The arrangement forms of cylinders mainly include the following: inline (L), V-shaped (V), W-shaped (W), horizontally opposed (H), rotary (R), and VR (VR).
In line (L): All cylinders of an in line engine are arranged in a plane at the same angle, usually using one cylinder head. This layout has a simple structure, low manufacturing cost, and is suitable for small displacement engines. Its advantages include compact size, high stability, good low-speed torque characteristics, and low fuel consumption. However, inline engines have lower power and are not suitable for vehicles with more than 6 cylinders.
V-shaped (V): The V-shaped engine divides the cylinders into two groups and arranges them at a certain angle. The common angle is 60 °, and the cylinder appears V-shaped when viewed from the side. The length and height of the V-shaped engine are relatively short, with a low center of gravity and smooth operation, making it suitable for mid to high end car models. But its structure is complex and the manufacturing process requires high standards.
W-type (W): The W-type engine is a variant of the V-type engine, in which the cylinders on each side of the V-type engine are staggered at a small angle to form a W-shaped arrangement. The crankshaft of a W-type engine is shorter, lighter in weight, but wider and more complex in structure, making it prone to vibration.
Horizontal opposition (H): The cylinders of the horizontally opposed engine are arranged in opposition to each other at an angle of 180 °. This layout has a low center of gravity and is suitable for sports vehicles. The structure of a horizontally opposed engine is similar to that of an inline engine, but the direction of piston movement is opposite.
Rotary (R): The cylinders of a rotary engine are arranged in a rotating manner, unlike traditional reciprocating engines. The rotary engine has a compact structure, but poor fuel economy.
VR engine: VR engine is a V-shaped engine with a small angle, usually 15 °, compact structure, suitable for miniaturization design. But its shaking is significant and requires optimization of the balancing device.
These different cylinder arrangements have their own advantages and disadvantages, and are suitable for different vehicle types and performance requirements. The inline type is suitable for small displacement, economical vehicles, while the V-type and W-type are commonly found in high-performance and mid to high end models. Horizontal alignment and rotor type are used in some special vehicle models.