You’ve always felt a bit of a thrill in the heart-thumping speed and pick up of a powerful V12 or V8, something with 500 or 600+ horsepower that makes the blood course through your veins just a little quicker. But you’ve been at war with your inner environmentalist, who dies a little inside each time a mighty twin turbo V12 is fired up and blasting down the highway. It’s a tale as old as humankind itself is. An angel on one shoulder, and a devil on the other. How do you make peace with this inner conflict?
Many don’t. If you’re a fan of powerful gas-guzzlers, you simply drown out the noise with the roar of muscular engines that will get you where you need to go with quickness while burning obscene amounts of fuel and spewing incomprehensible amounts of pollution behind them.
Let’s take a look at 35 wicked gas burners that definitely aren’t planning for the future, but are nearly impossible to walk away from today.
2016 Mercedes-Benz AMG E63 S 4matic
Fuel economy: 15/22 mpg (city/highway)
This mid-size modern 4-door 5-passenger car with insane power and fierce acceleration offers a superb ride, sophisticated technology, and elegant appointments. The engine is a 577-horsepower 5.5-liter twin-turbo intercooled 32-valve V8 with aluminum block and heads, with direct injection. The E63 has 590 lb.-ft. of torque at 2,000 rpm. The transmission is a 7-speed automatic with manual shifting mode, and all-wheel drive is standard. While all the specs add up for a sweet ride that goes from 0-60 mph in 4.1 seconds, all that power results in a gas mileage that is far from optimal.
2016 Maserati GranTurismo Convertible
Fuel economy: 11/17 mpg (city/highway)
The Maserati GranTurismo embodies everything there is to love about Italian cars – the sexy lines, the lavish interior, and the vroom, vroom, vroom!! It is a 2-door 4-passenger work of art. This extraordinary high-performance convertible features a 454-horsepower 4.7 liter V8 engine with 384 lb.-ft. of torque, and 6-speed automatic transmission with rear-wheel drive. The amazing engine is capable of reaching from 0-60 mph in less than 5 seconds. While its seductive styling is timeless, its fuel economy can only be described as anachronistic.
2016 Bentley Continental GT Convertible Flexible Fuel Vehicle
Fuel economy: 14/24 mpg (city/highway)
The vehicle of choice among one-percenters everywhere, the Bentley Continental four-seater can run on gas or ethanol, making it a more environmentally friendly option. Always elegant, classic, and streamlined, the Continental boasts a powerful 500-horsepower 4.0-liter turbocharged intercooled 8-cylinder engine with direct injection that produces 487 lb.-ft. of torque. The transmission is an 8-speed automatic, with all-wheel drive. It can achieve speeds of 0-60 mph in a mere 3.4 seconds. Before you empty out all the cash in that Louis Vuitton valise to pay for the car, you may want to make sure you’ve got a second one in reserve to pay for the gas – unless you just want it to set in the driveway looking spectacular. It can certainly do that too!
2016 Aston Martin DB9
Fuel economy: 13/19 mpg (city/highway)
The growl from beneath the hood is unmistakable. The decadent allure quickens the pulse. You’re afraid to make the approach, yet every fiber of your being pushes you forward. This lively sports car of legend is simply too alluring for mere mortals to resist. The Aston Martin DB9 delivers even more than it promises. The engine is a 6.0-liter V12 with port injection that produces 540 horsepower and 457 lb.-ft. of torque. The transmission is a six-speed automatic with rear-wheel drive. 0-60 mph can be achieved in a quick 4.4 seconds. An estimated combined fuel economy of 15 mpg seems a small price to pay for a spin with this undeniable beauty.
2016 Ferrari FF
Fuel economy: 14/21 mpg (city/highway)
The spacious two-door Ferrari FF upholds Ferrari’s curious tradition of offering at least one uniquely designed four-seater in their line-up. The shooting brake design can be accused of being slightly reminiscent of a clown shoe, but only in the best possible way. Under the hood, however, is where it gets serious. The FF sports a powerful 651-horsepower 6.3-liter V12 engine with 512 lb.-ft. of torque. The transmission is a 7-speed automatic with all-wheel drive. It’s got a top speed of 208 mph, and makes it from 0-60 in 3.7 seconds. The only weak spot may be gas mileage, and for everything else the FF brings to the table, one can make a strong argument for forgiveness.
