Prior to the 2016 model year, the flat-plane V8 engine was the exclusive realm of European sports cars. However, with the introduction of the 2016 Ford Shelby GT350 and its 5.2-liter “Voodoo” variant of the dual overhead cam Coyote engine, it was a whole new ballgame in the United States.

As the first domestic US manufacturer of a flat-plane V8 engine, Ford piqued the American masses’ interest in the unique engine configuration. With the GT350’s 8,250-rpm rev limit from a factory Mustang, the Voodoo engine and its flat-plane crankshaft exploded in popularity, all the while, widening the awareness of flat-plane crankshafts in the U.S.

Noted for both its mechanical performance and unique sound, the flat-plane V8 engine is not wholly uncommon when you zoom your frame-of-reference out to include more than just the U.S. Domestic Market. This video covers a dozen of the best sounding flat-plane V8 engines to ever grace a production line.

The Italian Stallions

Probably the best known flat-plane V8 engine family — and the sound that is probably most often thought of when discussing flat-plane cranks — is the Ferarri V8 family of engines. The flat-plane V8 has been a staple of the Ferrari lineup since the 1970s, with designs dating all the way back to the 1950s.

They have ranged in displacement from the 2.0-liter Dino V8 of the Ferrari 208 up to the 4.5-liter F136-F power in the 458 line of Ferraris. While not all Ferrari designed V8s utilize flat-plane crankshafts, those that use cross-plane cranks were joint-development projects aimed at powering other brands.

While originally designed for racing applications, flat-plane V8 engines have found their way into a number of high-end street cars. Granted those cars are generally streetable versions of racecars, but still.

Das Germans

Often thought of for their flat engines, as opposed to their flat-plane crankshafts, Porsche built one of the highest-revving production engines ever offered (potentially the highest-revving production V8 engine ever) in the MR6-based 918 engines. Oddly enough, the 918 supplements the gorgeous piece of internal combustion mastery with a pair of electric motors as well.

Not many details are known about the engine, as Porsche has kept the specs close to the vest, but an at 4.6 liters, it has an 8,700-rpm power peak (608 horsepower), 13.5:1 compression ratio, and 9,150-rpm rev-limit, Porsche claims it as the “highest specific power for a naturally aspirated engine in a road car” along with being “the lightest production V8 naturally aspirated engine.”

Porsche-related, but not from Porsche-proper, the Ruf RGT-8 variant of the Porsche 997 debuted with a completely bespoke 4.5-liter V8 engine with a flat-plane crankshaft. With a peak power rating of 542 horsepower at 8,500 rpm, the engine was built specifically to fit the constraints of the Porsche’s rear-engine bay and was intended from the start to achieve almost 9,000 rpm while being lighter than the six-cylinder it replaced.

The British Invasion

The McLaren name has always been one associated with supercars and racing, and the M838T engine proudly carries on that lineage. Originally stemming from an engine designed to power racecars in the IRL Indycar Championship, the engine has a 3.66-inch bore and 2.75-inch stroke for 3.8 liters, as the name might suggest.

Originally fielded in 2001, the M838T line of engines is still in production today, with an 8,500-rpm redline, a peak power of 789 horsepower (in the GTR/LM trim), a sweet exhaust note. McLaren also touts the M838T as having “the highest horsepower to Carbon Dioxide emission ratio of any current production engine.”

Also worth noting under the section covered by the Union Jack, is the 3.5-liter Lotus 918 engine which powered the Esprit V8. This was one of the few factory forced induction flat-plane V8 platforms. Thanks to the twin-turbochargers the engine was capable of 500 horsepower but was shipped turned down to a mere 350 horsepower.

We’ve only scratched the surface of the engines showcased in this video, so make sure to watch it to the end to hear all of the flat-plane V8 goodness. Did the video miss any of your favorite flat-plane engines? Let us know in the comments.