These 5 Inline-6 Engines May Not Sound Like V8s, But They Pack Serious Power

Inline-six engines have long been overshadowed by the thunderous reputation of V8s, but modern turbocharged six-cylinder mills are rewriting the rulebook. Forget the synthetic V8 growl in the new Mercedes-AMG GT—nothing beats the real deal’s visceral roar, but power output? That’s a different story. Turbocharged inline-sixes from BMW, Ford, Stellantis, and TVR are now outmuscling many V8s, delivering more horsepower and torque while often sipping less fuel. Here are five of the most impressive factory inline-six engines currently in production, each packing more punch than a modern V8 baseline of 395 hp.

BMW’s 3.0-liter B58 and S58: BMW didn’t invent the inline-six, but it’s arguably perfected it. The B58, a twin-scroll, single-turbo 3.0-liter unit, has become one of the brand’s most celebrated engines, appearing in over 40 vehicles across multiple brands. It makes 382 hp in the Toyota GR Supra, just shy of the 395-hp floor, but the Morgan Supersport 400’s variant delivers 402 hp and rockets to 62 mph in 3.6 seconds. The S58, a twin-turbo upgrade developed with BMW M, debuted in the 2020 X3 M and X4 M with 473 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque. It has since evolved to 543 hp in models like the 2023 M4 CSL, 2024 M3 CS, and 2025 M4 CS. The race-spec P58 pushes output to 590 hp in the track-only M4 GT3.

Stellantis’ 3.0-liter Hurricane: Stellantis’ twin-turbo 3.0-liter Hurricane debuted in 2023 as an option for the Grand Wagoneer and became standard in 2024 after Jeep dropped V8s from the Wagoneer lineup. The Hurricane outpowers the outgoing 6.4-liter Hemi V8 with 510 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque (510 version) versus 471 hp/455 lb-ft. Fuel economy also improves, with the Hurricane rated at 14 mpg city, 20 mpg highway, and 18 mpg combined compared to the Hemi’s 13/18/15 mpg. In 2026, Jeep’s Hurricane models revert to a standard output (SO) version making 420 hp and 468 lb-ft of torque, while the range-topping powertrain is a 647-hp plug-in hybrid with a 3.6-liter V6 driving a 130-kW onboard generator. The Hurricane is also available in the Ram 1500 and Dodge Challenger, with the latter’s Charger Scat Pack making 550 hp and 531 lb-ft of torque—the most powerful production Hurricane yet. The Charger was named North American Car of the Year for 2026.

Ford’s 4.0-liter Barra: A legend from Down Under, Ford’s 4.0-liter Barra inline-six traces its roots to the 1960 Ford Falcon but became a modern icon in the 2000s. Initially a naturally aspirated 244-hp unit in the 2002 Ford Falcon, it evolved into a turbocharged powerhouse. The limited-edition 2016 Falcon XR6 Turbo Sprint made 435 hp and 425 lb-ft of torque, hitting 60 mph in about 4.5 seconds. Aftermarket tuners have extracted over 1,000 hp from the Barra block, with one example from Monsta Torque achieving 1,033.9 hp at the rear wheels using a larger turbo, turbo-back exhaust, and upgraded intercooler.

TVR’s 4.0-liter Speed Six: UK boutique automaker TVR proves that big power doesn’t require big displacement. The Speed Six, a 4.0-liter inline-six, has been a staple in TVR models like the Griffith, Tuscan, and Sagaris. While exact power figures vary by model, the engine is known for its high-revving nature and tunability, often pushing outputs well into the 400-hp range in road and race applications. TVR’s focus on lightweight construction ensures these six-pots deliver thrilling performance despite their modest size.

These inline-six engines prove that the six-cylinder formula is far from obsolete. With turbocharging, advanced materials, and precision engineering, modern inline-sixes are delivering V8-beating power, better efficiency, and—dare we say—even more character in some cases. Whether it’s the B58’s mass-market dominance, the Hurricane’s torque onslaught, the Barra’s Aussie grit, or the Speed Six’s boutique charm, these engines are rewriting what a six-cylinder can do.