2016 Bentley Mulsanne
Fuel economy: 11/18 mpg (city/highway)
Whether you prefer to be chauffeured, or are planning to drive it yourself, you’ll find the luxury and creature comforts of the Mulsanne to be extraordinary. It is leather lined, adorned in wood, and feels more like sitting in a plush lounge than riding in a car. Unlike a plush lounge, the Mulsanne is anything but stationary. A powerful 530-horsepower 6.75 liter twin-turbo port injected V8 with 811 lb.-ft. of torque speaks to its desire to move. The engine is accompanied by an 8-speed automatic transmission with rear wheel drive. This midsize 4-door 5-passenger vehicle has a top speed of 190 mph, and achieves 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds. A combined fuel economy of 13 mpg is difficult to forget, even when seated in the lap of luxury.
2016 Ferrari F12 tdf
Fuel economy: 11/16 mpg (city/highway)
The Ferrari F12 Berlinetta is one of the few street-legal cars in the world with more than 700 horsepower. In 2016, Ferrari has changed this model year’s name to tdf to commemorate the Tour De France, a race the Berlinetta dominated from 1950-1960. The tdf features a 730-horsepower 6.3-liter direct injection V12 engine, paired with a 7-speed dual clutch automatic transmission with rear-wheel drive. It delivers 508 lb.-ft. of torque at 5,000 rpm. The fuel economy is what one might expect from a powerhouse like the tdf, a combined mpg of 13.
2016 Mercedes-Benz G550
Fuel economy: 13/14 mpg (city/highway)
The G-wagen has already enjoyed a lifespan of more 36 years, and if 2016’s offering is any indication, it’s got miles to go before it hits the end of the road. This rocket-quick boxy SUV-style Mercedes has a top speed of 130 mph, generated by a 416-horsepower 4.0-liter twin turbo V8 with 450 lb.-ft. at 2250 rpm, and automatic 7-speed transmission with all-wheel drive. The interior offers an abundance of comfort and runs over with high-tech gear. The fuel mileage of the G550 qualifies as downright scandalous, at 13 city / 14 highway, but this tried-and-true workhorse has the staying power many vehicles only dream of.
2016 Pagani Huayra Coupe
Fuel economy: 11/17 mpg (city/highway)
At $1.4 million, the 2016 Pagani Huayra Coupe is one of the most expensive sports cars available today. It is the supercar for those who have become jaded to Lambos, Ferraris, and Bugattis, and have the liquidity for a machine that is very limited in production and redefines hardcore. Its tenacity and quickness are beyond dispute. The engine packs an amazing 750 horsepower and is a 6.0-liter V12 capable of 0-60 mph in a scant 3 seconds. 738 lb.-ft. of torque ensures smooth and powerful acceleration. The transmission is a 7-speed automatic with rear wheel drive. If you can shell out 14,000 Benjamins for one of these, then you’re not likely concerned about the price of gas, and with a combined mpg of 13, that’s a good thing.
2016 Lamborghini Veneno Roadster
Fuel economy: 11/17 mpg (city/highway)
This $4.5 million outrageously priced supercar follows the Veneno, which had a limited run of 3, all of which were sold prior its unveiling. While the Veneno Roadster is equally prodigious, it proves to be far more common. And by common, we mean 9 of the Roadsters will be produced, making it unlikely you’ll park next to a guy who has the same exact car as you. The Veneno Roadster shares an engine with the Aventador, a 740-horsepower 6.5 liter V12, combined with a 7-speed transmission that shifts gears nearly as quick as those used in Formula One racers. It’s got a top speed of 221 mph, and goes from 0-60 mph in less time than it takes to read this sentence – 2.9 seconds! If you’re the lucky owner of one of those 9 Veneno Roadsters, it is doubtful that you’re the least bit concerned about a combined mpg of 13.
