10 MOST ICONIC ENGINES EVERY GEARHEAD LOVES!
How would the world look like without engines? The answer is simple – BORING! That is why we have done a thorough research to pick up the 10 most iconic engines ever recorded in the automotive industry. From V8s to rotary engines and everything in between, we have chosen the 10 most powerful engines that keep boosting our cars all the time, making them unbeatable on the drag strip. Moreover, you will have the unique opportunity to hear the impressive exhaust sounds produced by each of these masterpieces. At last, we must mention that there is no particular order in this listing of ours, so if you have any favorite engine feel free to leave your opinion in the comment section below!
#10 Nissan SR20DET
The first of the iconic engines is well known as the most valuable component of the Nissan`s S chassis. The Japanese have once again proved their sense of perfection as the SR20DET is one bullet proof engine that became an overnight star among the tuning shops. The ease of installation is maybe the main reason for that, but the exhaust sound and power are the crucial features that cannot be ignored. At last, if you wondered what the abbreviation stands for, here are the explanations – The first two letters S and R tell the code name. The 2.0 liter displacement is shown with the number. The letter D reveals the dual overhead camshaft used, while E the electronic fuel injection and T stands for turbocharged.
#9 Porsche air-cooled flat sixes
To perfectly describe the magic of this engine, we have chosen one beautiful and classic 1972 Porsche cruising video, where the sound of the air cooled flat six stands out. Historical data says that this tough engine was placed in a number of Porsches, but the majority of them were 911 produced between 1963 and 1998. However, the mechanics still get the hype when they have to work on the light Porsche air-cooled flat sixes, mainly because of its simplicity and effortless requirements. Except for the 911s, this engine was also and even most recognizable for the 959 supercar!
#8 Nissan RB26DETT
Although we are in love with the classic American Muscle Cars, we must admit that we cannot take our eyes off the legendary and nearly invincible R34 Godzilla GT-R. Well, this engine is actually the heart of the famous vehicle which is currently the most successful product of the JDM scene. Tuners also cannot get enough of this engine, mainly because it promises a lot of horses on the road, where the obvious and the ultimate goal is to win! The exclusive relation of the RB26DETT with the Godzilla model is just one more fact that makes it an irresistible beast on the market.
#7 426 Hemi: The Elephant
It was born in 1964 and if you wonder why they have named it “The Elephant” then you have surely not seen the size and the power of the 426 Hemi. Some say that this is the most American engine of all time and we must agree on that because during the golden era of muscle cars, the 426 Hemi was the baddest engine to have. We will try to remind you of that perfect time with the video below, where we have one beautiful 1969 Charger R/T that makes irresistible exhaust sounds thanks to the 426 Hemi.
#6 Mazda’s Wankel rotary engines
The complicated process of the rotary engine is still an enigma for some people, but luckily we have found a perfect animated video that explains in full its interesting work. A different manner, similar like a piston -- the rotary engine is known for its thirst for fuel and oil. However, if you feed the beast properly, you will be rewarded with a high amount of RPMs. The proof of that are the RX7 and the RX8 road cars, where Mazda placed these unique engines. Also, its popularity got off the ground thanks to the LeMans winning race car – the famous 787B!
#5 Toyota 2JZ
If you have noticed so far, the JDM scene is quite present on this list of ours, but the next Japanese engine can easily beat the previous two Nissans. Say hello to the iconic Toyota 2JZ. Mainly placed under the hood of the famous Toyota Supra, this powerful engine can produce an astonishing number of horses which is the main reason why the aftermarket shops made it a star. The Toyota 2JZ is one of the engines that help the Japanese drifting culture to make a blast, because its design can easily handle any bounces and high tunes.
#4 Aston Martin V12
Continuing with the 10 MOST ICONIC ENGINES EVERY GEARHEAD LOVES, we have one more engine that helps cars to remove the smooth and show their true angriness on the road. Welcome the mighty Aston Martin V12. However, if you thought that it is handcrafted by people with godlike skills in engineering, then we must disappoint you because the Aston Martin V12 is actually just a bundle of two Ford Mondeo V6s. If you analyze it carefully, you will come up with the same conclusion, but anyway, the Aston Martin V12 deserves the title “icon” as it gives you chills whenever you hear it. Miss that feeling? Play the video below! Do you enjoy the 10 MOST ICONIC ENGINES EVERY GEARHEAD LOVES list so far?
#3 Subaru Boxer
Outstanding driver experience is the ultimate goal for every car manufacturer out there and the guys from Subaru has definitely succeeded in that mission. The Boxer iconic engines provides a lower center of gravity, because of it is lying horizontally and by that, greater levels of balance, control and stability are being achieved. In addition, this innovative engine is carefully designed to submarine under the passenger cell in the event of a frontal collision. So, next time if someone asks you why has Subaru chose the Boxer engine for its vehicles, just play the video below and get the answers!
#2 Chevrolet ‘350’ V8
If you miss this legendary engine, then we must address you to some factories in Mexico that still produce the one and only Chevrolet ‘350’ V8. Its production stopped in 2003, as it was in the course of time, taken over by the LT and LS motors. Its first appearance was in the 1967 Chevrolet Camaro and since then this engine stands to be the worlds most wanting small block V8. If you haven`t heard the sound of it for a while, feel free to play the video below, where we have the traditional Chevy 350 V8 5.7 litres.
#1 GM’s LS V8 series
The LS V8 series of the GM`s engines share only the rod bearing of the previously mentioned Chevrolet 350 V8. It became famous and one of the most used engines ever, thanks to its small dimensions that offer easy engine swaps in a wide range of applications. Also, whenever you hear that some billionaire is going to build and launch a brand new supercar, you can bet that it will have an LS V8 engine. Wondering why? Well, there is a large quantity of parts and expertise for this clearly defined engine! There are even a lot of LS V8 assemble videos, like the one below.
However, these are the best engines according to Business Insider!
