I wrote a piece a few weeks back about the Audi R8 spawning a V6 version. In fact, Audi has been going all-in on swapping its V8s for V6s in its RS halo cars, with the RS4 and RS5 sharing a twin turbocharged six-pot.
The demise of any engine north of six cylinders has brought about uproar within the car community, citing a lack of noise, drama and testosterone that defines performance cars and supercars.
In light of this so called 'depressing' turn, I'd like to turn the argument on its head. I would argue that some of the greatest cars to have ever existed used six cylinders in a V-formation.
The original Honda NSX is a good place to start, with its 270bhp naturally aspirated V6 helping the JDM icon to its legendary status.
Before the McLaren F1 came along, the fastest car in the world had a twin turbocharged V6 bolted behind the cabin.
That car was the Jaguar XJ220, which would go on to also 'win' its class at Le Mans in 1993, later to be disqualified for a slight technical infringement.
And you can't talk about V6 performance cars without mentioning the thunderously capable Nissan GTR. It redefined acceleration for 'affordable' sportscars and made many bona fide supercars look a bit silly.
Considering the aforementioned metal above, I wouldn't be massively worried about the divergence away from V8s to be honest.
What makes a V6 so great, then?
Compared to a V8, a V6 is going to be smaller and more compact. This means that it can be fitted transversely and longitudinally, making it an extremely versatile little package. This compactness means it can be placed wherever the engineers need it to maximise weight distribution and centre of gravity, whereas the placement of a V8 is generally more constrained.
Plenty space can also be left for a set of turbochargers, meaning that the plumbing and design of the forced induction system can be engineered with less constraints and can be placed in more efficient positions than in a tight, V8-filled engine bay. More space means areas that need to be hot can be hot and areas that need to be colder can be colder, leading to a more efficient turbocharger system. Happy days.
The Ford GT's V6, nestled within its satisfyingly complete carbon cradle.
The lack of cylinders compared to a V8 also makes it lighter, bringing back the Colin Chapman school of thinking. And in terms of structural benefits, thoughts of downsizing even further to a four-cylinder engine would mean the odds of making the engine a structural member of the car are pretty slim, with a V6 being much more effective at this task.
Of course, a big argument for V8s is the coughing, guttural soundtrack loved by many petrolheads that comes with a nice lumpy crank and a huge, gaping displacement spread across eight cylinders. But a V6 can produce a much more refined, operatic note that can easily get the hairs on the back of your neck standing on end. Automotive soundtracks don't get much better than the Alfa Busso V6 or the stunning Super Touring V6 powertrain in the Mondeo below:
Even my own pride and joy - a Ford Mondeo ST200 - makes a strong argument for itself in the acoustic stakes. There's even a bit of Aston V12 in it once you get above 5000rpm, which makes sense considering the Aston engine is derived from the Ford Duratec unit itself.
So basically, don't worry
The dawn of the V6 supercar has already happened, and all it will take is a few more manufacturers to take the plunge before it becomes the go-to performance car powertrain layout.
The RS4 is the latest performance car to downsize to a V6.
The downsizing of the Audi R8 from a V10 to bringing in a V6 variant will be a shock to the system for many of us, but considering the response the new RS4 has received after initial reviews, Audi seems to have its V6-enclined engineers on point.
Will you fully embrace a V6 Audi R8?
The Ford GT has received pelters for not keeping to its V8 roots and yet it has gone on to conquer the GT class at Le Mans in its current guise.
It has become a much more capable car than the supercharged V8 monster of the Noughties ever was, no matter what the V8 faithfuls might say.
You can't really argue that Ford has 'santised' the GT. Just look at it. And 600hp isn't exactly anything to complain about.
The new NSX is also an engineering marvel that has been classed as a miniature Porsche 918, and yet sits with a compact, 3.5-litre V6 at its heart.
Even Aston, renowned for its V12s and V8s, has concluded that a V6 Vantage is very much plausible within the company's future plans.
Displacements are decreasing, turbocharging is king and with hybridisation now infiltrating every corner of the sportscar market, the V6 has become the new poster boy of the thoroughbreds of the car world.
But considering the machinery that has come of the shift thus far, it should be more than okay to welcome the V6 into the frame.
Join In
Comments (37)
I’m happy with my big 3.5 L Supercharged. Only light ist right 😉
W16s, V12s, V10s, V8s, IL6s, V6s, Flat6s, IL4s, V4s, Flat4s, IL3s, Hybrids, Electrics. So many engines to choose from, so little time. Hehe...but thinking about it, we ARE in an era where downsizing and being environmentally concious is important. Major car manufacturers know about this too so they come up with technologies that can mimic large displacement power at the fraction of the cost, size, and weight of an engine above 6 cylinders. You've got turbos, intercoolers and superchargers that force feed air into your 6 or 4 cylinder and voila! Your car is now pushing into V8 and sometimes W16 engine performance. That's supercar territory. It's the technology of the times. Some people though, still like to keep it old school. Big block, pushrod V8s with monster carburetors and displacements beyond 7.0 liters. It's their choice. I for one, am a fan of the old school. Nothing beats that guttural sound of an NA V8 starting up and chugging before letting loose a cacophony of noise and screaming tires. It's just the feel of it. The bass heavy sound it gives. Nothing beats it. But you have to admit, it may vanish someday, relegated to museums as the electrics and the hybrids start to take over. And one day, when the only gas and diesel powered engines left will be the ones on display in museums, you'll start to daydream and say those were the days. So enjoy whatever car you have, whatever engine that's in it, whether it's a W16 supercar or an IL4 beater. Because someday they will disappear.
A V6 lacks the natural balance that you can only get from having an even number of cylinders in plane. Inline 6 or flat 6 engines are better options for downsizing from a V8
60 degree v6 are nicely balanced, and can sound cool.
Only with the use of heavy balancing shafts. A V6 is effectively two I3 engines sharing a crankshaft. Inline engines, and their corresponding V engines, with an odd number of cylinders are always inherently unbalanced. In a V6, each bank...
Read moreSome compelling arguments here. From my perspective I prefer V8, but it’s more of a personal preference than a natural superiority argument.
The sound is a huge part of it.
The other part is simply what engine fits the characters and history of the car. I would struggle to accept a V6 Corvette, and same thing goes for the new GT. A Ford supercar with a V6 just seems odd. So to would a V8 in a 911.
I still haven’t accepted that Cadillac doesn’t really offer V8 any more (CTSV and Escalade only)
Certainly there are engineering benefits of both more and fewer cylinders.
Great article. I'd still go V8 though.
There is nothing like the roar of an American or British (or Lexus) V8 or the singing of a European V8. V6s just don't make a going noise (except for the F-Type Jag or Alfa Giulia Q) Then again we will all be driving Teslas in the future so we should...
Read more