Horsepower

One of the slightly more obscure entries on this list is the Australian-built Brabham BT62, which is a track-only, mid-engine sports car. Only 70 units are made, all featuring a 5.4-liter naturally-aspirated V-8 engine. It is based on Ford's modular architecture, and this version puts down 710 horsepower at 7,400 RPM and 492 pound-feet (667 Nm) at 6,200 RPM. Another stunning figure is the curb weight of the Brabham BT62, which is 2,143 pounds (972 kg).

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11 Mercedes CLK GTR Super Sport: 711 Horsepower

The Mercedes CLK GTR Super Sport is the ultimate incarnation of the LeMans and FIA GT1 homologation-special, known as the Mercedes CLK GTR. The Super Sport relied on a 7.3-liter naturally-aspirated V-12, which was later nested in the Pagani Zonda. Code-named M297, the engine was a heavily modified version of the M120 unit, but in the CLK GTR Super Sport, it developed 711 horsepower at 6,600 RPM and 580 pound-feet (786 Nm) at 5,250 RPM. The Super Sport has a curb weight of 3,175 pounds (1,440 kg).

10 Gordon Murray T.50S Niki Lauda: 725 Horsepower

The Gordon Murray T.50 is the spiritual successor of the McLaren F1. Shortly after the GM T50, Gordon Murray (also the father of the McLaren F1) came up with a more powerful version, named after Niki Lauda, who raced for McLaren between 1982 and 1985. The T.50S Niki Lauda is powered by the same 4.0-liter naturally-aspirated Cosworth V-12. However, instead of the standard car's 663 horsepower, the T.50S Niki Lauda develops 725 horsepower at 11,500 RPM and 357 pound-feet (484 Nm at 9,000 RPM). The engine features a 15:1 compression ratio and has twelve independent throttle bodies.

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9 Lamborghini Aventador: 730 Horsepower

One of the features that the Lamborghini Aventador is primarily known for is its quickness off the line. From 0 to 60, this car can rocket through in a mere 2.5 seconds on its way to a top speed of over 200 miles per hour. That is so important because many vehicles will not hug the road at that speed, making it a treacherous undertaking for even the most seasoned driver. On the other hand, the Aventador is one of the few cars that will handle the roads at any speed, making it one of the top street cars on the market today.

8 Aston Martin One-77: 750 Horsepower

The One-77 is Aston Martin's last supercar with a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout. Its Cosworth-built, 7.3-liter naturally aspirated, DOHC V-12 is still based on the Ford Duratec V-6 engine, like its 5.9-liter V-12 from earlier. The NA engine develops 750 horsepower at 7,500 RPM and 553 pound-feet (750 Nm) at 5,000 RPM. As far as the best naturally aspirated cars go, this one has to be one of the most elegant and timeless in terms of design. Only 77 copies were made.

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7 Ferrari 812 Superfast: 789 Horsepower

The Ferrari 812 Superfast is what you get when a carmaker decides to spend all their energy creating a car that offers the best performance money can buy. The V-12 under the hood gives plenty of power and torque, showing the quickness of a cat and the agility of a gazelle. Still, this is not the ride for you if you want something with good fuel economy. The Superfast has everything you would expect from a Ferrari, and it is the first car in their lineup to offer Electric Power Steering.

6 Lamborghini Essenza SCV12: 820 Horsepower

The Lamborghini Essenza SCV12 is a track-only supercar built by the brand's Squadra Corse racing division. The 6.5-liter naturally aspirated V-12 we first saw on the Aventador now makes 820 horsepower and 560 pound-feet (760 Nm). While the engine is mostly the same, it has been turned 180 degrees, allowing the gearbox to be mounted at the rear. The Essenza SCV12 tips the scales at 3,034 pounds (1,376 kg). Only 40 units exist.

