The question of which engine type is best for powering the cars of the masses may never have a single, unchanging answer.

When the V8 prevailed on American roads, it was an appropriate choice for large vehicles in an era of cheap fuel. Times have changed; the workhorse auto engines of our era are those that fit in the narrow engine compartments of the millions of front-wheel-drive cars.

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Source: http://www.nytimes.com