A list like this is no easy task. What yardsticks would you use to identify the best engines? Do you consider horsepower? Reliability or popularity? In the end, we settled on a selection that, for various reasons, resonated the most because of how they are perceived and the impact they had on the automotive industry.
Chrysler 426 Hemi
The mighty W16 makes this list because of the ingenious engineering behind its construction and how it ‘triggered’ a horsepower war among marque carmakers. Volkswagen Group, seeking a suitable power source for the Veyron, is responsible for developing the W16 engine. The first iteration produced a whopping 1,001 hp. The setup has been tweaked multiple times since then, lending even greater horsepower and speed to other Bugatti models like the Chiron, Divo and most recently, the Bolide with 1,824 hp and 1,364 lb-ft of torque.
The W16 features 16 cylinders arranged in four banks in a unique W configuration – think of it as a combination of two V8 engines with a common crankshaft. A gang of four turbochargers are strapped to the engine, providing the boost that allows the engine to produce that much power.
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