Does displacement always equal power? know ferraris have small v8's and produce some crazy numbers that rival big blocks. Ive always been a little confused as to what really makes power from a motor and power bands.

I know a 4.0l straight 6 has some serious low end torque. I can feel it from a dead stop taking off. But then you drive a civic and it doesnt get power till 5,000.

My 97 camaro with a 3.8 i remember died coming up to 5 grand. I remember taking off at a 15 mph roll the thing launched like a **** probably around 2,500 and my 88 camaro 2.8 had a very small power band somewhere between 3 and 4 grand.

So im curious how this all works.

 

There are lots of ways to make power. The easiest way is to increase engine displacement, that will always work. However, nowadays we're seeing automakers "cheat". They aren't increasing the size of the engine, now they're going with DOHC engines, turbos/superchargers, and the newest thing is hybrid technology.

Once you've looked at that, then there's direct fuel injection, PCM programming to adjust timing and afr, and also the engine's compression ratio that can be worked with. Plus there's variable valve timing, or revving the engine at high rpms, and all sorts of other ways to make more power.

So while your basic thinking is correct, it's not the "only" correct way to make power. Nowadays, you don't even need an engine to make more power.