Holden V8 Supercars (now Supercars Championship) have used various engines, but generally feature a powerful, naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8, originally based on Chevy small-block designs with custom components like CNC-machined blocks and forged internals, aiming for parity, with later Gen3 cars using more road-relevant Chevy LS-based engines (like the LS3) for the Holden Camaro, producing around 600 horsepower at 7500 RPM.
The Holden teams had the option of using the Group A-developed 5.0-litre Holden V8 engine, although this was restricted to the second-tier privateer teams from 1994 onwards, forcing the major Holden runners to use the more expensive Chevrolet engine.
Australian V8 Supercars (now just Supercars) typically produce around 600 to 650 horsepower, depending on the generation, with current Gen3 cars sitting closer to 600 bhp for better endurance and road relevance, while older models pushed towards 650+ hp for peak performance. These powerful, naturally aspirated V8s focus on mid-range grunt for challenging racing, using engines from Ford (Coyote) and GM (Chevrolet).
Toyota has confirmed it will join the Repco Supercars Championship with a 5.2-litre V8 engine. The Japanese powerhouse will enter the championship in 2026 with two cars from Walkinshaw Andretti United and four from Brad Jones Racing.
Under its hood roars a 5.4L version of Ford's renowned Coyote DOHC V8 engine. This powerhouse propels the Gen3 Supercar on the tracks and directly connects with its road-bound siblings, emphasising Ford's commitment to performance-driven engineering.
Betty Klimenko, the owner of the Erebus Motorsport team in the Supercars championship, has bought a NSW South Coast oceanfront weekender at Culburra Beach, costing $3.95m.
Identical, that is, except for under the bonnet, given their respective engines are of different displacement and architecture. The Chevrolet's is a 5.7-litre unit of pushrod design, whereas the Ford's is a 5.4-litre unit of double overhead cam (or 'quad cam') configuration.
These are the 14 best V8 engines ever made.
Each car in the Bathurst 1000 will use around 800 litres during the 161 laps around Mt Panorama. Which works out to be approximately 5.5 litres of the special E85 blend for the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship that includes 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent BP Ultimate unleaded petrol will be consumed per lap.
NASCAR cars are generally faster in straight-line speed and top speeds (especially with drafting) due to more powerful engines (around 670hp vs. 620-650hp) and simpler oval-focused designs, reaching near 200 mph; however, V8 Supercars are quicker through corners and on road courses because they're built for versatility, offering a more balanced, nimble feel with similar top speeds (around 186 mph) but better cornering performance, making each faster on different track types, notes The SportsRush, Flow Racers, and Quora users.
The 20 most powerful naturally aspirated supercars
ENGINE – $150,000
The 5-litre naturally-aspirated V8 engine is the most expensive element of a modern supercar, despite its relatively simple – and largely outdated in terms of its relevance to production road cars – pushrod design.
L98/L76/L77
Introduced in 2006, the L98 and L76 are 6.0-litre variants of the LS2. The L76 was used in February 2006-on VZ and VE (auto only) Holden Commodores, Statesmans and Caprices (WL and WM models). L98 versions were fitted to VE Series I (and VZ SS Thunder) Holdens equipped with manuals.
HSV Commodore super sedan is Holden's fastest ever. THIS is one of the best-kept secrets in Australian automotive history, but the lid is off and 575 Holden-badged horses have bolted. IT has been one of the best-kept secrets in Australian automotive history.
The Holden SV6 is generally quicker in acceleration due to its more powerful, higher-revving engine and advanced transmissions, especially later models, while the Ford XR6 offers strong, low-down grunt from its larger Barra engine but can feel slower in stock form against the SV6's effortless power delivery, though the XR6 often wins on overall driving dynamics and chassis balance. In head-to-head comparisons, the SV6 often edges out the XR6 in 0-100 km/h sprints, but the gap is narrow, with performance depending heavily on the specific year and transmission.
5 Of The Worst V8 Engines In Automotive History
The Wärtsilä-Sulzer RTA96-C turbocharged two-stroke diesel engine is the world's largest and most powerful production internal combustion engine. It has a maximum output of 84.42 MW (113,000 hp) of power and a displacement of 1,820 litres (110,195 cubic inches).
The 7.0L LS7 Engine
Unlike our other LS displacement guides, there's only one factory 7.0L LS engine to talk about here—the fire-breathing LS7. Developed out of Chevy's racing programs, the LS7 was a high performance LS motor for the top tier Camaro and Corvette track trims.
iLusso's Top Picks of Most Reliable Supercars
Simply put, a V6 is a 6-cylinder engine. Whereas, a V8 means an 8-cylinder engine. But, you may wonder what the 'V' means in V6 and V8. The 'V' represents the way cylinders are arranged in your engine. V-type engines have cylinders placed in a V-like shape, or to put it the other way, in two equal rows.
Net worth. As of May 2025 the Australian Financial Review estimated Klimenko's net worth as A$3.10 billion as published in the 2025 Rich List, held jointly with her half-sister, Monica Saunders-Weinberg, and their family.
“David needs to do what is best for him and we need to do what is best for our team's future and long-term stability. “Unfortunately, we were unable to come to an agreement and we have had to go our separate ways. “We wish David and his new family all the best for their future.”
Brodie Kostecki will leave Erebus Motorsport – the team he drove for in taking his maiden Supercars title – and has signed on to drive a Ford Mustang with Dick Johnson Racing (DJR) from 2025 onwards. “I am excited to join the Shell V-Power Racing Team, a team with such a rich history of success.