10 Biggest Engines in the World

2016 Dodge Viper engine ・ Photo by FCA Media

The biggest engines in the world aren't quite as big as they used to be, as it turns out there is a replacement for displacement. Turbocharging and supercharging allow automakers to squeeze more output from smaller powerplants, and without as much of a sacrifice in fuel economy. Still, the largest auto engine in the US marketplace does displace an amazing 840 percent more than the smallest, and there are some other big surprises on the list.

2016 Dodge Viper

You don't need the biggest engines in the world to benefit from record-breaking high performance, but a monster-sized motor certainly helps get the job done for the 2016 Dodge Viper. The newest Viper ACR is the "fastest street-legal Viper track car ever," according to the brand, and it’s set the fastest lap times at 13 different race tracks across the country, according to the SCCA. In both cases, the Viper's standard 8.4-liter V10 engine sets the pace, pouring out 645 horsepower and 600 lb.-ft. of torque in the process. That's the most torque available from any naturally aspirated sports car engine today. The ACR—aka, the "American Club Racer"—then complements that power with carbon-ceramic-matrix brakes, a race-ready suspension and a maximum aero package. Highlighting that latter setup: an adjustable dual-element rear wing made from carbon fiber for light weight and capable of providing almost 2,000 lbs. of peak downforce.

Photo by Dodge

2016 Dodge Challenger

The 2016 Dodge Challenger SRT 392 brags that it has one of the biggest engines in the world right in its name. The "392" refers to the number of cubic inches in the car's V8 powerplant; for the metrically minded, that's 6.4 liters worth of HEMI hardware, which in turn serves up 485 horsepower and 475 lb.-ft. of torque by leveraging Dodge's Scat Pack factory performance bundle. With that many horses, the Dodge delivers more than from any other naturally aspirated V8 in its class. The Challenger also checks in with a great way to show off that engine, thanks to a functional shaker-style hood that reveals the powerplant's air intake. As for the Challenger Hellcat, although that is the most powerful muscle car going, with 707 horsepower of its own, it actually generates that output from a smaller, 6.2-liter HEMI that blows away the competition by using a supercharger.

Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

2016 Ford Super Duty

The Blue Oval's biggest pickups are on the 2016 Ford Super Duty roster, and they naturally have some of the biggest engines in the world. For instance, the available Power Stroke V8 turbodiesel, designed in-house by Ford engineers, displaces 6.7 liters. That unit is a key reason that the Ford Super Duty is the best-selling heavy-duty pickup family in the country. It relies on an exclusive design that moves the turbocharger between cylinder heads, and repositions the exhaust manifold closer to the turbo as well. The outcome is more power that's available right when drivers demand it. In fact, by producing 440 horsepower and 880 lb.-ft. of torque, the Power Stroke lets Super Duty drivers tow up to 31,200 lbs. Also, the Super Duty chassis cab—a commercial vehicle designed so that customers can mount their own bodies behind the truck's cab—has a 6.8-liter V10 gas engine on the menu.

Photo by Bentley Media

2016 Ram 3500

The biggest engines in the world are often backed by prodigious amounts of power, as is the case with the 6.7-liter turbo diesel I6 in trucks like the 2016 RAM 3500. The most capable of Ram's heavy-duty pickups, that model edges the Ford Super Duty for the title of 2016 towing champion, doing so by a mere 160 ounces: The Ram 3500 is rated to tow a staggering 31,210 lbs. The brand additionally claims a best-in-class mark for torque, with that engine furnishing 900 lb.-ft. (and a none-too-shabby 385 horsepower). Unlike its rivals, the Ram does outsource its diesel, but the brand has chosen an impressive name for its supplier: Cummins, a top manufacturer of commercial diesel powerplants. But Ram engineers did come up with the truck's exclusive active air intake, which draws in oxygen through either the front of the vehicle or through an under-hood inlet, depending on outside conditions.

Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

2016 Lamborghini Centenario LP 770-4

Designed to celebrate what would have been the 100th birthday of Lamborghini founder Ferrucio Lamborghini, the 2016 Lamborghini Centenario LP 770-4 presents a V12 engine that is the most powerful motor ever built by the company. It's also one of the biggest engines in the world. More to the point, this unit displaces 6.3 liters and delivers outputs of 760 horsepower and 507 lb.-ft. of torque. The Centenario further celebrates with the ability to race from 0-60 in well under 3 seconds, and it reaches a top speed of well over 200 mph—217 mph, to be exact. Needless to say, the car also is an unmistakable example of Lamborghini design, with a radically shaped all-carbon-fiber body boasting sharp angles and massive air intakes. And yes, the car showcases Lamborghini's signature scissor-style doors, although no, you can’t buy one: all 40 produced have sold out despite an MSRP of about $2 million.

