[Video] The Divergence of I6 and V6 Engines

Even if other automakers have stopped producing I6 engines, BMW is still doing so and for good reason. The inline-six cylinder engine is a darling of car enthusiasts. It has a silky smoothness and natural noise that’s easy to fall for. If not for its size, it could stay in the industry longer. The I6 engine is a dying breed as we speak. “V” engine setups are replacing older engine models and one of the most common ones is the V6. Check out this video by Car Throttle which highlights the divergence of I6 and V6 engines.

The strengths of the I6 engine include reliability, lesser moving parts (e.g. cam shafts), and inherent balance of six cylinders in a straight line. It does sound way better than anything with a “V” configuration and enthusiasts simply adore it. This is one of the reasons why BMW is still producing I6 engines until today, even if others have already halted production of such engines. In terms of weaknesses, the I6 is definitely large and hard to package. The length of the engine causes a lot of stress in the middle while rotating at high speeds.

That is exactly why the V6 engine was developed. It is more compact, easier to package, and perfect for front-wheel drives. It can fit almost any type of car and it easily became the go-to six-cylinder engine. This also allowed automakers to spend less money on having multiple engines. It is scalable and practical to use for both automakers and consumers. However, the V6 also has weaknesses. It is more complex due to the two sets of camshafts and split cylinder head. Because of these moving parts, it is less reliable and can lack balance.

The I6 may be a dying breed but it definitely brought some good in this world. The divergence just highlights the positives that we got from this engine. Mercedes-Benz is actually taking a stab at developing a new line of I6 engines and this may replace their V6 units in the future. BMW is also likely to make this decision.