Top-3 most powerful cars with a 3-cylinder engine

Previously, we’ve explained why manufacturers continue the use of 3-cylinder engines. Fuel-efficiency and emission are among the top reasons, but what if they decide to extract every bit of performance from a 3-cylinder engine?

So without further ado, here are the current top-3 most powerful cars, which are either on sale or will be on the market, with a 3-cylinder engine.

BMW i8, from RM 1,408,800

The BMW i8 is actually more than 6 years old now and it still looks like it belongs in a sci-fi movie. Power comes from a turbocharged 1.5-litre 3-cylinder engine that is supplemented by an electric motor to produce a total output of 374 PS.

But based on the combustion engine alone, the 3-cylinder engine makes 231 PS and 320 Nm of torque. Given the engine size, the outputs are quite remarkable.

The hybrid powertrain propels the i8 to 100 km/h from a standstill in 4.4 seconds, and the top speed is limited to 250 km/h.

Toyota GR Yaris, est. RM 300,000

The Toyota GR Yaris is one of the most exciting cars to come from Toyota in a long time. It is a homologation special of Toyota Gazoo Racing’s World Rally Championship (WRC) car.

Underpinned by the much-praised TNGA platform, it utilizes double wishbones suspension in the rear for better lateral stability as it maintains consistent wheel camber through the corners.

Motivation comes from a turbocharged 1.6-litre 3-cylinder engine that produces 272 PS and 370 Nm of torque, sending power to all four wheels through a 6-speed manual transmission.

0-100 km/h time was not provided by Toyota, but it does have a power to weight ratio of 212.5 PS per tonne. For comparison’s sake, the Honda Civic Type R (FK8)’s power to weight ratio is 223 PS per tonne and 202.5 PS per tonne for the Renault Megane RS. Both the Civic Type R and Megane RS are able to manage sub 6 seconds century sprint.

Koenigsegg Gemera, est. RM 8,000,000 before tax and options

Koenigsegg is a Swedish supercar/hypercar manufacturer and the Gemera is their first four-seater hypercar, or as they call it – a Mega-GT. 

It has the smallest engine ever fitted into a Koenigsegg, a turbocharged 2.0-litre 3-cylinder engine that makes a whopping 600 PS and 600 Nm of torque. Combined with 3 electric motors, the total output of the Gemera is 1,700 PS and 3,498 Nm of torque.

Not only is it the most powerful production 3-cylinder engine, it’s also the most powerful production 2.0-litre engine, surpassing Mercedes-AMG’s M139 engine with 421 PS and 500 Nm of torque.

It is also the first Koenigsegg to have all-wheel drive and according to them, 0-100 km/h takes just 1.9 seconds with a top speed to 400 km/h. It’s the fastest 4 persons will ever be in a car. And it’s a car with a 3-cylinder engine.