If you are a returning reader of us, you’ll know I love to put together this list. Every year, I take a look at the cheapest new cars that produce 500 horsepower or more and put them out to you. It’s always incredible to see what kind of power you can get straight from the factory for not that much of a sum of money. OK, these aren’t going to be “economy” cars by any means, but the value is there. Let’s go!
2018-2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
You might be surprised to see an Alfa Romeo on this list but you shouldn’t be. The Alfa Romeo of the last ten years has been producing some high power vehicles and the Giulia Quadrifoglio is one special sedan. These are largely unchanged for the 2018-2021 model years and are powered from a 2.9L V6 turbocharged motor that comes from Ferrari. It produces a wild 505 horsepower and you can get that mated to either a 6-speed manual or an 8 speed automatic. The Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio can be found on the used car market from about $55,000 to $70,000 depending on the model year and mileage you are looking at.
2021 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
The 2021 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is one wild production from Chevrolet, and that says a lot for a Camaro model. The ZL1 of the Camaro features the same engine as the Z06 Corvette, a supercharged 6.2L V8 that puts out 650 horsepower. You can find these in either a six-speed manual or a ten-speed automatic so that makes it even better. These are currently hovering a sweet spot of around $60,000-65,000 on the used market.
2019/2020 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat
Honestly the Dodge Challenger itself is an impressive horsepower for dollar vehicle that should be considered when anyone thinks of lots of power for not a lot of money. With that said, the Challenger SRT Hellcat is in a world of it’s own. It features a supercharged 6.2L V8 Hemi engine that puts out a whooping 707 horsepower. This makes it one of the most powerful vehicles on this list. You can find these in a 6-speed manual or an 8-speed automatic transmission setup. You can find them on the market in that $50,000-$55,000 range.
2015-2020 Ford Mustang GT350
I have listed a broad model year search for the Ford Mustang GT350 because these are already becoming a collector item and rising in price. The GT350 is one of the nicest Mustangs ever produced and these will feature a 5.2L V8 engine that produces 526 horsepower. You will only find them in a 6-speed manual configuration. They are basically a race car with some daily car amenities. You can find them going in the $55,000-$65,000 range.
2020 Cadillac CT6-V
The 2020 model year of the Cadillac CT6-V is the final model year which makes it a more desirable model to grab. The CT6-V was introduced as a high-performance version of the CT6 and was originally launched in 2018. It features the V8 twin-turbocharged engine code-named “Blackwing” and it produces 550 horsepower. You can find these in the $75,000-$80,000 range.
Happy motoring!
