Vengines

A V-engine is an internal combustion engine in which two banks of cylinders are arranged in a V shape around a single crankshaft. The banks share a common crankcase, and the angle between them can vary, commonly around 60, 90, or 120 degrees, though other configurations exist.

This arrangement allows more cylinders to be packed into a shorter length than an inline engine of the same displacement, making it well suited to larger displacements and high torque. V engines can be air-cooled or water-cooled and are used across four-stroke designs. Common variants include V-twin (two cylinders in a V), V6, V8, and V12, with higher-performance layouts often employing a 90-degree split for balance. The two cylinder banks are connected to a shared crankshaft, and firing order and crankshaft design influence smoothness and vibration.

V-engines emerged in the early era of automotive and motorcycle engineering and became widespread in the mid-20th century. They gained prominence in cars for luxury and performance applications and remain common in many modern vehicles. They have also found use in motorcycles, with the classic V-twin becoming a defining engine type for several manufacturers.

Advantages of V-engines include a compact length for a given displacement, the ability to accommodate large displacements, and favorable packaging for intake and exhaust systems in performance applications. Drawbacks include greater mechanical complexity, heavier weight, and higher manufacturing costs compared with smaller inline engines. The choice of V angle, cylinder count, and ancillary systems depends on intended use, packaging constraints, and desired balance and smoothness.

Notable examples span V-twins in motorcycles, V6s and V8s in mass-market cars, and V12s in luxury or high-performance models, reflecting the V-engine’s versatility across automotive and motorcycle engineering.