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5 Aston Martin Vulcan: 820 Horsepower

The Aston Martin Vulcan is another track-only supercar. Its aluminum alloy chassis and carbon-fiber body are coupled to a 7.0-liter naturally aspirated V-12 and a six-speed sequential gearbox. The N/A engine is still based on the old design, featuring two Ford Mondeo V-6 engines "married" together. The result is 820 horsepower at 7,750 RPM and 575 pound-feet (780 Nm) at 6,500 RPM.

4 Ferrari Daytona SP3: 830 Horsepower

Every now and then, Ferrari's Special Projects division gives us something truly unique. Based on the LaFerrari, the SP3 does away with the hybrid bits, leaving the naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V-12 to shine in all its glory. This is, essentially, a bigger version of the Tipo F140 engine, which debuted in the 2002 Ferrari Enzo. Ferrari Daytona SP3 is inspired by the 330 P4 race car. Here, the 6.5-liter V-12 is in its most powerful form, which means 830 horsepower at 9,250 RPM and 514 pound-feet (697 Nm) at 7,250 RPM.

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3 Pagani Huayra R: 830 Horsepower

The naturally aspirated engine is still based on the Mercedes AMG M120 engine, but here, it produces 838 horsepower at 8,250 RPM and 590 pound-feet (800 Nm) at 5,500-8,300 RPM, which makes it the second most powerful naturally aspirated car in the world. In addition to sounding epic, the engine has a redline of 9,000 RPM and is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, which sends power to the rear. At 2,315 pounds (1,050 kg), the Pagani Huayra R is lighter than the current Mazda MX-5.

2 Ferrari FXX Evoluzione: 848 Horsepower

In 2005, Ferrari decided to use the Enzo as a platform for a track-only version. The Tipo F140 V-12 engine received an increase in displacement, from 6.0 to 6.3 liters, but was still naturally aspirated as opposed to turbocharged – something Ferrari is yet to do to its V-12 masterpiece. The Evoluzione package, an option worth around $1,361,190, brought power up to 848 horsepower at 9,500 RPM and cut the gear-shift time, by 20 milliseconds, compared to a regular FXX.

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1 Aston Martin Valkyrie: 1160 Horsepower

Now it may not be fair to include a car with a hybrid system, but for the sake of argument, the electric motor and the system it is attached to have been excluded in the numbers given below. Before long, every new car worth mentioning will be a hybrid or fully electric car, but until that point in time, the few that are will continue to stand out above the crowd. The Aston Martin Valkyrie is a limited production car designed to be street-legal but is much more comfortable on the track.

FAQ

Q: What cars have naturally aspirated engines?

Any car that does not feature forced induction - turbochargers or superchargers - on its engines is naturally-aspirated.

Q: Which cars are naturally aspirated?

All cars with an internal combustion engine that rely on atmospheric pressure for air intake are naturally aspirated cars.

Q: What are the best upgrades for naturally aspirated cars?

Basic "bolt-ons" usually open any hidden potential in naturally-aspirated engines. Those include an air intake, new intake and exhaust manifold, a throttle body, and a full exhaust. In many cases, even an ECU tune can bring a decent bump in power. If you want to go the expensive route, there are plenty of forced-induction kits and supporting mods.

Q: Which BMW Cars are Naturally Aspirated?

BMW's last naturally-aspirated model was the BMW M3 Convertible E93, which was discontinued in 2013. Its 4.0-liter naturally-aspirated (NA) V-8 is good for 414 horsepower and 295 pound-feet (400 Nm).

Q: What does naturally aspirated mean?

It refers to the way the engine "inhales" air, needed for combustion in the cylinders. It means that a car relies on air intake solely on atmospheric pressure and does not feature forced induction like a turbocharger or a supercharger.

Q: How to increase horsepower in a naturally aspirated engine?

While turbocharged and supercharged engines are easier to modify, normally-aspirated engines can benefit from the same "bolt-on mods" - air intake, throttle body, exhaust, etc. You can also put in a turbo or a supercharger, but you have to change a lot of things in order for the engine to retain, at least, some of its reliability.