The automotive industry is pushing for increased efficiency at the expense of V8-powered, tire-shredding muscle cars and sleeper cars. Don’t worry, though; if your mind and wallet crave eight cylinders, explosive throttle response, and space for a whole family, you still have options in 2023. Check out a few of the best new V8 sleepers on the market, like the 2023 Chrysler 300C and BMW M5.
What is a sleeper car?
A sleeper car is a subtle, unsuspecting sedan or hatchback with ample power and sports car-beating speed. Contrary to popular belief, a sleeper can be a factory application or custom build. However, in some cases, these family-friendly cars pack throaty factory V8s, like the now-discontinued Chevrolet SS.
In fact, some of the most unhinged eight-cylinder sleeper cars promise rubber-roasting power in an unsuspecting package.
| 2023 make and model | Horsepower/torque | Starting price |
| Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing | 668 hp/ 659 lb-ft | $93,390 |
| Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody | 717 hp/ 650 lb-ft | $85,250 |
| Chrysler 300C | 485 hp/ 475 lb-ft | $56,595 |
| Mercedes-AMG C 63 S | 503 hp/ 516 lb-ft | $83,000 |
| BMW M5 | 600 hp/ 553 lb-ft | $111,895 |
What is the difference between a Cadillac CT5-V and a CT5-V Blackwing?
The 2023 Cadillac CT5-V packs a 360 horsepower 3.0L twin-turbocharged V6, while the CT5-V Blackwing conceals a 668-horsepower supercharged 6.2L V8. As a result, the Blackwing will hit 60 mph in as little as 3.4 seconds with an automatic transmission.
However, many sleeper car fanatics will want the Blackwing’s party piece: an optional six-speed manual transmission. It’s really the only way to conduct the Caddy’s musical mill. Frankly, it’s a familiar recipe in performance Cadillacs like the now-extinct CTS-V: take a refined, buttoned-up aesthetic and add silly amounts of power and performance equipment.
How much does an SRT Hellcat cost?
A 2023 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody starts at $85,250 for the flared-fender V8 sports sedan. Better yet, the SRT Hellcat Widebody packs a 717-horsepower supercharged 6.2L V8, enough to make it one of the most potent new sedans on the market.
However, the Charger’s days are numbered; the 2023 model will be the nameplate’s swansong sedan. Sure, the SRT Hellcat’s broad, muscular platform might not be as subtle as a Chrysler 300C. Still, its four-door application, sinister little badges, and thunderous pantomime make it a serious sleeper car.
Is the Chrysler 300 HEMI fast?
The last 6.4L HEMI Chrysler 300, the 2023 300C, develops the same 485 horsepower as the Dodge Charger R/T Scat Pack. As a result, the limited-run 2023 Chrysler 300C can hit 60 mph in about 4.4 seconds on its way to a 12.8-second quarter mile.
Unfortunately, like the R/T Scat Pack, Chrysler’s last 6.4L V8 sleeper car is a limited edition. Chrysler will produce just 2,000 for the U.S. market, with an additional 200 heading to our Canadian neighbors, per Car and Driver.
How much does C 63 AMG cost?
The 2023 Mercedes-AMG C 63 starts at $83,000 for the S Coupe and $91,050 for the drop-top S Cabriolet. Still, while other V8-powered sleepers stop at straight-line heroics, the C 63 is taut in the corners and weighs a staggering 463 lbs less than a Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody.
Better yet, with 503 horsepower on the taps, the handsomely styled two-door Mercedes-AMG is just as ferocious as more flamboyant members of the sports car family. The result? A C 63 S will sprint to 60 mph in around 3.8 seconds, as quick as a much lighter C7 Corvette Stingray. What’s more, 2023 is the last year for fans to pick up a V8-powered sleeper car; next year will see the C 63 packing a more potent 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder engine.
What is the 0 to 60 mph of a 2023 BMW M5?
The 2023 BMW M5 channels the volcanic power of its twin-turbo 4.4L V8 with a balanced chassis and grippy all-wheel drive (AWD) system. The four-door V8 M5 will sprint to 60 mph in just 2.8 seconds, as fast as a new Chevrolet Corvette Stingray.
Consequently, the sleeper sedan segment has no better example of a gentleman bare-knuckle boxer hiding in a three-piece Tom Ford suit. Of course, at $111,895, the M5 is on the pricier side of the 2023 market for V8-powered super sedans.
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