2016 GMC Savana 2500 2WD Conversion Cargo
Fuel economy: 11/16 mpg (city/highway)
If you’ve got a big crew or lots of cargo, the flex-fuel Savana 2500 2WD rugged and durable multi-purpose utility vehicle is more than equal to the task of getting that precious cargo where it needs to go. The engine is a 4.8-liter V8, with 6-speed automatic transmission and rear wheel drive. It produces 295 ft-lb of torque at 4,600 rpm. It has lots of safety features, including front, side and overhead airbags. Seating arrangements are flexible and allow for a capacity of 12 or 15. As large conversion cargo vans go, fuel mileage is as expected, 13 mpg combined. However, the Savana excels at a specific kind of functionality that you can’t get just anywhere – the ability to move a whole lot of whatever you need to move.
2016 Chevrolet Express 2500 2WD Conversion Cargo
Fuel economy: 10/16 mpg (city/highway)
The Chevrolet Express 2500 2WD Conversion Cargo van offers 270.4 cubic feet of cargo space and has a gross vehicle weight rating of 8,600 pounds, giving it the capacity to serve as a multi-passenger van or best-in-class work van. The engine is a Duramax 6.6 liter turbo-diesel V8 with 525 lb.-ft. of torque. There’s a lot more high-tech than you might expect from a commercial work van. A lower than you would expect MSRP makes the Express a particularly attractive package. The 2016 Chevrolet Express 2500 will leave you just a hair’s worse for wear at the gas station than the previous entry, the GMC Savana, so there’s no clear winner among conversion vans at the EPA rating level. Maybe it’s a battle of flex fuel versus diesel?
2015 Bugatti Veyron
Fuel economy: 8/15 mpg (city/highway)
Arguable the best supercar ever produced, the Veyron is uncompromising in every respect. The sexy two-seater is blistering in its speed, thanks to an 8.0-liter turbo-quad W-16 engine with 1001 horsepower that produces a top speed in excess of 200 miles an hour. With a combined mpg of 10, the Veyron proves to be a harsh mistress. After 10 years of record breaking speeds, the Veyron is no longer available for sale from the manufacturer. For that, next time you’re at the gas station, you need to pour one out for the homies.
2016 Ferrari 458 Italia
Fuel economy: 15/20 mpg (city/highway)
The successor to the legendary 458 is a force to be reckoned with, outfitted with a naturally aspirated 3902cc 90-degree V8, paired with a seven speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. It makes 661 horsepower at 8,000 rpm, with 561 lb.-ft. of torque. The transmission hits fourth gear in astounding 6 seconds. As breathtakingly beautiful as it is fast, the 458 goes from 0-62 mph in 3 quick seconds and hits 124 mph in 8.3 seconds. At a trim fighting weight of 3,020 pounds, a price tag of around a quarter million, and an only slightly painful combined EPA rating of 17 mpg, the 458 proves compelling.
2016 Toyota Sequoia 4WD
Fuel economy: 13/18 mpg (city/highway)
The Toyota Sequoia 4WD SUV offers 3 rows of seating, good handling, and a comfortable ride. The engine is a powerful 5.7-liter V8 which produces 381 horsepower and 401 lb.-ft. of torque. It offers safety features such as stability control, 8 airbags, anti-lock brakes, backup camera, and blind spot monitoring (available on the Platinum trim). Steering is light and easy, and low-range gearing makes it a great option for off-roading. The Sequoia seems a little thirsty, with an mpg of 13 city/18 highway; still it is not out of line for a vehicle of its type. A little pain at the pump seems like an acceptable trade-off for this surprisingly refined ride.
