What's the Best ‘type’ of ‘6’ cylinder engine?

[vlc]

I mean as in like a general purpose car though with sporty performance.

Now I know that V6 an ‘straight 6’ engines are made, but are Porsche boxer engines 6-cyl as well?

...an are these three engines the only 6-cyl types being made these days for production road-cars?

[Mustard]

Subaru Boxer H6 Engine is another

[vixpy1]

Mustard said:

Subaru Boxer H6 Engine is another

its a boxer engine as well

[sotonS2]

I had a couple of M3s and the straight 6 was soooo smooth. I can see why BMW have stuck with the basic lump for as long as they have.

[v8thunder]

Definately the Alfa Romeo V6. Supercar sound effects in a serviceable, reliable everyman's car. Performance to match too.

[canam]

vlc said:

...an are these three engines the only 6-cyl types being made these days for production road-cars?

Well, can you think of any other feasible configurations?

[selmer]

Didn't Smart do a one-off with two 3 cyl engines; one at front and one at back???

edited to add wink!

>> Edited by selmer on Wednesday 15th December 23:20

[EmmaP]

Volkswagon Corrado VR6 is pretty good!

[vixpy1]

sotonS2 said:

I had a couple of M3s and the straight 6 was soooo smooth. I can see why BMW have stuck with the basic lump for as long as they have.

One of the worlds greatest production car engines.

[Mustard]

EmmaP said:

Volkswagon Corrado VR6 is pretty good!

but then again a 4 might be ok

[simpo two]

vixpy1 said:

One of the worlds greatest production car engines.

And Jaguar have done pretty well with straight sixes too
(It took TVR to bollox it up)

[vixpy1]

And the Nissan Skyline 6 is my second best production engine.

[canam]

selmer said:

Didn't Smart do a one-off with two 3 cyl engines; one at front and one at back???

I think it was two threes on a common crankcase to make a V6. I don't think there is any room to put much more than a toothbrush in the front of one of those things.

[moleamol]

I quite like my Capri's 3 litre Essex V6. It sounds lovely

[Alex M]

A boxer engine is a specific type V-engine: the angle between the cilinder banks is 180°.

I think generally, inline 6-cilinder are supposed to be better then V6's because the first harmonics are automatically damped by the geometry and the combustion sequence (too tired to give the entire explanation, I'm quite sure somebody will come along and do so)

V6 engines on the other hand have relatively the MOST counterweight at the crank compared to other engines. They need that because the first harmonic frequencies aren't damped inherently anymore.
Which does not mean a V6 does not sound nice

Alex

[Zod]

simpo two said:

vixpy1 said: One of the worlds greatest production car engines. And Jaguar have done pretty well with straight sixes too (It took TVR to bollox it up)

The Jaguar XK engine was a marvel when first designed.

The BMW S54 engine (current M3) is a marvel today. In the CSL, it produces 360 bhp from 3246 cc without forced induction.

[EmmaP]

Mustard said:

EmmaP said: Volkswagon Corrado VR6 is pretty good! but then again a 4 might be ok

[Pigeon]

As AlexM says the inline 6 gives perfect balance whereas the V6 does not. The problem with an inline 6 is the length of it, both for simply fitting it into the engine bay and because you begin to run into problems with lack of rigidity of the long crank and even the block. The V6 is very rigid and compact but less refined. It may also be awkward to ensure even charge distribution in a V6.

[jeremyc]

The 1925 Julian Fleetwood Sport Coupé has a 6 cylinder radial engine.





>> Edited by jeremyc on Thursday 16th December 02:48

[V6GTO]

My engine. (3ltr V6 twin turbo)


Martin.