German carmakers are known for making some of the fastest everyday vehicles money can buy, and many of these road-going rocket ships are commonly referred to as sleepers, or sleeper cars, a term used to describe ridiculously fast cars with a somewhat understated exterior.
Sleeper cars may look like your neighbor’s grocery getter, but often pack a supercar-like punch, and German carmakers are experts at playing this game of automotive charades.
Thanks to modern EV-, hybrid-, and turbocharging technology, their seductive sedans and wagons are now better than ever and can run 0 to 60 mph times that were impossibly fast just a decade ago, and they’re easily capable of leaving expensive sports cars in their dust.
In no particular order, let’s check out some of the best German sleeper cars on the market.
BMW M3 Touring — 0–60 Mph: 3.2s
Unfortunately, the BMW M3 Touring isn’t available in the States, and there are currently no plans to introduce it there. It’ll just remain one of those rare BMWs only enthusiasts know about. However, those lucky Europeans get to enjoy a supercar-challenging station wagon that’s as practical as it is fast.
Powered by the same twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine found in the M3 Competition, it produces a whopping 503 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque. That translates to a 3.2-second 0 to 60 mph time and a 174 mph top speed with the optional M Driver’s Package, enough to leave some serious machines in its dust. Still not enough? There’s also the latest BMW M3 CS Touring with a rather astonishing 543 hp!
Audi RS e-Tron GT — 0-60 Mph: 2.9s
The Audi RS e-Tron GT is the German carmaker’s flagship EV model, and it’s based on the same platform as the Porsche Taycan, which has proven itself as one of the best EVs on the market.
With dual electric motors, the e-Tron GT has a very respectable 637 hp and 612 lb-ft of torque, which sends it to 60 mph in just under three seconds. On average, it also offers around 230 miles of range, making it as practical as it is fast.
Mercedes-AMG E 63 S Wagon — 0–60 Mph: 3.0s
While the M3 Touring isn’t available to Americans, they can get behind the wheel of another superwagon — the Mercedes-AMG E 63 S Wagon. It has a glorious 603-hp twin-turbo V8 engine, and all those horses are sent to the 4Matic all-wheel drive system, resulting in a rocket-like 3.0-second 0 to 60 mph time.
When equipped with the AMG Driver’s Package, the top speed is limited to 180 mph, and realistically, nobody needs to go that fast on public roads. Most people would never think it packs such a serious punch, and you can laugh maniacally as they shrink into a tiny dot in the rearview mirror.
Volkswagen Golf R — 0–60 Mph: 3.9s
If you don’t need a large station wagon, perhaps the latest Golf R will do the trick. It may look inconspicuous, but it’s actually almost as fast to 60 mph as a Ferrari F430, proving that the Europeans have truly mastered the art of building fast hot hatchbacks. If that’s not good enough, there are plenty of performance parts available to make it even faster.
Under the hood, the Volkswagen Golf R has a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that produces 315 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. It doesn’t sound like much, but thanks to its AWD setup, it has tons of grip and can utilize every ounce of power to its full effect.
Mercedes-AMG GT63 S E-Performance — 0-60 Mph: 2.8s
The AMG GT63 S E Performance isn’t some gussied-up E-Class — it’s the flagship version of the AMG GT 4-Door Coupé. And it’s an absolute monster. Under the long hood sits a hand-built 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 paired with a rear-mounted electric motor, creating a combined output of 831 hp and over 1,000 lb-ft of torque. Yes, really.
Like the proverbial wolf in sheep’s clothing, this is a supercar dressed as a family sedan. Floor the throttle and the GT63 S E Performance slingshots to 60 mph in a tire-scorching 2.8 seconds, making it one of the quickest four-doors on the planet. It looks understated compared to the GT sports car, but make no mistake, this is a hybrid warhead disguised as a luxury cruiser.
Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S — 0–60 Mph: 3.4s
Many performance SUVs have an exterior that matches their powerful engines, essentially looking like supercars in SUV form. The Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S is different, and if you’re not an SUV enthusiast, it can certainly catch you off guard.
It’s powered by a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 that sends 603 hp and 627 lb-ft of torque to all four wheels. Floor the gas pedal, and the needle reaches 60 mph in just 3.4 seconds. It’s ridiculous that a vehicle that weighs over 5,500 lbs can move that swiftly.
BMW i4 M50 M Performance — 0–60 Mph: 3.3s
BMW’s i4 sedan looks like the gasoline-powered 4-Series Grand Coupe, but here you’ll find a fully electric powertrain. It has 2 electric motors, one in the front and one at the rear, and thanks to its 536 hp and 586 lb-ft of instant torque, it scrambles to 60 mph in just 3.3 seconds.
Some testers say the i4 M50 feels every bit as rapid as an M3 in the real world, even if it can’t quite match the ICE car’s feedback and character. Still, that speaks volumes. Not everyone is a fan of EVs, but if this is what the future looks like, I don’t hate it.
Audi S8 Plus — 0–60 Mph: 3.3s
The Audi S8 Plus is another large, understated sedan that’ll blow the doors off unsuspecting supercars. Its subtle styling makes it one of the best European sleeper cars ever! To the untrained eye, it looks fancy but unassuming. However, once the driver, or chauffeur, floors the throttle, people will soon realize that the S8 packs a serious punch that could rival Tyson in his prime.