2016 Aston Martin V12 Vantage S
Fuel economy: 12/18 mpg (city/highway)
Whether you’re James Bond, or you just like to spy on your neighbors during the weekends, the Vantage S is just the vehicle for all your covert activities. The 2-door, 2-seater Vantage S sports a brutish 6.0 liter port injected V12 with 565 horsepower and 457 lb.-ft. of torque, which is combined with a 7-speed automatic transmission, with rear wheel drive. The handling is agile, the power aggressive, and the experience immersive. With a top speed of 205 mph and 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds, the Vantage S can get you out of a tight spot quickly. The combined mpg of 14 will be the last thing on your mind as you give in to the embrace of the Vantage S.
2016 Audi R8
Fuel economy: 14/22 mpg (city/highway)
The gorgeous Audi R8 is everything you want in a sports car – beauty, smooth handling, lots of high-tech, and amazingly fast. Powering the R8 is a 5.2 liter 540 horsepower direct and port injected V10 with 398 lb.-ft. of torque, or you can select the V10 Plus, which produces 610 horsepower. The transmission is a 7-speed automatic with all-wheel drive. It’s got a top speed of 210 mph and can go from 0-60 mph in 2.9 seconds. The interior features a 12.3” configurable display rather than traditional gauges. Combined fuel economy is 17, and the performance of this little sportster makes that pretty easy to live with.
2015 Nissan Armada 4WD
Fuel economy: 12/18 mpg (city/highway)
This traditional and large SUV can haul cargo, move a lot of passengers, and tow cars, boats, what-have-you, thanks to a rugged body-on-frame platform and a beefy V8 engine with 317 horsepower and 385 lb.-ft. of torque. You can tow up to 9,000 pounds while at the same time transporting up to 8 passengers, making the Armada an undeniable workhorse. The interior is spacious and well equipped, making it more than up to the task of maintaining comfort on a long road trip with your crew. Fuel economy is 15 mpg combined, but depending on your needs, may be well worth it.
2015 Nissan Titan 4WD
Fuel economy: 12/17 mpg (city/highway)
The Titan is a full-size half-ton pickup designed to compete with heavyweights like the Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra, and Ram 1500. Two cab styles are available, King and Crew. The engine is a muscular 5.6 liter V8 with 317 horsepower and 385 lb.-ft. of torque. The transmission is a standard 5 speed automatic. The Titan is exceptional in its off-road capabilities, and it’s one of the few vehicles these days that can wear a “Made in the USA” sticker with any real integrity. Off-roading is a hobby, and pursuing hobbies often costs a little money. That’s just enough to justify a combined rating of 14 mpg.
2016 Cadillac CTS
Fuel economy: 14/20 mpg (city/highway)
Cadillac is a name that for generations was synonymous with comfort and luxury. While this hasn’t changed, the Cadillac CTS may go just a little faster than they did when Grandpa owned one. The engine is a supercharged 640 horsepower 6.2 liter V8, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and rear wheel drive. It’s got a top speed of 200 mph, and can go from 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds; 100 mph in 7.5 seconds. This four-door, five-passenger sedan bears a legendary nameplate, and the CTS does justice to that nameplate on all counts. It seems like a privilege to drive, even with a combined fuel economy of 17 mpg.
2016 Mercedes-AMG G65
Fuel economy: 11/13 mpg (city/highway)
Gas currently costs around $5.60 a gallon in Germany, but that didn’t stop Mercedes from building the AMG C65, a boxy abomination of an off-roader, with a 6.0-liter twin turbo V12 cranking out 621 hp and 738 lb-ft of torque. Mercedes also built the ultra-luxurious Maybach line until 2013, but now include this brand only as part of a Mercedes Benz-Maybach line. The 2016 Mercedes Benz-Maybach S 600 could have also been a contender in our top 15 gas hogs, with fuel economy of just 13/20 mpg (city/highway).
2014 Ford F-150 Raptor
Fuel economy: 11/16 mpg (city/highway)
This street legal high performance pickup blows away the competition with a 6.2-liter twin turbo V8 with automatic transmission, packing 411 hp and 434 lb-ft of torque. This 12th generation model is tuned for some serious off-road action, and a trek through the wilderness or up a steep pile of rocks is a piece of cake for this trophy truck. The 2017 model will feature all new automatic 10-speed transmission and slightly improved fuel economy, with 18 mpg combined on rear-wheel drive models, and 17 mpg combined in four-wheel drive models.
