American saloons with V8 engines are vanishing from the market
There is much discussion about the end of petrol-powered cars in the European Union, which are huge "true" engines. Meanwhile, in the United States, the trajectory is similar. When considering saloons with V8 engines, European brands have a significantly broader range.
Are saloons with V8 engines the norm in the USA? Yes, but that was several decades ago. The market for saloons with V8 engines in the States predominantly consists of European cars. Models such as the Audi S8 and RS7, BMW M550i, M5, 850i, and M8, Mercedes-AMG E63 and GT63, are prominent. Additionally, there are the BMW "7 Series" and the Mercedes S-Class. Further inclusions are the Alpina B8, Bentley Flying Spur, Porsche Panamera Turbo, Maserati Ghibli, and Quattroporte. What about American cars?
Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing is among the few American saloons with a V8 engine. The Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 also have V8 engines, but their production has ceased, and the final cars are being sold. The Chrysler 300 is unavailable for the 2024 model year, and production of the Charger for the 2024 model year was discontinued at the end of 2023.
Only one stands out among these dozen or so saloons equipped with a V8 engine. It's the Dodge Charger in R/T specification, which boasts a 5.7-litre HEMI engine under the bonnet and is the last American saloon with a naturally aspirated V8 engine in history—at least for now.
The last American naturally aspirated V8
However, there is one more saloon in the U.S. market with a naturally aspirated V8, though it is not American. It's the Lexus IS500 with a 5-litre engine. Though rumours suggest 2024 will be its final year, it is still in production. It is the only saloon in the United States with a naturally aspirated V8 that one can configure and purchase.
