These 10 Cars Would Have Been Great With A Different Engine

test
Dan Smith

Auto companies touted some of their cars as the hottest thing since sliced ​​bread. In many cases, those cars were far from stellar. Cars like the Ford Pinto and the Fiat Multipla were laughable. However, not all laughable failures are terrifying failures that can lead to violent nightmares when you're involved in an accident. RELATED: 10 Times Automakers Made Great Cars...It Failed Spectacularly These cars look fast but can actually be incredibly slow. They may have been designed by some of the most respectable brands, but it's a total disappointment.

10/10 1970 Porsche 914-6

Via mecum.com
Porsche is a German automobile manufacturer. From its inception, the company founded by Ferdinand Porsche showed that it was ahead of its time. Believe it or not, Porsche is the first company to develop a hybrid his engine. That was in his 1900. However, Porsche wasn't always on the fence.

1970 Porsche 914-6 2 cropped
Via mecum.com

There are several reasons why Porsche is the best car manufacturer ever. But Porsche didn't always succeed. The 914 is a collaboration between Volkswagen and Porsche. The mid-engined 914 is powered by Volkswagen's four-cylinder engine, which is a far cry from Porsche's legendary flat-six.

9/10 1976 Ford Mustang II Cobra

1976 Ford Mustang II Cobra Cropped
Via mecum.com
The Ford Mustang was first introduced to dealers nationwide in 1965. Dubbed the "secretary car," the Mustang has evolved into the most popular American car ever built. In 2018, Ford announced that his 10 millionth Mustang had rolled off the assembly line. Despite being the most successful vehicle in the United States, the Mustang has gone through some rough patches.

1976 Ford Mustang II Cobra 2 Cropped
Via mecum.com

It's no exaggeration to say that the second Mustang was a disaster. Not just the base model. It looks spiteful, but the top-line '76 Mustang II Cobra has a 302 cu Windsor V8 rated at 134 hp and 247 lb-ft of torque. The 70's weren't kind to the industry as a whole, but this old-school Cobra desperately needs an engine change.

8/10 1982 Pontiac Firebird SE

1982 Pontiac Firebird Cropped
Via mecum.com
Discontinued automaker Pontiac created some of the finest muscle cars in the history of the domestic auto industry. Even in its last few years, Pontiac came up with a muscle car that was grossly underrated. RELATED: Here's Why General Motors' 2.5-Liter 'Iron Duke' Engine Is Junk

1982 Pontiac Firebird 2 Cropped
Via mecum.com

The 1968 Pontiac Firebird is an absolute beauty with a mighty powerplant. Things are very different with his 1982 Firebird. The car seems lukewarm. Things get even worse in the power sector. The Firebird SE is powered by his 2.5L LQ9 inline 4 engine that puts out 90 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque.

7/10 2000 Toyota Celica GTS

2000 Toyota Celica GTS Cropped
Via mecum.com
Japanese automakers have come a long way. Initially shunned by critics, it eventually proved its worth thanks to a myriad of mind-blowing vehicles. Japanese sports cars, with their small size and displacement, targeted gearheads for a different driving experience. Some have become icons, while others have lost their charm, like the Toyota Celica. RELATED: Off-Road Legends: The Toyota Celica Was The Most Infamous WRC Cheetah Ever!

2000 Toyota Celica GTS 2 Cropped
Via mecum.com

Most, if not all, Celica fans were deeply disappointed when the seventh and final generation of Toyota's legendary compact sports car came out. At its highest trim level, the GTS comes with a 1.8L 2ZZ-GE inline 4 unit rated at 180 horsepower and 133 lb-ft of torque. It is very different from Celica GT-FOUR.

6/10 2006 Hyundai Tiburon

2006 Hyundai Tiburon GK V6 Cropped
Via en.wikipedia.org
Today, Korean car companies deserve attention. Whether it's Genesis or Kia, South Korean automakers are releasing excellent cars that cause concern for German companies. However, this was not always the case. There was a time when Hyundai offered laughable sports cars.

