...back to Skylines for a sec...
The new one is going to have a V6 I think. At any rate, pretty much every carmaker has figured out how to make a V6 that can smoothly and easily rev to 7000RPM or so. Some more, some less. The New Wrangler engine IS a minivan engine after all. Minivan engines have to be reliable and quiet. Balance shafts can fix the vibration problem if you build something like a V10 or odd angle V6.
Volkswagen and all of the F1 engine builders have shown that narrow and wide angles can be dealt with...even in the same motor. Say hello 1000hp Veyron.
Regarding V-shaped diesel engines, the 4400hp (at about 1000RPM) locomotive that I ran tonight didn't give me any problems. Of course its only a 12 cylinder GEVO. 367hp per cylinder. Lots of boost. And it can put all the torque to the ground as slow as you can walk. I think these engines are good for a million miles or something. Not sure. It isn't a V6, but I think it's a good example of how reliable and powerful a V engine can be.
The V shape is easier to fit in the car. Look at GM's inline six and Ford or Australia's FANTASTIC turbo inline six. Too long for most cars. So sad.
Inlines sixes are also cheaper (only one head) and easier to upgrade to state-of-the-art technology (just like a 4 cylinder, but longer). The notable exception here is the Jeep 4.0L. C'mon guys? No crossflow head?
The 4.0L is a shortstroke motor, NOT square. It is closer to a Subaru EJ25 (100mm bore x 79mm stroke) or 302Ford, than its 258 cousin. I think you have the terms 'oversquare' and 'undersquare' backwards. Oversquare=shortstroke. Undersquare=longstroke. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stroke_ratio
The 258 is undersquare, like a tractor.
For balance, I'd chose a flat 4. Balanced by design. Short crank. Lots of journal overlap, due to short stroke. Lots of main bearings...clamped between the block halves. The Jeep's I6 on the other hand has very long noodle of a crank. Torsional vibration. Don't use an aluminum crank pulley.
...back to the Skyline for a sec...
The RB26 has another trick card to play. Turbos love 6 cylinders due to the pulse patterns.
The new one is going to have a V6 I think. At any rate, pretty much every carmaker has figured out how to make a V6 that can smoothly and easily rev to 7000RPM or so. Some more, some less. The New Wrangler engine IS a minivan engine after all. Minivan engines have to be reliable and quiet. Balance shafts can fix the vibration problem if you build something like a V10 or odd angle V6.
Volkswagen and all of the F1 engine builders have shown that narrow and wide angles can be dealt with...even in the same motor. Say hello 1000hp Veyron.

Regarding V-shaped diesel engines, the 4400hp (at about 1000RPM) locomotive that I ran tonight didn't give me any problems. Of course its only a 12 cylinder GEVO. 367hp per cylinder. Lots of boost. And it can put all the torque to the ground as slow as you can walk. I think these engines are good for a million miles or something. Not sure. It isn't a V6, but I think it's a good example of how reliable and powerful a V engine can be.
The V shape is easier to fit in the car. Look at GM's inline six and Ford or Australia's FANTASTIC turbo inline six. Too long for most cars. So sad.
Inlines sixes are also cheaper (only one head) and easier to upgrade to state-of-the-art technology (just like a 4 cylinder, but longer). The notable exception here is the Jeep 4.0L. C'mon guys? No crossflow head?
The 4.0L is a shortstroke motor, NOT square. It is closer to a Subaru EJ25 (100mm bore x 79mm stroke) or 302Ford, than its 258 cousin. I think you have the terms 'oversquare' and 'undersquare' backwards. Oversquare=shortstroke. Undersquare=longstroke. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stroke_ratio
The 258 is undersquare, like a tractor.

For balance, I'd chose a flat 4. Balanced by design. Short crank. Lots of journal overlap, due to short stroke. Lots of main bearings...clamped between the block halves. The Jeep's I6 on the other hand has very long noodle of a crank. Torsional vibration. Don't use an aluminum crank pulley.
...back to the Skyline for a sec...
The RB26 has another trick card to play. Turbos love 6 cylinders due to the pulse patterns.