2016 Ferrari F12 TdF
Fuel economy: 11/15 mpg (city/highway)
Admit it, you’ve always dreamed of owning a barely legal Ferrari, and here’s one even more powerful than the previous generation Berlinetta. This Italian sports car, priced at around a modest $375,000, leaves a giant footprint, carbon and otherwise, with a 6.3-liter V12 generating 769 hp at 8500 rpm and 520lb-ft of torque at 6750 rpm. Ferrari Berlinetta dominated the Tour de France road race for a decade, beginning in 1950, and the 1956 Berlinetta won four consecutive events. The F12 TdF commemorates that winning occasion.
2016 Rolls Royce Phantom
Fuel economy: 11/19 mpg (city/highway)
The Rolls Royce Phantom has always delivered the utmost in luxury, and unfortunately, the minimum in fuel economy. Available as a convertible or four-door sedan, the engine is a massive 6.75-liter V12 with 453 horsepower and 531 lb-ft of torque. It is not the most powerful of the high-end premium luxury cars, but it will still get you from 0-60 mph in less than six serene and sumptuous seconds. The Phantom is a force to be reckoned with on the road, weighing in at 6,000 pounds and nearly 20 feet long. It is comparably sized to a Chevy Suburban, but will leave you feeling considerably more pampered.
2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT
Fuel economy: 13/19 mpg (city/highway)
The ultimate in all-American can-do attitude, the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT offers no remorse for the pain it causes at the pump. It’s powered by a 6.4-liter V8 Hemi engine cranking 475 hp, and 8-speed automatic transmission. It would be a challenge to find a hill it can’t climb, or a steep mountain road it can’t take fearlessly. There is an Eco Mode and Fuel Saver Technology built in for greater efficiency – and we can only imagine the mpg without it!
2016 Infiniti QX50
Fuel economy: 17/24 mpg (city/highway)
The Infiniti is far from the worst offender with a 20 mpg combined rating, but for a crossover built in 2016, that’s still a gas-guzzler by any standard. Under the hood, you’ll find a 24-valve V-6 producing 325 hp at 7000 rpm, and 267 lb-ft of torque at 5200 rpm. Experts agree the QX50 is surprisingly sporty, perhaps second only to the Porsche Macan, and far more affordable for the average family. Good luck parallel parking this 186.8-inch vehicle, but on the upside, you have room for five and tons of cargo space.
2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat
Fuel economy: 13/22 mpg (city/highway)
If there’s anyone who didn’t anticipate this one making this list, please sit back and be enlightened. A Hellcat worthy of the name, this muscular beast is packing 707 horsepower in a supercharged 6.2-liter V8. There’s also 650 lb-ft of torque, and your choice of 6-speed manual or 8-speed automatic transmission. The automatic transmission configuration can hit 60 mph in 3.6 seconds; 3.9 seconds for the manual configuration. The traditional Dodge Challenger rumble and whine is standard on this model. It’s a hard worker, and hard workers tend to develop quite a thirst, so top up often.
2016 Subaru WRX STI
Fuel economy: 17/23 mpg (city/highway)
Remember when Subarus were all about the environment, and a top choice of hippies and flower children everywhere? The new WRX STI may leave those folks a little crestfallen, but it will leave you looking at them at rapidly increasing distances in the rearview mirror. There’s no time to gather and sing Kumbaya when you’re behind the wheel of this street legal rally car, packed with a 2.5-liter turbocharged flat-four engine with 305 hp and 290 lb-ft of torque. Drum circles can wait when there’s so much open road to cover.
