The Math Checks Out, Let’s Get Some More V12s! COTD

The Autopian is populated by a lot of engineers. David is one, as are so many of our readers and contributors. It’s rather lovely learning the finer details about how cars are made, especially when it comes to glorious engine configurations that aren’t so common anymore.

Contributor and reader Dave Larkman wrote about why the 2.0-liter straight-six is a thing of the past. In that story, he noted how 3.0-liter straight-sixes can share their architecture with 2.0-liter fours. StillNotATony:

Why settle for a 3.0l straight six when, in the same length, you could have a 6.0l V12?

Right?

Dave Larkman:

A V12 will be about half a bore longer than a straight six.

But twice as cool.

TheBadGiftOfTheDog:

Crash safety.
When you crash a car with an inline six you get impaled by a long spear of a block. When you crash car with a V6 you get squished by the cube of metal. Everyone knows being impaled is far worse than squished. As for an inline four, it harmlessly bounces off you because it’s small and cute.

SlowCarFast:

If mounted longitudinally, it’s a “straight four”. If mounted transversely, it’s an “in-line four”.
Problem solved.
If an in-line six is mounted transversely, it’s called a “wide-ass car!”.

Rad Barchetta:

If British Leyland could stuff a 2.0L straight six under the bonnet of a Spitfire (with a slight bonnet modification), there’s no excuse for anyone else not to.

Toecutter:

Damned straight.

Dave Larkman:

“ What the actual ef is a metric-inch? ”

Oh, since 1933 the US stopped using the old inch and replaced it with one defined as 25.4mm, using the metric mm as the base standard for the length of an inch.

Andrew wrote about the new G-Class Cabriolet. Phil had me laughing so hard with:

Because I want my $200,000 status symbol to remind everyone of a Geo Tracker.

There are less expensive ways of being laughed at.

Finally, Jason wrote about a silly Cars.com ad that depicts some poor lady spending $27,000 on a Fiat 500. Acd:

Did she notice her salesman high-fiving the other guys in the showroom as she drove off the lot?

Canopysaurus:

What a D-Badge.

Have a great day, everyone!