THE V4 ENGINE –WHAT’S WITH THAT ?

The V4 engine is an interesting one for cars , lovable in its uniqueness because of the fact the pistons are essentially just 2 beside each other, V4's are shorter than inline 4's. There are obviously different angles, like every V engine, but, like every V engine, 90 degrees gives perfect primary weight distribution, reducing vibration. The shorter crankshaft also reduces torsional vibration, and it is more rigid because of its smaller length.

HISTORY OF V4 ENGINES

• In a car, the first use of the V4 layout was in Grand Prix, one of which was a Mors, which placed the engine in the back. By 1901, though, I4's took over as the lack of vibration turned out not to be a good enough incentive.

• In 1907, the biggest ever GP engine was a V4 engine at 19,891cc (20 litres!), a front transverse engine driving the front wheels, although it only lasted 4 laps before retiring.

• Lancia was the first marque to bring the V4 into the production market, in the revolutionary 1922 Lambda.

THE LANCIA

• Lancia has probably had the most use of this sort of engine, having used them for over 50 years after the Lambda, until 1976.

• In total, the marque has used a V4 in 7 cars, although very few of them have been their most iconic or popular model.

• The angles of their engines were extraordinarily narrow, being between 10 and 20 degrees. Due to the tightness of the V, the engines were unique as they had a single rocker cover and rockers.

MOTOR BIKES

• One of the first times this engine layout was put in a motorcycle was for a Matchless Silver Hawk from 1931 to 1935 and had a narrow 16 degree angle so only 1 cylinder head and all that, like the Lancia engine.

• In the 80s, V4s were used for bikes, particularly by Honda who used transverse, 90 degree, water cooled engines.

• Most current Moto GP bikes also use the V4 layout, like the Honda RC213V , Ducati Desmosedici , KTM RC16 , Aprilia - 90° V4 for the 2020 season.

Ducati Demosedici

KTM RC 16