2010s V8 executives go head-to-head – car pictures of the week
In evo issue 346, we put four 2010s naturally aspirated V8 executives head-to-head to find out if they really are as good as we remember. Here are the highlights
The late 2000s to early 2010s were a good time for those keen on engines, as manufacturers from all corners of the globe seemed to go a bit displacement mad. Mercedes-Benz fitted a 6.2-litre V8 to its compact C-class family car, BMW fitted a 4-litre unit to its 3-series and Lexus and Audi had similar ideas with its alternatives. We revisit them all in evo issue 346, and these are a few of the visual highlights from that test.
The North York Moors are our backdrop for this gathering, one that feels increasingly like a fantasy in an era of downsizing and electrification. These are all practical machines, especially in the case of the Audi and Mercedes estates, yet they all come equipped with powertrains of the kind that are long extinct in road cars of this calibre. It’s an incredibly attractive recipe, but were they all really as great as we remember?
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One thing we can immediately determine is that these cars all look great, in their own unique ways. The E90 M3 sits square and wide with its aggressive, swollen reach arches, but its width and height actually make it smaller than the current BMW M2. This is a theme that runs throughout the group, as all of these cars are noticeably more compact than just about anything on sale today.
The Palladium silver of the Mercedes-Benz C63 estate accentuates its taut lines, aggressive front bumper and those trademark AMG twin bonnet ridges – its rear arches aren’t flared like on the M3, but it’s hard to miss those quad, oval AMG exhaust tips. Its fog lights and chrome detailing weren’t favoured by some in its time, but in 2026 this retro edge gives it some real charm.
The B7 RS4 is the earliest car of the four, from a time when Audi build quality was at its absolute best, and so everything from the action of its door handles to the gearshift screams quality. It looks the part out on the Moors, too, with a sturdy stance and a subtle sense of purpose.
It might still feature a large displacement naturally aspirated V8, but Lexus took a different approach to the rest in the design department – this is a luxury car with a performance edge and this bleeds through into its looks. There are no aggressive, swollen arches and extroverted bonnet ridges, but instead a reserved aesthetic more in-line with its dynamic character.
Over 15 years on though, which do we prefer? Pick up your copy of issue 346 in-store or online via the evo shop to find out.
