Most cars stick to pretty standard engine setups. Small cars usually go for inline-four engines, mid-sized rides like V6s, and trucks tend to stick with those powerful V8s for torque. Automotive history is filled with innovative designs and unconventional twists. One of the more interesting ones is the V4 engine. V4s are pretty common in motorcycles, but you hardly ever see them in cars. Just a few carmakers played around with this compact, quirky engine setup, creating cars that are still super interesting today. Let’s discover these oddball cars with V4 engines, which really show off some creative engineering, practicality, and a bit of a spirit for trying new things.
Why V4 Engines Are So Unusual
A V4 engine has four cylinders arranged in a V layout, unlike the usual inline-four setup found in most vehicles. This arrangement is small, making packaging easier, and it also lowers the engine's center of gravity. However, this design is not without its challenges. The V shape can cause vibrations, which require balancing shafts or special crankshaft designs to smooth out. Producing a V4 engine is often more expensive than producing a standard inline-four, which is why automakers rarely use it in mass-produced vehicles. Several manufacturers took the risk and created automobiles that stand out as unique examples of automotive oddity, despite the complexities involved.
What Makes a V4 Engine Different?
The V4 engine isn’t just a smaller V6; it’s a careful compromise between compactness and engineering complexity. Key differences include:
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Cylinder layout: Two banks of cylinders in a V shape rather than a straight line.
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Shorter engine length: Ideal for tight engine bays, mid-engine layouts, and front-wheel-drive designs.
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Engineering challenges: More vibration than inline-fours, requiring balance shafts, precise crankshaft design, and sometimes exotic materials or engineering solutions.
The result is an engine that’s mechanically fascinating, visually distinct, and often associated with unique or quirky cars.
Ford Transit Mk1 (1965)
The Ford Transit Mk1 was one of the most popular vehicles to use the V4 engine. The German-designed Taunus V4 engine was used in the Ford Motor Company-developed first-generation Transit in several displacement variations, usually between 1.3 and 1.7 liters.
The V4's small size worked well for a commercial vehicle. Engineers increased internal cargo space while maintaining acceptable external proportions by moving the engine forward, given its shorter length. Despite generating more vibration than its inline competitors, the engine was strong and well-suited to the demanding workloads required of commercial vehicles in the 1960s and 1970s.
Saab Sonett II (1967)
As a lightweight sports car, the Saab Sonett II represents one of the more unusual uses of a V4 engine in a performance-oriented vehicle. Produced by Saab Automobile, the Sonett II initially debuted with a two-stroke engine but was later redesigned to accommodate a Ford-sourced 1.5-liter V4. This modification dramatically increased reliability and widened the car's appeal. The Sonett's lightweight fiberglass body was sufficient for the engine's low power output of approximately 65 horsepower. The combination resulted in a novel driving experience, cementing the Sonett's status as one of Saab's most eccentric sports cars.
Lancia Fulvia (1963)
The Lancia Fulvia exemplifies how engineers may ingeniously adapt the V4 principle. The Fulvia, designed by the Italian automaker Lancia, featured an unusually narrow-angle V4 engine, with cylinder banks separated by as low as 12 degrees. This exceptionally tight angle allowed the engine to be small while still maintaining a V-shaped layout. The longitudinal architecture, along with front-wheel drive, resulted in superb weight distribution and handling characteristics. The Fulvia had significant motorsport success, most notably winning the 1972 International Rally Championship. Its revolutionary engine design and agile chassis contributed significantly to its competitive performance.
Ford Capri Mk1 (1969)
Ford Motor Company designed and manufactured the Ford Capri Mk1, a handsome yet inexpensive sports coupe for the European market. Early Ford Capri Mk1s were powered by 1.3- and 1.5-L Taunus V4 engines. While these engines valued efficiency and price over great performance, they enabled a wider range of buyers to enjoy the Capri's sporty styling. As the vehicle matured, larger inline-four and V6 engines were introduced, gradually replacing the early V4 options.
Matra M530 (1967)
The Matra M530 stands out as one of the most unconventional sports cars of its era. The M350 was built by the French company Matra, which had significant aerospace technical credentials. It featured a mid-engine configuration and a striking, futuristic appearance. It employed the Ford Taunus V4 engine, which was small enough to fit behind the passenger compartment, allowing for a viable mid-engine design without significantly expanding the vehicle's overall dimensions. While not particularly powerful, the engine enabled the M530 to have balanced handling and a distinct character.
Saab 96 (1967)
The Saab 96 is another notable example of a V4 application. Originally equipped with a two-stroke engine, the vehicle was upgraded to a Ford-derived V4 in the late 1960s. Saab Automobile implemented this modification, which enhanced reliability and drivability while also helping the vehicle meet increasingly stringent emissions regulations. The Saab 96 also had success in rally competition. Drivers such as Erik Carlsson demonstrated the model's capabilities at international events, helping build the car's reputation for durability and performance in extreme conditions.
Why V4 Engines Never Became Mainstream
Despite its ingenious packaging and engineering curiosity, V4 engines were never widely used in passenger vehicles. Several manufacturers tried layouts from the 1950s to the 1970s, but the configuration ultimately remained a niche option. While the small V-shaped architecture made the engine shorter and easier to package in certain vehicles, it also necessitated more complex engineering than a standard inline-four.
A V4 usually requires two cylinder heads and a more carefully designed crankshaft, which increases production costs and can create additional vibration that engineers must manage. Since a conventional inline-four can deliver similar power while being simpler, cheaper, and easier to manufacture, most automakers chose the more practical option. As a result, the V4 remained a rare curiosity, appearing only in a few distinctive cars rather than becoming a standard engine layout.
