Common cylinder counts for car engines include 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, and 12 cylinders. Engines with a displacement below 1 liter typically use three cylinders, those between 1 to 2.5 liters usually have four cylinders, around 3 liters generally feature six cylinders, approximately 4 liters have eight cylinders, and engines above 5.5 liters often use twelve cylinders. Generally, with the same cylinder bore, more cylinders mean greater displacement and higher power output. For the same displacement, more cylinders allow for smaller bore sizes, enabling higher engine speeds and thus greater power. Typically, more cylinders also mean higher fuel consumption, though this isn't an absolute rule. Arrangement Methods: Engines with five or fewer cylinders mostly use an in-line (straight) arrangement, though some six-cylinder engines also adopt this layout. In the past, there were even in-line eight-cylinder engines. In-line engines have cylinders arranged in a single row, featuring simple cylinder block, cylinder head, and crankshaft structures, low manufacturing costs, good low-speed torque characteristics, lower fuel consumption, and compact dimensions, making them widely used. However, their power output is relatively lower. Gasoline engines below 1 liter often use three cylinders in an in-line configuration, while those between 1 to 2.5 liters typically have four in-line cylinders. Some four-wheel-drive vehicles use in-line six-cylinder engines due to their narrower width, allowing space for turbochargers and other components. In-line six-cylinder engines offer excellent dynamic balance and relatively low vibration, making them suitable for some mid-range and luxury cars, such as the old Shanghai sedans. Engines with 6 to 12 cylinders generally adopt a V-shaped arrangement, with V10 engines primarily used in racing cars. V-shaped engines are compact in length and height, making them very convenient to install. They are often considered high-end engines and serve as a marker of luxury car status. V8 engines are structurally complex and costly to manufacture, so they are less commonly used. V12 engines are excessively large and heavy, reserved for only a few ultra-luxury vehicles. Volkswagen has recently developed W-type engines, including W8, W12, and W16 variants. These engines feature cylinders arranged in four staggered rows, offering a compact design.
