Hear the layout
Engine sounds
Cylinder count and layout shape the sound more than the badge does. Pick a family and compare across makes.
-
Inline-six
Inherently balanced and silky to the redline: BMW M, Toyota 2JZ, Nissan RB and the new Mercedes straight-sixes.
34 clips → -
Flat-six
Horizontally opposed and naturally balanced: the Porsche 911 flat-six and its unmistakable metallic wail.
27 clips → -
V8
Cross-plane burble or flat-plane scream: the V8 covers muscle cars, AMG, M cars and Ferrari.
27 clips → -
Inline-four
Hot hatches, Honda VTEC and turbo fours: light, rev-happy and the easiest to tune.
9 clips → -
V10
Odd firing intervals and a 9,000 rpm redline give the V10 its race-car howl — Lamborghini, Audi R8, Lexus LFA, the E60 M5.
6 clips → -
Flat-four
The Subaru boxer rumble comes from unequal-length headers; Porsche 718 and Toyota GR86 use the layout too.
2 clips →