{"id":93456,"date":"2026-02-18T14:39:54","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T17:39:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/automotive.einnews.com\/article\/893454698"},"modified":"2026-02-18T14:39:54","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T17:39:54","slug":"inline-six-engine-resurgence-why-automakers-are-embracing-this-classic-layout","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/2026\/02\/18\/inline-six-engine-resurgence-why-automakers-are-embracing-this-classic-layout\/","title":{"rendered":"Inline-Six Engine Resurgence: Why Automakers Are Embracing This Classic Layout"},"content":{"rendered":"

When the motor car was in its infancy, engineers and designers experimented with all sorts of technologies and ideas to see which would work best. Through years of experimentation \u2013 and sometimes blatant copying \u2013 most manufacturers eventually settled on a commonly accepted template for building a car.<\/p>\n

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As new technologies were developed and tested, this template would change to accommodate them. In some cases, manufacturers would head off on their own, trying out exotic, untested designs\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b. For example, Mazda <\/a>has repeatedly tried to perfect the rotary engine design, and Porsche has spent decades taming its rear-engined sports cars.<\/p>\n

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BMW <\/a> <\/h5>\n

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Founded<\/strong> <\/dt>\n
1916 <\/span> <\/dd>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Founder<\/strong> <\/dt>\n
Karl Rapp <\/span> <\/dd>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Headquarters<\/strong> <\/dt>\n
Munich, Germany <\/span> <\/dd>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Owned By<\/strong> <\/dt>\n
Publicly Traded <\/span> <\/dd>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Current CEO<\/strong> <\/dt>\n
Oliver Zipse <\/span> <\/dd>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/dl><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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And while some others have tried to copy them, they soon return to the safe waters of the accepted “template”. In some instances, a company may choose a design \u2013 say the inline-six engine \u2013 and stick with it, despite few rivals going the same route. But in the fullness of time, their choice is proven to be the right one.<\/p>\n

In recent years, this is exactly what has happened, with auto manufacturers from around the world finally choosing to embrace the inline-six engine like never before. Why is it happening, and are BMW<\/a> executives saying “I told you so” at every board meeting? We decided to find out.<\/p>\n

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All vehicle data is from reputable sources. Pricing excludes destination charges and tax unless otherwise specified.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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Why Are Manufacturers Bringing Back The Inline-Six? <\/h2>\n
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2023 Jeep Grand Wagoneer with Stellantis 3.0-liter twin-turbo Hurricane inline-six<\/figcaption>Jeep<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

The number of cylinders an engine has \u2013 and the way they are configured \u2013 has a big impact on the character and performance of a vehicle. There have been all sorts of engine layouts over the years, and in most cases, manufacturers seem to agree on how they should be arranged. It’s pretty much universally agreed that anything up to four cylinders should go in a line. In comparison, eight cylinders or more are best configured in a V.<\/p>\n

A horizontally opposed flat or “boxer” layout is used by manufacturers like Subaru and Porsche to good effect, but they are the exception to the rule. VW has also experimented with all sorts of strange solutions, like the VR6 and W12, but neither has been adopted by rival manufacturers.<\/p>\n

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