10 German Sports Cars That Showcase Engineering Excellence

These innovative German sports cars certainly showcase the country's automotive engineering excellence.

Germany is home to some of the best car brands in the automotive market. All German automakers have produced vehicles that have captivated generations of enthusiasts. From the affordable Volkswagen Golf to the game-changing Porsche 959, Germany is home to an extensive selection of vehicles that showcase engineering excellence.

For decades, German sports cars have had a reputation for being ahead of their time thanks to impressive features and engineering. While this often resulted in highly-priced vehicles, these sports cars had unheralded safety features, impeccable attention to detail, and bulletproof reliability. These are some of the coolest sports cars that show how innovative German automakers can be.

The Mercedes-Benz 560SEC was among the few luxury coupes of the 1980s. It was a sophisticated sports car that symbolized success and wealth. Unlike most sports cars of its era, the 560SEC had exceptional comfort and ride quality. Mercedes first unveiled this magnificent coupe at the 1985 Frankfurt Motor Show, and at the time, it was the brand's flagship model.

Mercedes gave the 560SEC a timeless design with an aggressive front end and pillarless profile. It's among the few 1980s sports cars that easily stand out from the crowd thanks to its imposing road presence. It also had the brand's high engineering standards, featuring a naturally aspirated 5.5-liter V8 engine under the hood. The engine produced 296 ponies and 336 lb-ft of torque.

The E31 8 Series was among the sickest vehicles from BMW. Despite having an original starting price of around $100,000, the E31 was the brand's most luxurious sports coupe. It was the successor to the iconic E24; therefore, there were some big shoes to fill. The interior of the E31 was elegant and sporty, making the 8 Series a comfortable sports car good enough for grand touring.

The E31 also had performance to match, with the first car, the 850i rocking a 300 hp 5.0-liter V12 engine. This engine paired with either a 6-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic transmission. BMW later introduced the 840Ci with a 4.0-liter V8 motor with 282 hp, which was replaced by a 4.4-liter V8 boasting better fuel economy and more torque. There was also an improvement to the V12 motor, increasing the displacement to 5.4 liters and upping the power to 322 ponies.

Related: 8 Reasons Why We Love The E31 BMW 8-Series (2 Reasons Why We'd Never Buy One)

Since its introduction in the 1960s, the Porsche 911 has been an impressive two-door high-performance sports car with a rear engine layout. Over the years, the 911 has grown to become one of the most iconic cars of all time. Porsche created the 911 as a faster, modern replacement for the 356. Since then, there have been several variants of the 911, all with different engines and body kits.

The first Porsche 911 features an air-cooled 2.0-liter flat-6 engine with 130 hp. Despite making a host of changes to the lineup, the 911 remains largely recognizable to its predecessors. Over the years, Porsche added some models with water cooling and more modern designs. In addition to water cooling, some Porsche 911 variants also feature turbocharger technology, including the 991 GT2.

While Porsche is famous for the iconic 911, the Carrera GT is one of the brand's best products. The Carrera GT was a limited production vehicle that showcased just how good a sports car Porsche could produce. When first introduced, it was evident that Porsche pushed the boundaries of what was possible with the car. Over the years, these qualities made the Carrera GT a dream car for most enthusiasts, including collectors.

The Carrera GT had a rear mid-mounted engine, a mighty 5.7-liter V10 unit with an astounding 612 ponies. That was enough performance to rocket the Carrera GT from 0 to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds and reach a 205-mph top speed. The impressive engine paired with a 6-speed manual transmission, giving the Carrera GT the analog feel that most enthusiasts look for.

Related: Why Porsche Can Never Build A Better Sports Car Than The Carrera GT

The BMW M1 was the first production for the M division. It was a unique and iconic sports car in the history of BMW M. As the first car, the M division put a lot of effort into the sports car, aiming to replace the 3.0 CSL race car and compete with Porsche. BMW began production of the M1 in 1975, but there were a few setbacks due to changes in Group 5 racing rules.

However, BMW decided to construct the M1 for Group 4 racing but to do this; it had to produce 400 road-going versions. The M1 finally debuted in 1978 and was the fastest sports car in Germany. The M1 was a mid-engine sports car with an impressive 277 hp 3.5-liter 6-cylinder engine. This powerplant helped with a 0 to 60 sprint of 5.2 seconds.

