Z4M S54, the ?th most powerful PER LITRE normally aspirated road car ever made?

[Jembo]

So, over Xmas, my Z came up again in company, how my wife hates her competition.... & why I’m convinced my M’’s so special.

In popped ‘name me a normally aspirated factory spec road car that has more BHP per litre than my Z’

A bit of Googling later, this is what we (well the men) came up with - I was quite staggered where the S54 sits compared to what’s available as the very best today... especially as the S54 is now 11-14 years old!!!

1. Porsche 911 GT3 RS 520 / 4 = 130
2. Ferrari 812 superfast 789 / 6.5 = 121.38
3. Lamborghini Huracan Évo 631 / 5.2 = 121.34
4. Lamborghini Aventador 770 / 6.5 = 118
5. AUDI R8 V10 Performance 612 / 5.2 = 117.6
6. BMW M3 CSL 355 / 3.2 = 110.9
7. Ferrari GTC4 Lusso 680 / 6.3 = 107.9
8. BMW Z4M 343 / 3.2 = 107.2
9. Porsche 718 spider / cayman GT4 415 / 4 = 103.7
10. Ford Mustang Shelby GT3 526 / 5.2 = 101.1

WDYT, anything I’ve missed?

Edit - revised list from feedback
1 Mazda RX-8 232 1.3 178.46
2 McLaren F1 618 4.5 137.33
3 Ferrari 458 Speciale A 597 4.5 132.67
4 Porsche 911 GT3 RS 520 4 130.00
5 Ferrari F12 769 6.3 122.06
6 Ferrari 812 superfast 789 6.5 121.38
7 Lamborghini Huracan Évo 631 5.2 121.35
8 Honda S2000 240 2 120.00
9 Lamborghini Aventador 770 6.5 118.46
10 AUDI R8 V10 Performance 612 5.2 117.69
11 F360 Challenge Stradale 419 3.6 116.39
12 F430 483 4.3 112.33
13 BMW E46 M3 CSL 355 3.2 110.94
14 Integra DC2 Type R / EK9 Civic Type R 197 1.8 109.44
15 AUDI R8 V8 562 5.2 108.08
16 Ferrari GTC4 Lusso 680 6.3 107.94
17 BMW Z4M 343 343 3.2 107.19
18 Lotus exige S1 192 1.8 106.67
19 BMW E92 M3 420 4 105.00
20 Porsche 991.1 395 3.8 103.95
21 Porsche 718 spider / cayman GT4 415 4 103.75
22 Ford Mustang Shelby GT3 526 5.2 101.15

[gwatson]

Honda S2000, 240bhp (or probably PS) which is a 2.0. So 4th place, not bad for 20 year old car, epic engine.

[Jembo]

Honda S2000, 240bhp (or probably PS) which is a 2.0. So 4th place, not bad for 20 year old car, epic engine.

Great spot... we were looking at todays most powerful cars... so pushed to 9th place

[gwatson]

Most modern cars are turbocharged, best looking back 10 or 15 years....

No to spoil your party, but F360 Challenge Stradale was 419bhp from a 3.6 litre engine, so 116.3bhp/litre.

F430 was around 490bhp from a 4.3 litre engine.... around 113bhp/litre.

[Jembo]

Thanks, aim was to specifically exclude turbocharged/supercharged cars & surround the M with exotics ...

[gwatson]

Both Ferrari's above are both naturally aspirated.

My point was you won't find many current NA cars to compare it to, hence the S54 rates well in your list. But if you go back 10-15 years you'll find it'll quickly slip down the list.

[abar121]

458 Speciale.
597bhp, 4497cc

EK9 Civic Type R
182bhp, 1595cc

Integra DC2 Type R (aJDM)
197bhp 1797cc

Plus many other Fezzas, Porker GT3s and JDM cars.

[R60BBA]

E46 M3 CSL with the carbon plenum is the king of the S54 variants.

[Mister T]

Aston Martin Valkyrie 1000bhp 6.5l

Most Honda Type R engines would also make the top 10, e.g. the B16B at 182bhp from 1.6l

[Smartbear]

Mazda rx8, 231bhp from 1.3l
Rob

[abar121]

Mazda rx8, 231bhp from 1.3l
Rob

If we're playing that game my 30 year old RGV250 had 250bhp per litre NA.

Comparing piston speed, the S54 has the dubious award of being near the top of the pops.

[Smartbear]

Mazda rx8, 231bhp from 1.3l
Rob

If we're playing that game my 30 year old RGV250 had 250bhp per litre NA.

Comparing piston speed, the S54 has the dubious award of being near the top of the pops.

My 40 year old stage3 rg500 would come in around 230bhp/litre specific output

EC74E0F9-1BB1-4C0A-8326-1DB576C6B8D0.jpeg (57.91 KiB) Viewed 1818 times

The s54 has a relatively long stroke for the revs it reaches, that probably contributes to the issues it can have with big end shell bearings, the high piston speed must put a large loading on them
Rob

[buzyg]

i'll take half a McLaren F1 engine all day long.

[Smartbear]

i'll take half a McLaren F1 engine all day long.

Turbo?
Rob

[griffnut]

Try putting in a few TVR's in the list, ie Griffith 500, Tuscan 4.0S, Cerbera 4.5, Sagaris etc. The results might be more interesting!