quote:

Originally posted by Frode It is small and fits into the VW engine-bays. Space is limited due to the FWD.

That's what it says in that Forbes article, but I figured there was more to it than just that. Thank you, anyhow.

quote:

The idea behind both drive systems was to find a way to create a very flat engine that would fit more displacement into less space. In the case of the W8 engine, the W is formed via two V-4s set side by side, with each V-4's cylinders set apart at a super steep 15 degrees, and the opposition of the two banks of V-4s set at a very flat 72 degrees. If this sounds very complex, most V-8s are set at a taller 45 degrees, and all the cylinders go in a row, two banks of four cylinders, so the engine bay has to be both deeper, to accommodate the taller engine, and longer, to fit the cylinders in a longer line.