[454Casull]

Originally Posted by SaabJohan

The 90 degree two plane V8 uses counterweights on the crank to cancel out some unbalanced forces.

A flat engine isn't the ideal for a low center of gravity, a wide angle V engine is this is because of the exhausts will need some space, and you can't use to tight bends if you don't want to lose power. But a wide angle V engine gives other problems (balance is one) that's why we find 90 degree V10 engines in F1.

A flat- or inline engine doesn't have any more problems with high speed more than other engines do. But high performance inline engines are however not made that large since it would have given them a very long crankshaft.

Inline and flat engines should have an advantage when it comes to mechanical strength since they will have forces in fewer directions.

The inline engine have a little higher center of gravity, but one should remember that much of the weight in an engine is around the crankshaft.

For a given displacement fuel consumption and power tend to increase with the number of cylinders when the reliability drops. In racing therefore different engines have been used for different races, for about ten years ago F1 teams (the ones with most money) could use a V12 on tracks when a powerful engine was needed and for durability a V10 or V8 engine. Mercedes had also different engines for the CLK-GTR and CLK-LM (Le Mans).

I thought the F1 V10s were 72-degree?