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Message: <blockquote data-quote="The Necessary" data-source="post: 108763" data-attributes="member: 302">It's "easier" to extract higher per specific volume power/torque figures from a smaller engine due to their inherent ability to rev higher due to lower masses, friction, etc. Just look at motorbike engines which rev up to 12k rpms easily.But to plainly say that a higher CC/number of cylinders configuration engine is more "high-tech" and "better" than a lower CC/less number of cylinders engine, even though they have the same specific output (HP, as the higher CC/cylinder car should always have the torque advantage, especially in high revving applications), is a bit rash and naive. The only thing you can say, for sure, is that the bigger engine is more expensive to make!Another thing to consider is that for a particular cylinder configuration (ie. flat/in-line 4, V/in-line 6, V8, V10, V12, etc.) there will be a limit imposed by the size/weight of the pistons and the speed that they can safely travel. That is the limitation of technology. You wouldn't have seen many 4 cylinder 2 litre engines back in the 50s', as a piston of sufficient size to displace 500cc was probably too bloody heavy in those days' technological level. Hence, Ferrai had small displacement V12s, etc.</blockquote>