One of the coolest things about internal combustion cars is the huge spectrum of unique characteristics offered by the multitude of engine configurations. An engine can completely change a car's personality and perceived value in a way almost nothing else can. I’m not here trying to argue that EVs don’t have unique characteristics, but it would seem obvious and uncontroversial to say that electric motors don’t offer the same buffet of incredibly distinct personalities found in the land of gasoline and noise. While EVs still offer some individuality, the fact that power is delivered through one or multiple electric motors and a battery leaves little room for excitement or diversity. With combustion cars, enthusiasts and the market alike get excited over cars powered by engines from more expensive or exotic cars, especially when that car is shaped for a life outside of performance, like a wagon.This particular collection of cars all have a connection to something with high-performance or supercar DNA. With the wagon being one of the most popular niches to enthusiasts, we wanted to discover which wagons and liftbacks/shooting brakes were offered with the beating heart of a “supercar”. Obviously, we can debate the semantics of what qualifies as a supercar all day long (a C8 Z06 is a supercar and I’ll die on that hill), but the point is that these engines come from very special cars. And if you needed something to carry your family around while also wanting a screaming V12, this list is for you. Nissan Stagea 260RS Horsepower: 276 Bring A TrailerVia: Bring a TrailerWhile the base engines may have sounded lovely, they didn’t make much power. The base 2.0L only puts out around 130 horsepower, while the turbocharged 2.5L option actually produces a very respectable 231 horsepower. The 260RS essentially transplants the R33’s legendary RB26DETT and its special AWD system into a Stagea, and includes a limited-slip differential, upgraded suspension, and a whole host of aesthetic interior and exterior changes. In other words, this is a true Skyline Wagon. With the silky smooth RB26 powering only 1,734 of these slab-sided wagons, you’d expect to pay a huge premium, but these tend to be valued right around $30k-$35k on average. Not a bad deal considering a non-turbo Stagea is usually around $10k. And an even better deal than a “real” R33, which usually transacts in the $70k-$80k range! (C6) Audi S6 Avant 5.2L Horsepower: 435 Via: AudiThe 2000s are an era of unbridled displacement and cylinders producing insane power numbers, combined with the analog feel of a bygone era. This period has produced some of the most beloved classics in the history of the automobile. Two you’re probably familiar with are the first-generation Audi R8 and Lamborghini Gallardo. Beginning in 2009, the Gallardo and R8 both offered the now legendary 5.2L odd-firing V10. While this engine produced over 500 horsepower when bolted to a mid-engine supercar, in the S6, it produces a more modest 435 horsepower. While a 5.5-second 0-60 mph time isn’t slow, speed isn’t really what’s special about the C6 S6.AudiWhat’s special is being able to buy an Audi/Lamborghini V10 with an entire working car strapped to it for only $10k. Yes, nicer ones do tend to creep closer to the $20k range, but I’m not aware of a cheaper way of acquiring a supercar-powered wagon. Unfortunately, for those of us in the U.S, the S6 Avant was not offered here, just the sedan, but either way, you get a naturally aspirated V10. And because they’re so cheap, you can throw an exhaust on and confuse anyone by producing Gallardo sounds out the back of your family highway cruiser. Aston Martin Rapide Horsepower: 470 Aston MartinBefore you break out your semantics pitchforks, I know the Rapide isn’t a wagon. It’s technically a 5-door liftback, but we’re going to count it. First of all, it's beautiful and from certain angles could almost be mistaken for the cars it gets its engine from. Secondly, anything with four doors and a V12 engine is worth investigating. The V12 in question is the AM11, though the Rapide S ups the power to 550 horsepower, a big jump over the 470 in the base car. Still a 5.9L (labeled a 6.0L) V12 and one that can be found in the facelifted DB9, Virage, and V12 Vantage.While beauty and sound aren’t everything, they certainly can make cars more desirable. The Rapide has beauty, sound, and it comes pretty cheap if you’re not looking for an S. With an average transaction price of around $45k for a base Rapide, you’re looking at a 50% discount compared to a V12 Vantage. A facelifted DB9 (equipped with an AM11) averages around $70k. And if you want a really crazy comparison, the V12 Zagato, a 1 of 65 car that goes for more than half a million dollars, also shares the same engine as the Rapide. While I’d personally prefer a V12 Vantage, if you’re just looking for an Aston V12 experience, why not get some extra doors and a hatch for half the price? (E60) BMW M5 Touring Horsepower: 500 BMWI know you probably all just put your pitchforks back down after the Rapide, but the M5 (though not in the U.S) could be purchased as a full-fat proper wagon. And yes, while we know the 500-horsepower, 5.0L naturally aspirated, 8,250-RPM redline, screaming V10 does not have its origins in a supercar; it is F1-derived. I suspect that had BMW built a supercar during this period, the S85 would have expanded beyond its home in the M5 and M6. The F1 connection essentially boils down to the S85 engine being built in the same factory in Landshut, using many of the same manufacturing techniques as BMW's V10 F1 engines.Via: Bring A TrailerSadly, despite offering an absurdly awesome assault on the senses, the V10-powered M5 is a poster child for the dangers of buying a car without doing the appropriate research. There is a laundry list of premature failure points that can cause catastrophic damage if you’re not willing to run an IV straight from your savings account. However, this, not so secretly, means you can find M5 Touring models for around $30k. The wagon commands about a $10k premium over the equivalent sedan, and unfortunately, unless you buy a swapped car, you won’t be able to row gears with your wondrous V10. That said, with swaps becoming more common and affordable, a manual-swapped M5 Touring for $45k all-in sounds like a killer deal based on the engine alone. Mercedes-Benz R63 AMG Horsepower: 503 Bring a TrailerI wouldn’t be surprised