Most Powerful Inline Sixes

"472CID" (472CID)
09/09/2015 at 12:35 • Filed to: USELESSLISTS

What does a BMW M3, Dodge Ram, and vintage a Aston Martin have in common? They all come equipt with wonderfully powerful inline six engines. Today lets have a look at the most powerful varieties of this terrific engine configuration. The following list is a collection of the most powerful example of each car’s inline six.

2000-08 Chevrolet Trailblazer (et al) Atlas LL8 4.2 liter 291hp 277lb-ft

We start at an unusuall place, GM’s GMT360 platform. GM uncharacteristically bucked the trend of V6 SUVs with an inline six powered truck. The “Atlas” engine was substantially more powerful than most other six cylinder trucks at the time.

1992-02 Toyota Supra 2JZ-GTE 3.0 liter twin turbo 320HP 325lb-ft

One of the most famously inline six powered cars the Toyota Supra made a very impressive (even for today) 300+ hp out of an inline six.

1994-95 Jaguar XJR AJ16S 4.0 liter 322hp 378lb-ft

Right before Jaguar started selling supercharged V8s they supercharged their venerable inline six. It’s worth noting that the E types inline six was rated at 265hp (gross), but the later inline sixes were more powerful despite their lower, net, rating.

1965-71 Aston Martin DB6 Vantage 4.0 liter 325hp 295lb-ft

This is a bonus entry because it’s a gross power rating, in net horse power the DB6 Vantage is probably making closer to 200hp. Still it’s impressive that Aston was making a 300hp inline six, matching or beating many of the V8s and V12s of the day.

1989-02 Nissan Skyline GT-R RB26DETT 2.6 liter twin turbo ~330hp

The Skyline GT-R and it’s inline six were the most powerful Japanese cars of their day, it wasn’t until the mid-2000s when Lexus and Infiniti started making V8 that were more powerful. Basic GT-Rs were rated at 276hp, because Japan, however they were actually producing well over 300hp, with limited edition Nismos making up to 400hp.

1994-99 Aston Martin DB7 3.2 liter supercharged 335hp 361lb-ft

Aston Martin’s comeback was powered not by the iconic Aston V12, but a supercharged inline six.

2000-06 BMW M3 E46 3.2 liter S54 338hp 269lb-ft

The peak of the naturally asperiated BMW inline six was the S54 found in the E46 generation of the M3. One of the best looking modern engines in the opinion of yours truely.

2014- Volvo S60 Polestar 3.0 liter turbocharged 346hp 370lb-ft

Volvo likes to quitely put powerful turbocharged inline sixes in their S60 sedans. The epitome of said sedans is the S60 Polestar, which doesn’t quite reach the M3 level, but meets the Audi S4 level nicely.

2016- Dodge Ram HD Cummins B6.7 6.7 liter 385hp 900lb-ft

Cummins has been making popular diesel inline sixes for Dodge for many years now. The recent horsepower war in heavy duty trucks has resulted in a comically powerful 1 ton Ram. In terms of horse power it might be tops, but in regards to torque it’s head, shoulders and torso above all the other inline sixes.

TVR Tuscan S Speed Six 4.0 liter 405hp

The most powerful naturally aspirated engine on the list the TVR Speed Six was right inline with TVR’s history of pulling a suprising amount of power out of an NA engine.

2009- Ford Falcon FPV F6 Barra 310FG 4.0 liter turbocharged 416hp 417lb-ft

Australia is a wondrous place where cars with pick up beds thrive and powerful inline sixes roam freely. Well for one more year anyway, as the long running Australian Ford inline six is set to retire with the current generation Falcon (FG) in 2016. It’s a pity too because it’s one of the most powerful six in the world.

2014- BMW M3/4 F80 3.0 liter twin turbocharged S55B330 425hp 410lb-ft

It should suprise any one that BMW makes the most powerful inline six, nor should it surprise anyone that it’s in the current M3. BMW is known underrating their engines so you can bet this car is making closer to 450hp.

Honorable Mentions: Chrysler Hemi Six (around 200hp), Maserati 3500GT (235hp) Mercedes SL300 (240hp), Toyota Soarer (around 300hp)

DISCUSSION (26)

Party-vi > 472CID
09/09/2015 at 12:40

Kinja'd!!!

I doubt the DB6 made anywhere near 282hp or 325hp.

itschrome > 472CID
09/09/2015 at 12:43

the lack of TVR’s on this list just gave my grandmother cancer... thanks!

472CID > itschrome
09/09/2015 at 12:46

Ah I knew I was missing something, soon to be fixed

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > 472CID
09/09/2015 at 12:46

Kinja'd!!!

None of them actually put out 320 anymore. They’ve either been blown up or are putting out over 1000.

Autofixation > 472CID
09/09/2015 at 12:48

Kinja'd!!!

TVR Sagaris

4.0 Liter

400 hp

310 ft. lbs.

Naturally Aspirated.

472CID > Party-vi
09/09/2015 at 12:53

The Jaguar E type had about a 40% difference between SAE gross and DIN ratings. The Vantage would make roughly 200hp under a similar conversion.

HammerheadFistpunch > 472CID
09/09/2015 at 12:54

I want my engine to be on this list...but I know why its not.

Party-vi > 472CID
09/09/2015 at 12:55

I was under the impression that the Brits just straight-up lied about those figures (from an episode of Top Gear). 200hp is believable.

472CID > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
09/09/2015 at 12:58

Similar story for Skylines too I imagine.

472CID > HammerheadFistpunch
09/09/2015 at 12:59

Consolation prize for engine longevity, which is often at odds with high output.

472CID > Party-vi
09/09/2015 at 13:00

Italians were probably the wost, Germans probably the most honest.

HammerheadFistpunch > 472CID
09/09/2015 at 13:00

so true. its got pretty good average power i suppose...

Party-vi > 472CID
09/09/2015 at 13:01

The Germans aren’t any better, considering they under-report their numbers.

BReLp7dzHM3ytYsE > 472CID
09/09/2015 at 13:20

Kinja'd!!!

These rims are awesome

jariten1781 > 472CID
09/09/2015 at 13:39

I mean, marine diesels really kinda win this one. An inline 6 Man 2 stroke can make >10k HP at <100 RPM.

Cé hé sin > jariten1781
09/09/2015 at 14:10

Pah.

Have a Wartsila six.

Kinja'd!!!

One rather like this puts out 49,300 bhp at 80 rpm. Yes, eighty revs.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Party-vi
09/09/2015 at 14:17

The show was made by Brits, so maybe they were lying about lying.

Party-vi > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
09/09/2015 at 14:20

Those limey bastards!

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > 472CID
09/09/2015 at 15:07

Diesel Sixes are best Sixes

luvMeSome142 & some Lincoln! > 472CID
10/26/2015 at 15:40

You got enough BMWs on the list, but there is also the N54 that was in the 2007 to 2010 335i (302hp 300 torques). Or the N55 that’s in the 2015 X4 M40i (355hp, 343 torques).