New Volvo: The modular engine range (mainly in 5 cylinder form, but there are 4 and 6 cylinder variants)... its durable as their old engine, and was designed with turbocharging in mind.
As far as the general public is concerned, I think the aircooled engine does it for VW. You're average joe isn't even sure if VW sells cars anymore. When he hears "VW" he thinks old bugs with the engine in the back and no radiator.
If you wana break the water pumpers off into their own category, that ones a tough call between the VR6 and 1.8T. One one hand, the VR6 has been coveted for a lot longer, both as a factory equipped engine and a popular swap. They likely still outnumber 1.8T's as far as new swaps go. The various VR6's also have a lot more power potential than the 1.8T. The 1.8T is a great tuner engine, but now that we're on our second 2L turbo, the 1.8 is kind of old news.
For Nissan I would actually say it's the VQ V6 engine. They put it in everything from the Z to the Pathfinder and more than a few Infinitis. It's smooth, sounds good, and just muscles everything you put it in.
Oldsmobile 350 Rocket - available from 1968-1980, the Olds 350 was known for better torque and fuel economy then the rest of the GM division 350 engines of the period due to it's combustion chamber design and flatter valve angle. The Rocket engine family was not only the first mass produced overhead V8 in 1949 but the last V8 passenger engine fed by a carb in 1990 althought it was available with fuel injection in Cadillacs as early as 1976.
Powering everything from the Testarossa to the GTO, the 3.0 liter Colombo V12 is simply what everyone thinks of with vintage Ferrari's. They sound damn good too...
When the midsize Jetta appears in beige, with 10 cupholders and a hybrid option, that year's Waterfest will become an incredibly grisly redux of Jonestown, as thousands of Dubbers commit mass suicide by cutting their wrists on their rusty boser hoods and expire either from blood loss or tetanus...
Uh.. The LS engine is a small block. First came the engine you know as the 350, which was the twin exhaust port version used in everygoddamnthing, then came the LT engines, then came the first-generation LS engines, and now we're on the second generation LS engines.
1st: Gen 1 SB 2nd: Lt engines 3rd: LS (first gen) 4th: LS (second gen)
Edit: as for my contributions: Audi: Straight 5 BMW: S54 Ford: 427 SOHC or Side-oiler Dodge: 340/440 Hemi GM: First gen smallblock VW: Flat four
Uh.. The LS engine is a small block. First came the engine you know as the 350, which was the twin exhaust port version used in everygoddamnthing, then came the LT engines, then came the first-generation LS engines, and now we're on the second generation LS engines.
1st: Gen 1 SB 2nd: Lt engines 3rd: LS (first gen) 4th: LS (second gen)
there were many many many engines before the 350 that wrere iconic small blocks. the LS engines ARE NOT small block chevy engines in the classic sense.
there were many many many engines before the 350 that wrere iconic small blocks. the LS engines ARE NOT small block chevy engines in the classic sense.
I didn't say the 350 was the iconic small block, I said the first gen small block is.
That's kinda an easy one because lotus hasn't made too many motors, but I will still argue with you. The turbo 3.5 V8 sucked balls. It was a real let-down that it didn't have significantly more power than the 4-cyl (350 vs 300) and it never fulfilled its potential due to the fact they didn't have a robust gearbox for the Esprit.
Mercedes: Either the 6.3/6.9 dry sump V8 of the 70s (so famous, they up-badged the current 6.2 liter AMG mill to 6.3!) or the OM617 turbo diesel. 5 cylinders of cast iron fury...
Yeah I'm going to have to agree with the posts I skimmed through, I think the SBC is more encompassing of the GM engines, it includes the LT-1, etc all the engines that are the iconic small block chevy, but not an LSx.
Oh, and completely agreed on the Porsche AIR-COOLED flat 6.
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