V16 engine

A V16 engine is a sixteen-cylinder piston engine with two banks of eight cylinders arranged in a V configuration around a common crankshaft. It was first used in the 1910 Antoinette VII aircraft and is now commonly used in railroad locomotives, marine craft, and stationary power generators.

The Cadillac V-16, which debuted in January 1930, was the first automobile in production to feature a V16 engine. At first, the Cadillac V16 engine was built with a displacement of 452 cu in (7.4 L), an OHV, and a 45-degree V-angle. In order to attain a lower cowl height, the engine was redesigned for the 1938 Series 90, with a displacement of 431 cu in (7,062.8 cm3), a flathead valvetrain, and a V-angle of 135 degrees. This 431 cu. in. variant was significantly simpler and produced just as much power as its direct predecessor. It also included an external oil filter, which was uncommon for cars of any price back then, and a sturdier crankshaft that improved longevity and smoothness.

In fact, the Marmon Motor Car Company started working on a V16 engine in 1927—prior to Cadillac. But because of its protracted development process, the Marmon Sixteen wasn't released until 1931. This engine was primarily made of aluminum, with a 45 degree V-angle, and cylinder liners made of pressed steel. Production of Marmon Sixteens peaked in 1931 and reached just 400 units. Production of the Cizeta-Moroder V16T, which had a 16-cylinder engine in a special layout, started in 1991. The engine was actually two independent transversely mounted V8 engines with gearing between the two, producing a single output from the center of the engine assembly to the transmission, rather than a traditional V16 layout. Before the company shut down, only few automobiles were made.