2006 Hyundai Tiburon GK V6 2 Cropped
Via commons.wikimedia.org

The Hyundai Tiburon is a sports car excuse. The most powerful engine is his 2.7L V6 that produces 172 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque. This is pathetic for a V6 released in the mid-2000s. The Hyundai Tiburon was arguably the most affordable car to buy and maintain in its category.

5/10 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt SS

2007 Chevrolet Cobalt SS 2 Cropped
Via mecum.com
The early 2000s were all about fast and furious movie. Out was a muscle car and in was an imported car. In Southern California, the Honda S2000 was much more popular than the Ford Mustang SN95. Realizing that the situation was changing, domestic automakers returned to the drawing board to attract JDM fans.

2007 Chevrolet Cobalt SS Cropped
Via mecum.com

The main reason the gearhead never touches the Chevrolet Cobalt on a 10 foot pole is simple. No one wants his JDM aspirant made in America. Under the hood is a supercharged 2.0L in-line 4-cylinder engine capable of producing 205 hp and 200 lb-ft of torque. That's not enough power coming out of a supercharged motor.

4/10 2016 Ford Taurus SHO

2016 Ford Taurus SHO Cropped
via chicagomotorcars.com
A muscle sedan is a dime. Domestic car companies began putting very powerful engines such as the 426 Hemi and 302 Windsor into unsuspecting sedans. This trend continued for decades until it declined during the Malaysian era. As this trend took off in the 2010s, most companies succeeded. not ford.

2016 Ford Taurus SHO 2 Cropped
via chicagomotorcars.com

The 2016 Ford Taurus SHO is a decent car, but it wasn't quite as appealing as the other muscle sedans released the same year. Powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.5L EcoBoost V6 that puts out 365 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque, the Taurus SHO just can't keep up with domestically produced Hellcats and other mean machines.

3/10 2016 Scion tC Release Series 10.0

2016 Scion tC 10 Series Cropped
Via floridafinecars.com
Originally marketed as an affordable brand for young drivers, the Scion was a Japanese brand that never materialized into anything serious. quickly fell apart. That said, they were great project cars for those on a tight budget. RELATED: Scion TC In-Depth Reflection

2016 Scion tC 10 Series 2 Cropped
Via pressroom.toyota.com

Even if Series 10.0 is a special edition of the Scion tC, it's far from exhilarating. Located in the engine bay, his 2.5L in-line 4-cylinder engine develops just 179 hp and 173 lb-ft of torque. With such an aggressive physique, the Series 10.0 would have been better fitted with an updated version of a Toyota engine built in the 1990s.

2/10 2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata

2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata Cropped
Via news.mazdausa.com
As Japanese automakers became more prominent in the United States, U.S. automakers knew they had serious concerns. Across the Atlantic, things seemed fine until Mazda came up with his MX-5 Miata. BMW's decision to design a car that directly rivals the Miata has become such an issue.

2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata 2 Cropped
Via news.mazdausa.com

The Miata is the most modular roadster ever built. Realizing the car would eventually be modified to insane levels, Mazda decided to give the Miata his low-speed 2.0L inline-four unit that produces 181 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque. . Companies like Flyin' Miata are why Mazda doesn't bother to raise these numbers.

1/10 2020 Toyota 86 TRD

2020 Toyota 86 TRD 2 Cropped
Via pressroom.toyota.com
In the late 80's Toyota released the iconic AE86 Levin. The AE86 has become the go-to car among amateur and professional drifters alike.In Japan, the AE86, a classic, has its own anime. In honor of this legendary car, Toyota has released the latest version of his AE86.

2020 Toyota 86 TRD Cropped
Via pressroom.toyota.com

The unit seen in the 86 must be one of the worst Japanese car engines ever made. The 2.0L 4-cylinder engine makes only 205 hp and 156 lb-ft of torque. Nothing impressive here. Given the resources available at Toyota, the 86 falls short of the company's benchmarks. That being said, the 86 is a great car to mod.