Multi cylinder car engines (V16 and more)
Multi cylinder car engines (V16 and more)
Author
Discussion

230TE

Original Poster:

2,506 posts

215 months

Tuesday 2nd August 2011
quotequote all
In a moment of idle curiosity I found myself wondering whether any car had ever used an engine with more than 16 cylinders. I can think of a few V16s (Cadillac, Cizeta, BRM - a more diverse bunch of V16 builders would be hard to imagine) and an H16 (BRM again) but I can't find anything with more cylinders than that. Any suggestions?

kambites

71,478 posts

250 months

Tuesday 2nd August 2011
quotequote all
I think Bugatti had a W18 (three banks of six) engine in some of their concept cars. It never made production, though.

Zod

35,295 posts

287 months

Tuesday 2nd August 2011
quotequote all
Aren't the W engnes four banks, i.e. two V engines shoved together?

kambites

71,478 posts

250 months

Tuesday 2nd August 2011
quotequote all
Zod said:
Aren't the W engnes four banks, i.e. two V engines shoved together?
The term is used to refer to both configurations.

I have vague memories that someone even built a W3 at one point.

Snoggledog

9,259 posts

246 months

Tuesday 2nd August 2011
quotequote all
As soon as you start going above 16 cylinders you tend to be in the marine or airplane engine realm.