Some 4-bangers are no longer just environmentally friendly commuters; these 10 can easily embarrass the V8.

The four-cylinder engine configuration has been adopted by automakers around the world because it allows drivers to achieve a perfect balance between performance and light fuel consumption, but they have never been considered fast cars. The old adage "displacement is irreplaceable" may be correct in the 1980s, but as technology develops, so does engineering. For example, cars that used naughty fuel-guzzling V8 engines in the past have been deformed and now offer optional turbocharged versions that include half of the original engine cylinders, such as the Ford Mustang Ecoboost.

Some people like the sound of a 4-cylinder engine, while others despise it, thinking it is like an annoying mosquito with a loudspeaker. In order to temporarily play the devil's advocates, in some cases, automakers do try to modify their exhausts within budget by cutting a few boxes and eventually imitating fart tanks, but the real 4-bangers listen from the factory It is absolutely incredible, such as Hyundai i30N.

In addition to high fuel efficiency, there is another reason why automakers are starting to use smaller engines with fewer cylinders in their cars... to reduce weight. Logically speaking, when reducing the weight of the car, the acceleration will be more impressive than before, which also means sharper handling.

Of course, 4-cylinder engines may not sound as aggressive as the powerful V8 engines, nor as terrible as the Symphony 10 or 12-cylinder engines, but their lack of numbers makes up for this with amazing impact.

Paying nearly $75,000 for a new French hot hatch may sound like a daytime robbery, but please listen to us. Renault’s Mégane RS Trophy-R is not an ordinary hot hatch with the R badge. It is equipped with real carbon ceramic brakes, carbon fiber wheels, a very visible carbon diffuser, 10-way adjustable Ohlins shock absorbers and nearly 300 horsepower.

This means that it is no longer a mild hatchback on the street, but a car focused on hard-core racing, destined to beat all other hatchbacks on the surface of the earth, while having a top speed of only 163 mph.

Another French car on the list, only this is a small rear-wheel drive sports car, Alpine A110 S. It is a more intense version of the already pleasant and agile A110, a tribute to the extremely successful Renault A110 racing car that flourishes on the road and off-road.

Powering the new A110 S is a 1.8-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine hidden behind the driver’s seat. It produces 288 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. 60 turbulence, even allowing it to reach speeds as high as 163 mph.

The JCW department of MINI is known for its lightweight, lightweight handling and exciting FWD drivetrain, allowing the driver to maintain the advantage, and the new GP version takes all these attributes to the extreme.

From the turbocharged 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine with more than 300 horsepower to the front wheels, the MINI may be affected by torque steering, but we can ignore this small flaw because it has a speed of 165 mph. The JCW GP is suitable as part of a fast MINI. After all, it looks like a suitable car with a lot of red debris, fender flares and huge tail wings.

Related: MINI JCW GP is a snow bomb equipped with specific models of Hankook winter tires

CLA is to A-class cars what BMW X4 is to X3; it's almost the same under the skin, but one stretches and bends more than the other. The CLA 45 S is powered by a crazy 2.0-liter engine that can output 416 horsepower, which is considered the most powerful 4-cylinder engine in production vehicles ever.

Combining strong power figures with Mercedes’ stunning four-wheel drive (called the 4MATIC system) and 370 lb-ft of torque, the top speed can reach 168 mph.

The original MONO was a radical race car built for the road. It had only one seat, no windshield, only minimal safety features, and it was full of F1 technology from top to bottom... The R variant makes things happen More core.

All the intestines of the BAC are visible to the naked eye, including the newly redesigned 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which was patched by the Mountune team to output the terrible 332 horsepower figure. The BAC MONO R must be one of the most terrifying cars in existence, especially when only wearing a helmet, the speed can reach 170 mph.

Related: BAC Mono R sets a new lap record for the fastest production car on the Red Bull circuit

We have no idea how the Germans squeezed 416 horsepower from four cylinders. Technically speaking, this means that one cylinder must be responsible for at least 100 horsepower. Using the same basic mechanism as the CLA45, the A45 can be a little faster than its more stylish sibling (ie 2 mph), and it is also equipped with a 4MATIC system.

So, if you think about it, you can pay about £100, and in return, you can get a driftable AMG hatchback that can accelerate long or short straights, 0-60 in less than 4 seconds.

Finally, the Golf R has fulfilled its true potential, overturning all other popular products that the market has to offer with some unimaginable statistics, such as a 0-60 time under 4 seconds, a top speed of 172 mph and 315 horsepower The power output while still providing a gear lever, and the cost is much lower than its competitors.

Once a competitor, now a winner, the AWD Super Golf may look a little docile and not everyone likes it, but that's what makes it a great sleeper for supercar owners.

The name WRX STI existed before some of you were born, and we can proudly say that Subie never seems to ignore their fan base, because they always adhere to their golden rule: reward 4WD configuration and turbocharged 4. Cylinder and interesting manual gearbox.

Their extremely powerful AWD system makes it possible to slide on snow or ice, and even some mediocre pulling force if you dare. But their plan did not end there. They wanted to make a very fast WRX, so they did it... 174 mph to be precise.

Related: 10 things we love about the Subaru WRX STI

Who would have thought that the "Poor Man's Porsche" would be the fastest car so far powered by a small 4-cylinder engine. This coveted gorgeous Cayman S gets its energy from a mid-mounted 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that outputs 350 horsepower to the rear wheels, all of which leads to “everything but boring” drive, supplemented by a manual transmission .

So whether you want to swing a Porsche around the corner, play a proper race with it, or push it to the brink of 177 mph, you will not be disappointed in any way.

Therefore, although Japan and Europe have shown great strength in manufacturing four-cylinder cars, there are also some famous gems from the United States.