16cylinder

16cylinder refers to an internal combustion engine with sixteen cylinders. Engines with sixteen cylinders are typically configured in two common layouts: a V16, which places eight cylinders on each of two banks arranged in a V shape; and a W16, which combines three cylinder banks to form a compact wide-angle arrangement. A straight-16 is technically possible but rare in production due to length and mechanical complexity.

In automotive history, sixteen-cylinder designs were most prominent in early to mid-20th-century luxury cars. The Cadillac V-16, introduced in 1930, is a well-known example used to power flagship models through the 1930s. Other brands also explored sixteen-cylinder configurations, though production was limited by cost, scalability, and changing market conditions.

In modern production, 16-cylinder engines are extremely uncommon outside of exotic or limited-run vehicles. The most prominent contemporary usage is Bugatti’s W16 engine, employed in the Veyron and Chiron hypercars. This layout arranges sixteen pistons in a compact three-bank design and is paired with advanced cooling and induction systems to manage heat and performance demands.

Engine characteristics for a sixteen-cylinder design include high power potential and smooth operation, but at the cost of increased weight, size, complexity, and fuel consumption. Consequently, maintenance requirements are substantial, and production efficiency is typically lower than for smaller configurations. As a result, manufacturers have largely shifted toward smaller turbocharged engines or hybrid systems to achieve similar power with improved efficiency.