This previous-generation, top-spec model takes the A8’s understated silhouette and stuffs a 597–605 hp twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 underneath it. Audi officially rated the S8 Plus at 3.8 seconds to 60 mph, but independent testing quickly proved it was far quicker — as low as 3.3 seconds in Car & Driver’s hands.
BMW Alpina B8 Gran Coupe — 0–60 Mph: 3.2s
True BMW connoisseurs might pick an Alpina model over an M version. For those who don’t know, Alpina specializes in turning Bimmers into something truly remarkable but with more understated looks than your average M car.
The BMW Alpina B8 Gran Coupe has plenty of unique components throughout, but the real jewel is the twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 engine that now produces 612 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. With a 0 to 60 mph time of 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 201 mph, it’s fair to say Alpina knows what they’re doing.
Maybach-Brabus 900 Rocket — 0-60 Mph: 3.5s
A Mercedes-Maybach is like a German Rolls-Royce. It’s for the ultra-wealthy who turn their noses up at the regular S-Class peasant mobile. To some people, even the Mercedes-Maybach won’t do, and that’s where Brabus enters the picture.
Brabus has fettled the twin-turbocharged 6.3-liter V12, so it’ll produce an astonishing 900 hp and 1100 lb-ft of torque. This is practically a road-going private jet, stuffed to the rafters with high-end electronics and tech… and it’ll still hit 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds and continues to accelerate until it hits 217 mph.
Mercedes-Benz EQE 53 — 0-60 Mph: 2.8s
The EQE 53 is another electric sedan packing near-supercar levels of performance. Its dual motors generate 616 hp, but those who opt for the AMG Dynamic Plus package will unleash 678 electric ponies.
It also has 701 lb-ft of instant torque, which sends the EQE 53 to 60 mph in a mere 3.4 seconds, but Car & Driver managed to send it to 60 in just 2.8 seconds. However, when the throttle is floored, it quickly eats into the car’s 230-mile real-world range.
Audi RS6 Avant — 0–60 Mph: 3.1s
Audi is no stranger to fast station wagons, and one of the fastest of them all is the latest RS6 Avant. It actually has the same turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine as the S8, but in a smaller package.
Thanks to 591 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque being sent to all four wheels via the Quattro AWD system, the Audi RS6 Avant will launch to 60 mph in just a smidge over 3 seconds.
BMW iX M60 — 0–60 Mph: 3.2s
I’ll admit that the BMW iX M60 isn’t exactly the most subtle of vehicles. It’s not what most people would call conventionally good-looking, but it does pack a punch that can leave its occupants breathless.
Its two electric motors generate 610 hp and 811 lb-ft of torque. Being an EV, all that torque is available right off the bat, so it’ll get to 60 mph in just 3.2 seconds. Not bad for an SUV that weighs 5,778 lbs.
BMW M5 CS — 0–60 Mph: 2.6s
While many BMW enthusiasts claim the E39 is peak M5, performance-wise, it’s hard to argue against the latest M5 — especially the CS model. Like BMW’s past M models, the M5 CS is a very driver-focused sports sedan, offering stunning looks and neck-breaking performance in a highly refined package.
Behind the kidney grille, the BMW M5 Competition Sport has a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 pumping out 627 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. Power is transferred to the road via a sophisticated AWD system, resulting in a 2.6-second 0-60 mph sprint and a top speed of 189 mph (according to Car & Driver’s independent tests). Proper gearheads will probably see and hear an M5 coming from a mile away, but it’ll still surprise those who don’t spend all their time obsessing over specs and stats.
Audi RS3 — 0-60 Mph: 3.6s
With the RS3, Audi proves that there’s still plenty of life left in ICE cars, and it’s also one of the cheaper models on this list.
Parting with just over $60,000 gets you an agile sports sedan with a turbocharged 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine churning out 401 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. Power is transferred to the tarmac via a 7-speed automatic and AWD, resulting in a 3.6-second 0 to 60 mph time and a top speed of 175 mph — more than fast enough to play with some more expensive cars.
Alpina B7 — 0-60 Mph: 3.6s
Those in the market for a luxurious German sleeper sedan should check out the Alpina B7.
It has a more luxurious interior than the BMW 7-Series it’s based on, but this isn’t your average luxo-barge.
Under the hood, it has a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 BMW engine producing 608 hp, sent to the wheels via an 8-speed automatic gearbox, resulting in a 0 to 60 mph time of just 3.6 seconds — not bad for a vehicle weighing 4,850 lbs.
BMW M3 Competition xDrive — 0-60 Mph: 3.9s
The modern BMW M3 is barely related to the E30 that started it all. That’s not necessarily bad; it just means they offer very different, but still excellent, driving experiences.
In its latest form, the M3 can be ordered with AWD, which sacrifices the manual transmission in favor of an 8-speed auto. However, the M3 Competition xDrive’s twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six also comes with 20 additional ponies, bringing the total to 523 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque.
Volkswagen Arteon R — 0-60 Mph: 4.8s
Even the People’s Car brand makes some fast sedans. The Arteon R is one of the classiest VWs money can buy, and it comes with some performance enhancers.
There’s a 2.0-liter TSI engine that sends its 316 ponies to all four corners, and to keep them under control, it’s also been fitted with adaptive dampers, stiffer springs, and bigger brakes. While it’s no supercar slayer, the Arteon R will still accelerate to 60 mph in a rather brisk 4.8 seconds.
Did you like this article?
Make sure you follow us on Facebook for more builds, guides, and car culture content.
