Counting cylinders

Counting cylinders

There are many variables that come into play to create an exciting car. It needs precision to handle like it's on rails. Flair? Yes, please. It also needs to be engaging and communicative, but most importantly, it needs a beating heart hidden under the bonnet. Many engines have piqued the interest of tuners from around the world, but here we favour the side of the purist. While downsizing has largely necessitated engines to become quieter, and they lack the noise of the V8s of old, they are brimming with clever engineering while also having a fair bit of bite. 

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3-Cylinder

In the 3-cylinder corner, there is a rather small pool of contenders; the B38 within the BMW i8 might come to mind. But our pick in the 3-cylinder ring? Toyota's G16E-GTS, a small nuclear-adjacent powerhouse hidden within the GR Yaris and GR Corolla. It's a 1.6-litre, 3-cylinder turbocharged engine that produces a healthy 198kW and 360Nm. It does struggle at the lower end of the torque band, but once the turbos spool up, it forgoes any forms of subtlety. Toyota's excellent engineering is highlighted by the GR Yaris and GR Corolla, two of only a handful of vehicles with 3-cylinder performance engines that offer an exhilarating driving experience. As a fun exercise for the number enthusiasts out there, this engine produces 66kW and 120Nm per cylinder.

4-Cylinder

Unlike the 3-cylinder category, there is a much wider selection of impressive 4-cylinder engines out there. Many tuners may immediately envision something similar to Honda's K20, but its out-of-the-box performance isn't particularly impressive. So, our choice of the best four-cylinder engine is a controversial one, the Mercedes-Benz AMG M139. The M139 may not ring a bell, but this fantastic 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder is a brutal 4-pot. Its existence has caused many fans of the AMG V8s to lament the changing times, and although it replaces the heart of the C63, we can't ignore the fact that it's a damn impressive engine.

The M139 produces a hearty 310kW and 500Nm of torque; however, due to the demands of the super-saloon customers craving maximum power, this engine is commonly paired with a hybrid system. For this playful and rather audible 4-cylinder, however, the A45 S provides the ideal platform. Not only is it the most powerful production four-banger you can buy, but it also produces 77.5kW and 125Nm per cylinder.

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5-Cylinder

Audi practically owns the 5-cylinder game, not just because of its inherent sound accompaniment or really its merits, but not many manufacturers have bothered to try and perfect the 5-cyl. The RS3 is one of the vehicles commanding this engine, and it's a brute of a hot hatch, as you would expect. 

The Audi DNWA P Turbo 5-cylinder engine ticks all the boxes for enthusiasts: it makes a good racket, it's potent, it's lightweight, and it's fairly unique. This 2.5-litre turbocharged package produces 295kW and 500Nm and allows for 59kW and 100Nm per cylinder. This offers one of the best driving experiences you can get in a modern hot hatch.

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6-Cylinder

Unlike the 5-pot, this number of cylinders comes with no shortage of options to choose from. For many, it comes down to taste, and for us, BMW's S58 engine stands out above the rest. I know what you are thinking: "the Ford GT EcoBoost V6 makes more power," or "what of the Nissan VR38DETT?" It's brilliant, sure, but it is ageing. I believe BMW has nearly perfected the inline-six with a formula that captivated BMW fans for years and one that has stayed true to its roots through the decades. 

The S58 is the latest and greatest of the brand's 6-cylinder engines, and it too is a box-ticker. The S58 is a brutal motor with a rich tone and racing pedigree with a tonne of local love, capable of producing 399kW and 650Nm which can be found in the BMW M3 CS. It’s a devastatingly powerful engine with an old-school mentality, but thanks to modern engineering and BMW's devotion to keeping the i6 alive, it's tough not to love the S58. Plus, the S58 makes 66.5kW and 108.33Nm per cylinder, which is a welcome bonus.

8-Cylinders

The 8-cylinder engine is a masterpiece in performance engineering. If I were an American, this is where performance engines begin. There are almost as many V8s as potholes in Johannesburg, so with so many options, I think the Mercedes-AMG M178 deserves the title. Over the years, Mercedes has created some utterly beautiful V8s, all of which were blessed with a handcrafted touch. 

The M178 is the latest of the Mercedes-AMG V8s and marks a sad point in the AMG V8 story. As you may be aware, the C63 S is no longer a V8, but the M178 is the brand's most recent 8-cylinder engine and is now exclusively reserved for the GT. This 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 is a brute and worked its way into many different versions of the AMG GT and even other brands like Aston Martin and its Valhalla. The Valhalla hosts the most powerful variation of the M178 and produces 552kW and 729Nm. Per cylinder, the M178 can produce 69kW and 91Nm.

10-Cylinder

In the realm of V10, we're stepping into multi-million-rand exotics. V10s are the product of a need for more power than a V8 and a less bulky and complicated solution to the V12. In this area of the motoring world, there is an impressive selection of vehicles to sift through. Some would think the LFA has the best V10, but I would argue that while it's the best-sounding of the lot, it's not the best overall V10 out there. Some would say the M5 should be the king of the V10s, and as tempting as that might be, our favourite V10 is the DOHC FSI 5.2-litre V10 from Audi. 

Finding its way into the Audi R8 and relatively recently the Lamborghini Huracan, this V10 might not be the most hair-raising block out there, but it offers an introduction for many into the world of supercars. It's a V10 with passion, both in terms of sound and power output, while also providing a solid platform for anyone looking to wreck their car with two turbochargers and way too much power. From the factory, the DOHC FSI 5.2-litre V10 produces 449kW and 560Nm in the Audi R8 V10 Plus and produces 45kW and 56Nm per cylinder. But this is a sad mention as this V10 has recently concluded its production run.

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12-Cylinder

The 12-cylinder engine is the pinnacle of performance engineering for many. Yes, W16 motors produce more power, but with that comes more weight. This is where the V12 sings; it's large enough to produce impressive power figures without the need for boost, and as a result, offers arguably the best noises in the motoring world. This was a difficult choice for me, as the Ferrari F12 is an iconic V12, but the Lamborghini Aventador takes the first place prize in my book. 

This one-dozen-cylinder engine, codenamed the L539, powers the Aventador and is the brand's fifth attempt at a V12. It's powerful with 574kW and 720Nm, and it makes an inordinate amount of noise. It also produces 48kW and 60Nm per cylinder. This high-revving, naturally aspirated V12 is the cause of many sore necks and creates an echo that is recognisable from a mile away. Unfortunately, this engine is also a product of the past, as its production run came to a close in 2022. 

Although engines are getting smaller, it's clear that power output remains a strong priority. In this case, the AMG M139 has the most power per cylinder, and that brings somewhat of a smile to my face. It's an engine that is globally scrutinised for being an unwanted V8 replacement, but with 77.5kW and 125Nm per cylinder, we can't deny that Mercedes-AMG created a serious piece of kit in the shape of a 4-cylinder monster. But each engine is unique in its own right, and I would happily jump into any car that offers one of these impressive examples of automotive engineering.