Without the use of turbos, superchargers or electric motors, these five supercars pushed the limits of naturally aspirated internal combustion engines to a whole new level of performance.
When turbochargers became the norm in the automotive industry in the 1960s and 1970s, many automakers used them in their high-performance cars.
In recent years, the pursuit of ever-increasing power numbers, combined with the need to comply with emissions regulations in key markets, have pushed supercar manufacturers to use more turbochargers and/or develop hybrid drivetrains.
Nevertheless, some brands have remained faithful to naturally aspirated engines, managing to achieve impressive power figures thanks to ingenious engineering.
Lamborghini Essenza SCV12 – 819 HP
Photo: Automobili Lamborghini SpA
Launched in 2011 at the Geneva Motor Show, the Aventador was Lamborghini's latest flagship supercar and, like its predecessors, was powered by a naturally aspirated V12 engine.
Throughout its duration, the splendid All-wheel drive The supercar and its powerful V12 were constantly improved.
The Aventador was also used by Lamborghini’s Squadra Corse racing division as the basis for the 2020 Essenza SCV12, a stunning track-focused supercar.
Although based on the Aventador chassis, the SCV12's entire bodywork has been redesigned with aerodynamic supremacy in mind.
This track weapon was powered by the same 6.5-liter naturally aspirated V12 engine as the Aventador, but had been significantly improved to deliver 819 hp.
Ferrari 812 Competizione – 819 HP
Photo: Ferrari SpA
In 2017, Ferrari launched the latest member of its mid-front-engine, rear-wheel drive grand tourer range.
Dubbed the 812 Superfast, the stunning GT designed by Flavio Manzoni of the Ferrari Styling Centre lived up to its name with a 789 hp naturally aspirated V12 engine that allowed it to reach a top speed of 340 km/h (211 mph).
Four years later, the Maranello-based car manufacturer presented a much more powerful version of the 812, designed for the track but homologated for the road, called the Competizione.
Available as both a conventional Berlinetta and a Targa soft-top (Competizione A), this beast received numerous styling and performance upgrades over its conventional counterparts, the Superfast and GTS.
The most impressive of these upgrades was a boosted version of the F140 6.5-liter V12 engine, which produced 819 hp (819 kW) and 510 lb-ft (692 Nm) of torque.
With all this power and weight-saving treatment, the Competizione could accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.9 seconds and reach a top speed of 340 km/h.
Ferrari Daytona SP3 – 829 HP
Photo: Ferrari SpA
As the 812 Competizione proves, Ferrari is one of the last supercar makers to stick with the naturally aspirated engine, but that could change in the not-too-distant future.
About a year after the presentation of the above-mentioned track model, the Italian car manufacturer launched another masterpiece with a naturally aspirated engine.
Dubbed the Daytona SP3, the limited-edition mid-engined supercar is inspired by the 330 P4 endurance racing car that won the 1967 Daytona 24 Hours.
Beneath its spectacular carbon-fiber bodywork, the SP3 hides the LaFerrari Aperta chassis and the same version of the F140 V12 engine as the 812 Competizione.
However, power was increased by 10 hp, bringing the car to a total of 829 horsepower, making it the most powerful naturally aspirated road-going Ferrari ever built.
In terms of performance, the SP3 Daytona can reach 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in 2.8 seconds and has a top speed of 340 km/h (150 mph).
Pagani Huayra R Evo – 900 hp
Photo: Pagani Automobili SpA
Founded in 1992 by Argentine Horacio Pagani, a former Lamborghini engineer, Pagani Automobili, based in Modena, Italy, is a relative newcomer to the world of supercars.
The company's history began with the iconic Mercedes-AMG-powered Zonda and continued with the Huayra and the current Utopia.
While the Utopia and most versions of the Huayra used twin-turbo Mercedes-Benz engines,AMG V12, a couple of track versions of the Huayra received a naturally aspirated 6.0-liter Mercedes-Benz HWA V12 engine
The first was the 2021 Huayra R, which received an 838-hp version of the engine, and the second, the christened Huayra R Evo unveiled earlier this year (2024), got a 900-hp edition of the engine, courtesy of new camshafts and a recalibration. electronic control unit.
As its name suggests, the latest track weapon unveiled is the evolution of the initial R and, in addition to the stunning engine, it has also received a series of aerodynamic improvements to make it even more lethal.
Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro – 1,000 HP
Photo: Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings PLC
Developed in conjunction with Red Bull Racing Advanced Technologies and designed by F1 engineering wizard Adrian Newey, the Valkyrie is without doubt the most extravagant production car ever to bear the Aston Martin badge.
With a lightweight body designed to be as aerodynamically efficient as possible, it looks more like an endurance racing hypercar than something road-legal.
The Valkyrie is still road legal and is powered by a Cosworth-designed 6.5-litre V12 which, when combined with an electric motor, delivers a total power output of 1,160bhp.
But since we are talking about supercars powered by a naturally aspirated engine, we want to highlight the track-oriented Valkyrie called AMR Pro.
While it looks a lot like its road-going counterpart, the AMR Pro forgoes the electric motor and any other useful features to offer a lighter vehicle.
Furthermore, its 6.5-liter V12 is tuned to develop 1,000 hp, making it the most powerful naturally aspirated production car ever built.
As for actual production, in 2021 Aston Martin announced that it would build just 25 units of this extraordinary car, all of which were sold before actual production began.