The Porsche 959 was among the poster cars of the 1980s. However, unlike competitors such as the Ferrari F40 or Lamborghini Countach, the 959 was a little different. It was more usable than the two thanks to its impressive practicality and impressive technologies like twin-turbocharging and all-wheel drive. The use of twin turbochargers helped Porsche cleverly navigate the issue of turbo lag.

The result was a Porsche sports car with remarkable performance from a 450 hp twin-turbocharged 2.8-liter flat-6 engine that could easily get close to 200 mph. That was impressive, especially when you consider that the highly lauded Countach could only get to a top speed of 183 mph. Porsche's creation of the 959 helped give the automotive world a glimpse of how all-wheel drive could offer more grip, especially in a car with lots of power.

Related: Why The Porsche 959 Could Be The Most Useable 80s Supercar In 2023

The 300SL Gullwing is among the most famous Mercedes-Benz models ever made. It's among the most desirable sports cars on the market, thanks to its unique styling. The gullwing doors play a huge role in showcasing the impressive design of the 300SL. However, its long, shapely body also makes it appear fast and elegant. These are just a few reasons why it has inspired most modern Mercedes-Benz sports cars, including the AMG GT-R and SLS.

The 300SL Gullwing is a luxury sports car with a high-quality and plush interior. It boasts plenty of unique features, including a thin wooden steering wheel, huge 50s-styled dials, chrome switches and buttons, and leather upholstery. Besides its impressive amenities, the 300SL also has a capable engine. The M198 3.0-liter straight-6 churned out 240 hp, making it impressively quick in the 1950s.

The 918 Spyder remains the brand's halo car, despite being out of production. Porsche made it as a replacement for the Carrera GT, a previous masterstroke. Upon introducing to the market, the 918 Spyder had some rivals, including the McLaren P1 and Ferrari LaFerrari. Like with any Porsche, the 918 Spyder offered impressive handling, thanks to its low center of gravity.

Like its holy trinity members, the 918 Spyder had mind-bending performance thanks to a 4.6-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine and two electric motors. The result was 887 hp and 994 lb-ft of torque, making it more powerful and efficient than its predecessor. Besides its impressive performance, the 918 Spyder was practical and comfortable thanks to its well-thought-out cabin with top-of-the-line materials.

Related: This Synthetic-Fuel Powered 2024 Porsche Carrera GT Is The 918 Spyder Successor We Want

The CLK GTR was a result of the partnership between Mercedes-Benz and AMG. When launched, the CLK GTR became one of the coolest race cars ever built. Unlike most cars, the CLK GTR had a short development and production time. However, like with any high-end sports car, the CLK GTR had loads of aerodynamic features. It also had a chassis made of carbon fiber and aluminum honeycomb monocoque.

The interior of the CLK GTR also had plenty of carbon fiber and Alcantara finishing. Mercedes fitted a potent 6.9-liter V12 engine with 612 hp and 568 lb-ft of torque in road trim. While the CLK GTR was heavy due to lavish appointments like the twin airbags, air conditioning, full leather trim, elaborate radio and CD, and extensive soundproofing, it had a good enough power-to-weight ratio to sprint from 0 to 62 mph in 3.8 seconds.

Back in 2015, Mercedes announced that it would produce a supercar with a Formula 1 engine. While it has been many years in the making, the Mercedes-AMG ONE is finally here. Mercedes plans to only make 275 units, all of which are already sold at $2.72 million each. However, unlike most of its competition, the AMG ONE really offers enthusiasts an F1 engine.

It features a turbocharged 1.6-liter V6 engine with an astounding 566 ponies. While this isn't supercar power, it's impressive enough, considering the engine's displacement. The V6 works in conjunction with four electric motors, helping produce a combined output of 1,049 hp. In addition, the AMG ONE revs just like an F1 car, with the outrageous 11,000 rpm redline.

Brian is a husband, father and freelance writer. He's also a tech and automotive junkie passionate about cars and motorcycles. Brian is also an F1 fan - team Mercedes (LH). When he's not writing, Brian goes for impromptu drives and walks.