6 Cars with Legendary Engines That Were Never Praised Enough!

We are very picky… all of us passionate petrolheads who spend a lot of time researching and talking about the upgrades the different car models receive, mentioning all the slightest details that make one model better than another.

No wonder why heated discussion arises every time someone says that Kouki S14 is better than the Zenki S14. Another thing we have a not-so-secret obsession with is the ‘engine’ – the thing that give the car a soul. Exactly because of that we find it incredibly bizarre and difficult to comprehend why some extraordinary motors tend to be completely ignored. Let’s have a quick talk about 6 overlooked cars that came with legendary engines.

Subaru Baja - EJ25

Weirdly, for a car that’s not quite wanted, back in the day Baja never managed to reach good sales numbers at subaru dealerships. 4 wheel driving fans didn't like this car. Probably one of the reasons is people’s inattention to the fact that the engine, bolted in the Baja is the same engine used in some of the top Subarus. The engine we refer to is the legendary EJ25 engine that you can find in many Imprezas such as the 2.5 RS. Later on, Baja even received a turbo version of the 2.5-litre boxer engine capable of producing 207bhp.
And while for a petrolhead like you this might sound pretty average – let’s not forget that the car comes with an engine that people have played around with for years – so no worries - in no time you can double that figure.

Mercedes-Benz S600 - M120

Mercedes is popular for placing heavy engines in their cars – and S600 is an example of that. It got a 6.0-litre 396bhp naturally-aspirated V12, also as smooth as you expected it to be. This engine also laid the basis for the creation of one of the fiercest cars of all time.
Pagani Zonda, of course! The car that took the non-turbo V12 block to incorporate in their masterpiece car. It’s incredibly bizarre that the aggressive car we all adore today had such a humble beginning. Actually, if you manage to buy equal-length headers for an S600, you might manage to make it roar like the legendary Zonda.

Dodge Colt Vista - 4G63

Can you believe that the Dodge Colt Vista comes with the same engine that the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution uses? Actually both brands established a business partnership back in the early 80s, planning to create a cool station wagon. They equipped the car with a 2.0-litre inline four engine - the 4G63. But don’t get confused – that’s not the same engine that spitted fire from the back of Evos.
The engine that the Colt Vista received lacked a turbo and churned out only 86bhp. With that said – next time you stumble upon those poor boxes – give them some respect! They have actually played a huge part in the evolution of the Evolution.

Chevrolet SSR - LS2

The sales of the SSR never took off – so it was literally impossible for Chavrolet to justify its existence. After being in production for only 3 years, in 2006 it was officially discontinued. Exactly because only a few of them exist today, there is a lot of confusion in regards to the engine it uses.
For example, we’ve heard people say that the SSr is an FWD, powered by a V6, further arguing that they are mid-engined. That’s bonkers and the only truth is that after its 2005 update, the SSR received a 394bhp motor from the C6 Corvette. Can you imagine – a pickup truck, roadster capable of hitting 0-60 mph in merely 5.4 seconds? Here we’re talking a car fast as a Corvette, but cheaper and much more exclusive. Despite it wasn't the best truck or even a popular truck, this car deserve to get a new chance.

Lexus GS300 - 2JZ

Even if you’re not too keen on the Japanese cars, we’re pretty sure the Supra name rings a bell immediately. Back in the time Just imagine a brand new toyota supra is waiting for you in the store.. but anyway let's go back There is also a chance that you are acquainted with the 2JZ engine, hidden under its hood. Actually during its zenith, the 2JZ was also bolted in the Toyota Soarer and the Altezza, with Lexus GS300 also being one of the neglected members of the 2JZ family. Even though a solid fan base exists in Japan around the engine and the models that carry it, the situation in Europe and America is somewhat different. Why?

Because it seems that only rich people own that model and have actually bought it when it was brand new. So the only models we have access to today is the non-turbocharged 2JZ-GE versions that churns out 221bhp to the rear wheels. Thankfully, this grants us with a ride that’s still fast enough and perfectly able to reach 11 with ease.

Nissan GTIR Pulsar - SR20DET

You might have heard about that car, but we’re pretty certain you have no clue what its secret is. At its very beginning, the Nissan Pulsar was just a compact hatch targeting commuters to get from point A to point B. Soon after, Nissan decided that it should create a sportier version for rally homologation laws, which is why it came up with the AWD pocket rocket of the Pulsar/Sunny GTI-R. From hitting barely 100bhp, the Pulsar quickly jumped to the impressive 223bhp. It' a decent sports car.

The power came from an easily recognizable engine - the SR20DET. The drifters’ buddy – the turbo SR20 quickly made its way into the GTI-R with its impressive results.