Photo by Lamborghini

2017 Bugatti Chiron

Of course, displacement isn't the only way to measure the biggest engines in the world. If you go by the number of cylinders, you can seek out supercars like the 2017 Bugatti Chiron. Rightly positioned as the "quintessential ultimate super sports car," the Chiron carries a 16-cylinder powerplant in what Bugatti calls a "W" configuration—but is more like two narrow V8 engines nestled next to each other. Now, the Bugatti does tip the scales with 8.0 liters of displacement, yet what really gets its motor running are the four twin-stage turbochargers that boost output to 1,500 horsepower and 1,180 lb.-ft. of torque. You can expect 0-60 times of below 2.5 seconds with that kind of motivation, as well as a top speed that, unofficially, has been limited to 261 mph. An unlimited bank account may be helpful, however, since the Chiron will cost about $10,000 per mile per hour: $2.6 million.

Photo by Bugatti

2016 Chevrolet Silverado HD/GMC Sierra HD

The biggest engines in the world of GM pickups are available in the company's heavy duty trucks, the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD. Those entries can be ordered with a 6.6-liter Duramax V8 turbo diesel that pumps out 397 horsepower and 765 lb.-ft. of torque, with that engine featuring a turbocharger with variable-vane geometry for enhanced towing. Which comes in handy considering the Silverado HD can tow up to 20,000 lbs. Moreover, that diesel powerplant is paired with an Allison 1000 6-speed automatic transmission for robust durability and an expected 200,000-mile interval between major overhauls. Yet even though the Silverado HD is a noted workhorse, it also supplies modern-day technologies such as a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot, 4G LTE connectivity, Android Auto/Apple CarPlay smartphone integration, and wireless phone charging. (As do Sierra HD trucks.)

Photo by General Motors

2016 Audi A8 L

The 2016 Audi A8 L also lays claim to having among the biggest engines in the world in terms of both cylinder count and size. That's because the fullsize lux sedan from the 4-rings brand offers a 6.3-liter, W12 engine that's good for 500 horsepower and 463 lb.-ft. of torque. Packing that kind of punch then allows Audi's premium heavyweight to go from a full stop to a mile-a-minute in a mere 4.4 seconds. But this being the "L" edition, with an extended wheelbase, the 12-cylinder A8 also takes advantage of its extra length to specially cater to rear-seat passengers. That means standard backseat amenities including a dual-screen DVD entertainment system, heated and ventilated seats with power-massage functionality, and plenty of supple leather surfaces. Finally, since it's still not a given even in premium vehicles, Autobytel experts want to note that the A8 does provide a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot.

Photo by Audi

2016 Bentley Mulsanne

Taking a fractionally different approach to the biggest engines in the world is the 2016 Bentley Mulsanne, complete with a twin-turbo V8 engine that displaces "6 3/4" liters. As you might guess from a car that borrows its name from a high-speed straightaway section of the Circuit de la Sarthe—home of the 24 Hours of Le Mans—the big Bentley is a bit of a speed demon. Just check out the specs for its big V8: That unit yields 505 horsepower and 752 lb.-ft. of torque, enough to propel the Mulsanne from 0-60 in a mere 5.1 seconds and then push the car all the way up to a terminal velocity of 184 mph. And remember, Mulsanne is no carbon-fiber sports car. The Bentley's base curb weight of 7,055 lbs. is more than a full ton past that of the heaviest Ford F-150 full-size pickup.

Photo by Bentley Media

2016 Rolls-Royce Phantom

Also well known for making powerful airplane engines, Rolls-Royce still builds some of the biggest engines in the world for automobiles, too. The 2016 Rolls-Royce Phantom has the largest currently, at least if you measure by displacement, and the Wraith is atop the brand's output leaderboard. Both fit V12 engines beneath their high-class hoods, but the Phantom's displaces 6.8 liters and the Wraith's is rated at 6.6 liters. On the other hand, the Phantom’s motor makes "only" 453 horsepower and 531 lb.-ft. of torque. The Wraith, meanwhile, is the most powerful production Rolls-Royce ever released, courtesy of a standard 624 horsepower and 590 lb.-ft. of torque. The car is supernaturally fast as a result, and it can record 0-60 times as low as 4.4 seconds.

Photo by Rolls Royce