Some small cars came from the factory with engines that seemed oversized for their footprint; others got them through ambitious conversions or existed only as concepts. This list includes both, and labels each car’s status so a production hot hatch isn’t confused with a one-off engineering exercise. Specifications below are those reported by Goodwood Road & Racing in its October 17, 2023 feature; they are not a consistent, independently verified comparison across model years and markets.
Production cars and performance models
Renault Clio V6: a hatchback with its V6 behind the seats
The Renault Clio V6 turned the familiar small hatchback formula inside out: its 3.0-litre V6 was mounted midships rather than under the front hood. Goodwood reports output of less than 260PS (191kW) and says Tom Walkinshaw Racing developed the car, with Phase 1 examples built by TWR. It was a production performance model, not a one-off swap, though its unusual layout makes it a different proposition from an ordinary Clio.
AMC Gremlin 304: American V8 in a compact shape
Goodwood’s example is a 1972 AMC Gremlin fitted with a 5.0-litre V8, rated in the feature at 150PS (110kW). That is a substantial engine for a small-bodied car, but the power figure is a useful reminder that displacement alone does not make a car exceptionally quick—especially across very different eras. This is a production-car example, rather than the separate Gremlin 401-XR named in TopSpeed’s search-result snippet.
Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG: the buyable factory-built pairing
Goodwood points to the SLK 55 AMG as a small-car/large-engine combination that buyers could seek out. Its feature does not give a displacement or output figure, so none is included here. Unlike the one-off projects below, the SLK 55 AMG was a production model; exact specifications depend on the generation and market.
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Modified cars and one-off conversions
Alfa Romeo 147 GTA Autodelta AM Super: supercharged V6, beyond 400PS
The standard Alfa Romeo 147 GTA already had a 3.2-litre V6. Goodwood says Autodelta enlarged the engine by 500cc and added a supercharger for the AM Super, producing more than 400PS (294kW). That figure belongs to the modified AM Super, not the ordinary 147 GTA. It is an aftermarket performance conversion, so it should not be read as a factory 147 GTA specification.
Aston Martin Cygnet V8: a city car transformed for one owner
The Aston Martin Cygnet V8 put a 4.7-litre V8 into the tiny Cygnet. Goodwood describes it as a one-off conversion commissioned by an individual, not a production Cygnet variant. Its appeal is the radical mismatch between the compact city-car body and the engine; its one-off status also means it is not a normal classifieds option.
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Mercedes B55 AMG: a V8-powered B-Class, not a showroom model
Goodwood reports that this one-off B-Class hatchback used a 5.5-litre V8 making 385PS (283kW). The feature says it was not considered for production. The B55 is therefore an engineering curiosity, rather than an AMG trim buyers could order from a dealer.
BMW Z3 M V12: a large engine in an experimental roadster
Goodwood describes an experimental BMW Z3 M conversion using a 5.4-litre engine sourced from a 7 Series. It is not a standard production Z3 specification, and the feature does not state an output figure. The engine’s size is the headline; without a cited power figure, comparing it numerically with the other cars would be misleading.
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Concept cars: big-engine ideas without a production run
Volkswagen Golf W12 Concept: a twin-turbo W12 in a Golf
Volkswagen’s Golf W12 Concept paired the Golf’s compact hatchback shape with a 6.0-litre twin-turbo W12. Goodwood says the concept was shown at the Wörthersee event in the mid-2000s. It demonstrates how far the idea can be taken, but it is a concept rather than a production Golf available to buy.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to read the comparisons
These cars are memorable for different reasons, not because they form a clean horsepower ranking. The reported figures span different eras, engine layouts and builds: a production hot hatch, a modified Alfa, a one-off Mercedes, and a Volkswagen concept are not equivalent products. Goodwood’s 2023 article supplies several engine and output details, but not a consistent set of weights, dimensions, or market-by-market specifications. Its descriptions are best treated as reported examples, not a like-for-like test.
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TopSpeed’s search result for its August 27, 2024 article offers other possible entries—including a Sunbeam Tiger, a Dodge Hemi Dart Super Stock, and a Shelby Cobra 427—but the page was not available to verify those candidates here. The snippet also names different Clio and Gremlin versions from Goodwood, so model year and variant matter when comparing lists. See TopSpeed’s matching article and Goodwood’s October 2023 feature for the source descriptions.
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