Charismatic engines - your nominations please

[Duke Caboom]

At some point diesel and petrol engines will be a thing of the past, driven only by oddballs and enthusiasts. When this occurs, which engines will we be looking back on fondly?

I'm particularity interested in engines fitted to reasonably attainable cars. All Ferrari V12s are pretty charismatic, but not what I'm after.

Also it is the engine, not the whole car. So an A series engine is not particularly charismatic*, even though a Cooper S with a 1275 is a very charismatic package, likewise the Pinto in a mk1 RS2000.

• I'd say - you are welcome to disagree.

Alfa V6?
Honda Type R engines?
Anything wankel?

[Duke Caboom]

Riley Blue said:

I'm not sure what yo mean by 'charismatic' in relation to an engine, perhaps 'iconic' would be better. Either way, I reckon the Series A should be on the list together with the Ford Side Valve, Riley Nine, VW air cooled and the wankel.

I nearly tried to define "charismatic" but then decided not to. But, one of our cars is a Honda Type R. It makes 100bhp/litre at 8000rpm and has a pronounced step, with associated change in engine note and performance, as it switches cam. So this morning, as I left a 30mph zone I changed down to second and accelerated through the gears simply because it was enjoyable. I would say that this ability to be enjoyable gives it character. The rest of the car is no better or worse than other hot hatches, worse than a Clio, but the package is great because of the charismatic engine (and gearbox!).

One of our other cars has a petrol turbo. It also produces 100bhp per litre. It is efficient, smooth, comfortable, fastish. But I won't remember the engine in the future. It isn't charismatic.

I have owned several A series-powered cars. The engine did a job, and just as well as other engines of the time, but didn't, for me, particularly stand out. Even though it was fitted to some charismatic cars. Read a test of Mini Cooper and it is the handling that is eulogised about, not the engine.