2016 Toyota Tundra
Fuel economy: 15/19 mpg (city/highway)
The Toyota Tundra doesn’t have time for your existential crisis as you ponder what it’s doing to the environment. All 381 of its horsepower are ready to get a little further down the road before you debate the practicality of a 5.7-liter V8 with 401 lb-ft of torque. With a payload capacity of 2,060 pounds, and a towing rate of 10,500 pounds, the decision can be easily justified, so relax. This powerhouse can hit 60 mph in about 6.4 seconds, and has a top speed of 107 mph – quite respectable for a pickup.
2015 Lexus GX 460
Fuel economy: 15/20 mpg (city/highway)
Lexus has arguably been an industry leader in building hybrids, so perhaps they can be cut a little slack for this luxury mid-sized SUV that clearly cares little for the planet. It does care about getting you to your destination in comfort and style, and pushing you forward is a 301-hp 4.6-liter V8 matched with a 6-speed automatic transmission. The GX line has been in production since 2002, and the 460 is a second-generation model.
2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
Fuel economy: 15/22 mpg (city/highway)
Another wicked muscle car makes the line-up for the Gas Guzzler Hall of Fame, and this one is as American as baseball and apple pie. Chevrolet has always chosen to focus on the Corvette’s core competencies of amazing performance and handling, with fuel economy ranking as a lesser concern. Buyers of the Corvette make a Faustian deal when they put down their money. They know what they’re doing. The engine is a supercharged and intercooled pushrod 16-valve V8 with 650 hp, and 650 lb-ft of torque. You can hit 60 mph in 3.3 seconds, and a quarter mile run at 127 mph takes just 11.4 seconds. You can spend three times or more the money for a McLaren 650S Spider or a Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet, but in reality, the Vette is hands-down the faster car.
2016 Bugatti Chiron
Fuel economy: 14 mpg (combined – estimated)
The Veyron almost single-handedly could threaten the world’s oil supply with a fuel economy of 10 mpg, and it looks like the Chiron will fare only slightly better at 14 mpg combined. With a top speed of 288mph and 1,500 hp, the Chiron is powered by an 8.0-liter 16-cylinder engine utilizing four turbos. 1180 lb-ft of torque promises truly epic acceleration. The only thing scarier than the fuel mileage of the Chiron may be the price tag. In true “if you have to ask, you can’t afford it” fashion, it’s going for a cool $2.6 million.
Lamborghini Aventador SV
Fuel economy: 11/18 mpg (city/highway)
With a limited run of just 600, the Aventador is as exclusive as it is powerful! The screaming 6.5-liter V12 produces 740 hp and 509 lb-ft of torque. The Aventador is said to be built for the high speeds of the race track and is considerably less enjoyable for everyday driving, but who wouldn’t love to test that theory out for themselves? It encroaches on the Bugatti Veyron territory for speeds, and completes a standing quarter mile in just 10.4 seconds.
2015 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Fuel economy: 14/19 mpg (city/highway)
Another testament to American ingenuity, the Camaro never carried quite the status of the Corvette, even though the new Camaros are running the same supercharged V8s tuned for 640hp and 640lb-ft of torque. It has a top speed of 184 mph, and goes from 0-60 mph in 4 seconds. The ZL1 has a retro flavor and easily competes with heavyweights like the Dodge Charger and Chevy Corvette. We can forgive this muscle car for its less than stellar fuel economy, but we’ll have to do it quickly because the Camaro waits around for no one.
2016 Toyota Land Cruiser
Fuel economy: 13/18 mpg (city/highway)
Creating the world’s most popular hybrid makes it slightly forgivable if you indulge in building a climate crushing SUV every now and then. The Toyota Land Cruiser prefers to focus on capability, durability and drive-ability, and to Toyota’s credit, they hit every mark. The engine is an old-school bruiser – a 5.7-liter V8 with 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque. It’s still using electronic fuel injection, which may account for a little of that gas guzzling, but the engine is big enough to power this 5,815 pound beast with ease. Throw in the weight of a family of eight, and you’ll still find revs to spare.
That’s a look at 15 gas-guzzlers, all worthy of a little forgiveness for not putting the environment first. Speed, power and precision are the jewels in the crown of every one of these bad boys, and planet earth will have to defer to the need for speed for one more go-around.