How does the number of cylinders contribute to the power of an engine? Does it at all - or is it purely a power delivery thing, and the displacement and induction are the only important factors for pure power (1000hp Skylines for example)?

Watching TopGear, they mentioned Merc Sl's, so I googled, and found this (under the 2008-on models):

5.5L 382 hp (285 kW) V8

5.5L 510 hp (380 kW) V12

hence the question...

MG ZT 4.6L V8 - 260bhp

Mitsubishi 2.0L 4-cylinder Turbo - 366bhp

Well exactly, although if we wanted examples of underpowered V8's I could just have said 'every american car ever built' and not been far off....

MG ZT 4.6L V8 - 260bhp

Mitsubishi 2.0L 4-cylinder Turbo - 366bhp

Not exactly a fair comparisson though, n/a vs forced induction.

The limit of power on an engine is how much air you can get in. Fuel etc is easy enough with bigger injectors etc etc etc. So the solution is more cylinders which give a larger capacity and can consume more air or forced induction which will ram air in quicker.

I'd got for both personally, 6.0 V10 with twin turbos, capacity and forced induction.

the SL's v12 is turbocharged.

hence why it makes more power with similar capacity.

I'd got for both personally, 6.0 V10 with twin turbos, capacity and forced induction.

Thats just greedy, but like your style!!

Would now be a good time to mention

?

Oh, the power, the pain, the glory, the heartache ... and all British.

~600bhp from 1.5 litres ....

In 1951!!!

More history here: BRM V16

Interesting:

In Raymond Mays' book, he claimed the following power curve with the 4.0:1 supercharger (5.7 ata):

* 100 bhp (75 kW) @ 5,000 rpm

* 175 bhp (130 kW) @ 6,000 rpm

* 250 bhp (190 kW) @ 7,000 rpm

* 335 bhp (250 kW) @ 8,000 rpm

* 412 bhp (307 kW) @ 9,000 rpm

* 525 bhp (391 kW) @ 10,000 rpm

* 585 bhp (436 kW) @ 11,000 rpm

* 600 bhp (450 kW) @ 12,000 rpm

A 'normal' engine can produce 175 bhp@ 6K easily these days - I guess the trick is in winding it up to 12K...that and the twin RR 5.7bar superchargers

the SL's v12 is turbocharged.

hence why it makes more power with similar capacity.

It didn't mention that fact - makes sense though.

The F40 was a V8 wasn't it? I think I'm answering my own question here, but there doesn't seem to be any link between cylinders and power output?

It didn't mention that fact - makes sense though.

The F40 was a V8 wasn't it? I think I'm answering my own question here, but there doesn't seem to be any link between cylinders and power output?

More cyclinders generally means smoother running and hence power delivery (if you imagine a 4 cylinder 4.0litre, then each pot displaces a litre, so gives a big bang - the same capacity with 8 cylinders means each "bang" is only 500ml)