if you didn’t know of the R63, but I would be incredibly surprised if you were unfamiliar with the M156 6.2L naturally aspirated V8 (badged "6.3L"). This engine, more than any other, is responsible for the expression “German muscle car” used to describe many AMG models. This engine combines massive displacement with dual cams, meaning lots of torque and lots of revs. Before we get any further, though, the SLS (which shares this engine) more than counts as a supercar; it uses a revised version of this engine called the M159. In the SLS, the engine uses a dry sump and has a different exhaust, intake, and valvetrain. This results in nearly 80 more horsepower, but the R63 certainly isn’t lacking with an impressive 503 horsepower on tap in this wagon/minivan thing.Bring A TrailerTechnically, the R-Class is an MPV, but it’s more of a wagon in my book. You can say it's a minivan, but it has very little in common with the four minivans currently on the market. I know…semantics again. What’s more important is the utter rarity of these things. They estimate that as few as 200 were made, with only 100 reaching the U.S. Despite this rarity, you’ll only need to pay $40k…assuming you ever find one. It’s a small price to pay for a big ol’ Mercedes wagon with the engine from the SLS. (C6) Audi RS6 Avant Horsepower: 572 Via: Bring a TrailerAll of these cars are special due to their “supercar-derived” engines, but the RS6 Avant might have the coolest engine on this list. With a whopping 572 horsepower, this car absolutely blew people away when it was released in 2008. Nearly 600 horsepower is still an insane amount of power by today’s standards, so you can imagine the shock of an Audi wagon sporting 70 more horsepower than a C6 Z06–absolutely mind-bending. What is most exciting about this engine is the supercar it's borrowed from. The Gallardo with its naturally aspirated 5.0L even-firing V10 is one of the most glorious sounding V10s ever produced (aside from the LFA). While the aforementioned 5.2L is epic, nothing is quite as special as the 5.0L.Via: Bring a TrailerDue to its even firing order, the 5.0L produces more of a scream than a bellow, which is part of its allure, even factoring in the questionable reliability and expensive maintenance. In the Gallardo, the 5.0L makes 493 horsepower and 376 lb-ft of torque. Audi took the engine and added two turbos to provide more mid-range torque, something they felt was more appropriate for a big, heavy wagon, bringing power to 572 and torque to 479 lb-ft. The result is a screaming Lamborghini V10 combined with Supra-style turbo noises, propelling you to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds, all while enjoying the comfort of a mid-size Audi wagon. And though you can’t legally import one into the U.S. until 2033, they currently sell for under $30k. Even if that price doubles in the meantime, it’ll still be the cheapest way to get one of the most charismatic engines of the 21st century. Mercedes-Benz E63 S (Wagon) Horsepower: 603 Bring a TrailerWhile the 6.2L V8 in early-2010s AMG products is an enthusiast favorite, the 4.0L M177 V8 that replaced it in many applications is becoming an iconic powerplant in its own right. With many downsized engines losing character due to turbocharging, the M177 manages to remain true to the “German muscle car” formula. It rumbles and growls in a way that highlights its V8-ness more than most other turbocharged V8s. And despite its ubiquitous nature, you can find this 4.0L powerplant in the successor to the SLS, the AMG GT.Bring a TrailerThe original AMG GT is not only gorgeous, but I vividly remember James May doling out high praise for the 4.0L powerplant. Referring to it as more mature and sophisticated than the 6.2L it ostensibly replaced. The 4.0L-powered E63 S delivers classic Mercedes-Benz luxury alongside shocking performance. Any wagon that can hustle to 60 mph in under 3.5 seconds is nuts. Of course, once you know the 4.0L produces 603 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque (over 100 more than the original AMG GT), it starts to make a bit more sense. These still regularly transact in the $90k-$100k range, so not really a discount over early AMG GTs, given they are hovering in the $70k range for a nice early example. Ferrari FF & Ferrari GTC4Lusso Horsepower: 651/680 FerrariThese two are a humorous inclusion due to the little secret that…well, aren’t they supercars in their own right? Feel free to debate this until Ferrari finally builds a proper replacement, but beyond having “back seats”, these are very close to their respective two-seat grand touring counterparts in the F12 and 812. The main differences are the shooting-brake shape and the special AWD system. Ferrari calls it 4RM, and, essentially, it allows them to retain the front mid-engine architecture while avoiding excess weight by circumventing the need for driveshafts and a center differential. The PTU (power control unit) is essentially a transmission attached to the front of the 6.3L V12 that can power the front wheels and acts independently of the transaxle at the rear. In other words, power gets sent to the front wheels when needed for traction. Whether we’re referring to traction during a hard launch or in the snow depends on how cool a Ferrari owner you are. Though Ferrari has not introduced a successor to the GTC4Lusso, they have applied this technology to the Purosangue.Via Carpixel.netBoth four-seater Ferraris use a version of the F140 V12, but the FF uses the F140 EB, and the GTC4Lusso uses the F140 ED. Meaning, in addition to the unique AWD system, you get a V12 engine whose lineage dates back to the Ferrari Enzo. And quite frankly, the engine is absolutely the most incredible part of these cars. Though the FF and GTC4Lusso produce between 80 and 100 horsepower less than their supercar counterparts, they still deliver 651 and 680 horsepower, respectively. And both can manage 60 mph from a standstill in the mid-3-second range. For the performance and lineage, all of these cars are in the six-figure range, but opting for extra seats will save you a six-figure number as well. The FF transacts for around $130k, while the F12 is $230k. The GTC4Lusso averages around $225k while the 812 Superfast is comfortably at $330k. I don’t know about you guys, but with that price gap, I’d happily take an FF or a GTC4Lusso just for the engine.
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