The old saying goes ‘there’s no replacement for displacement’ and it certainly used to be true.  These days, however, horsepower produced per liter of displacement is measured as smaller engines use turbochargers to boost power and increase fuel economy. Specific output provides a handy means of comparing the power-generating capability of all engines regardless of size.

We put this top ten list together to see which car is the current champ. The only criteria is that they must be current production cars.

10. Audi S3/Golf R – 146 hp/liter

 

The trusty 2.0 turbo engine is used across a wide variety of models from the Golf GTi to the Seat Leon.  Audi engineers have breathed on this engine by adding pistons with new bolts and rings, stronger connecting rods, a new aluminum-silicon alloy cylinder head, new injection valves and a different turbocharger running 17.4 psi of boost.

Engine: 2.0 liter, four-cylinder gasoline direct injection, exhaust turbocharger with intercooler, four valves per cylinder, double overhead camshafts.

Power: 300 hp

Zero to 60 mph: 4.5 sec

9. Porsche 911 Turbo S – 147.5 hp/liter

 

With a monstrous 560 hp on tap and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic doing the shifting, Porsche’s all-wheel-drive supercar can hit 60 mph in less than three seconds.

Engine: 3.8 liter Twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 24-valve flat-6, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection

Power: 560 hp

Zero to 60 mph: 2.6 sec

8. Volvo S60 – 151 hp/liter

 

The Volvo S60 T6 Drive-E is a four-door, five-passenger sedan powered by Volvo’s new Drive-E engine family, which in this case is anchored by a direct-injection 2.0-liter four-cylinder T6 engine that features a combination of a supercharger for getting things started until the inline turbocharger takes over as airflow climbs. The result is an output of 302-horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. That’s an increase of 62 horsepower and 37 lb-ft over the normal (T5) mill. No turbo-lag. No problem.

Engine: 2.0 Liter, 4-Cylinder, Supercharged & Turbocharged, Direct Injection

Power: 302 hp

Zero to 60 mph: 5.6 sec

 

7. Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X – 151.5 hp/liter

 

The Lancer Evolution Final Edition is based off the current GSR model, with exterior and interior enhancements not previously offered on the GSR. The heart of the Final Edition is a 5-speed transmission paired with a turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder 2.0L engine, producing 303 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 305 lb-ft torque at 4,000 rpm.

Engine: 2.0L 4-cylinder Turbo AWD

Power: 303 hp

Zero to 60 mph: 5.2 sec

6. Nissan GT-R Nismo – 157.9 hp/liter

 

This is the new extreme iteration of the Nissan GT-R supercar, which offers a 600-horsepower high-capacity turbocharged 3.8-liter V6, enhanced aerodynamics and unique NISMO suspension tuning.

Engine: high-capacity turbocharged 3.8-liter V6

Power: 600 hp

Zero to 60 mph: 2.9 sec

5. Volvo XC90 – 158 hp/liter

 

The all-new Volvo XC90 is a premium seven seat SUV with  a 2.o liter engine with supercharger and turbo with 320 hp and a maximum torque of 295 lb ft.

Engine: 2.0 liter In-line, 4 cyl. Supercharged and turbocharged

Power: 316 hp

Zero to 60 mph: 5.6 sec

4. Mclaren 650S – 168.7 hp/liter

 

Introduced in February prior to the Geneva auto show, the 650S coupe and the $283,925 650S spider are face-lifted versions of the 12C supercar, which was already a very good car. The 650S derives its name from the European horsepower rating (equivalent to 641 net horsepower) of its twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V-8, up from 616 horsepower in the 12C.

Engine: 3.8 liter twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 32-valve V-8, aluminum block and heads, port fuel injection

Power: 641 hp

Zero to 60 mph: 3.0 sec

3. Ferrari 488 GTB – 169.4 hp/liter

 

The new 488 GTB is Ferrari’s replacement for the 458 Italia, and there is a big change, after years of naturally aspirated V8s that screamed to as high as 9000 rpm, the GTB has a twin-turbocharged V8. 

Engine: 3.9 liter twin-turbo DOHC 32-valve V-8

Power: 660 hp

Zero to 60 mph: 3.0 sec

2. Mclaren 675 LT – 175.3

 

McLaren’s hot, new 675LT is a higher-performance variant of the 650S, and carries the same twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V-8, but in this iteration McLaren has extracted an extra 25 horsepower and 16 lb-ft of torque.

Engine: 3.8 liter twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 32-valve V-8, aluminum block and heads, port fuel injection

Power: 666 hp

Zero to 60 mph: 2.9 sec

AND the winner is…………….

Mercedes CLA 45 AMG – 177.5 hp/liter

 

The Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 AMG is not the most powerful or the fastest car on this list, but it is the most power dense. AMG engineers cranked the turbos about as high as they would go  and the end result is a 2.0-liter engine making 355 horsepower, which translates to a staggering 177.5 horsepower per liter.

Engine: 2.0 liter turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection

Power: 355 hp

Zero to 60 mph: 4.2 sec