Compared with an equivalent
inline engine (the most common configuration for engines with less than six cylinders), a V engine has a shorter length but is wider. This effect increases with the number of cylinders in the engine; the length difference between V-twin and straight-twin engines might be insignificant, however V8 engines have a significantly smaller length than straight engines. Compared with the less common
flat engine, a V engine is narrower, taller and has a higher
center of mass. The "V-angle" (or "included angle") between the
cylinder banks varies significantly between engines. Some engines have used a V-angle of 180 degrees (the same angle as a
flat engine), such as several Ferrari V12 engines. At the other end of the scale, the 1922–1976
Lancia V4 engine and the 1991–present Volkswagen
VR6 engine use V-angles as small as 10 degrees, along with a single cylinder head used by both banks of cylinders. The
engine balance of a V12 engine is that of perfect primary and secondary balance. For V engines with fewer cylinders, the engine balance will depend on factors such as the firing interval, crankshaft counterweights and whether
balance shafts are present. The
crankpins on a V engine are usually shared by two cylinders from opposing banks, with an offset between the two cylinders. Alternative configurations are separate crankpins per cylinder (such as several V-twin engines) or articulated
connecting rods.
Inverted engines inverted engine Some airplanes of the 1920s and 1930s used
inverted engines, whereby the crankshaft is located at the top of the engine and the cylinder heads are at the bottom. Advantages include better visibility in a single-engined airplane, a higher thrust line, and resultant increased ground clearance for the propeller. Examples include the 1928
Argus As 10 V8 engine and the 1935
Daimler-Benz DB 601 V12 engines. ==Specific configurations==