Among the engine types out there, V and Inline are the most common types. While V engines are known for their performance and sound, especially in 8-cylinder formation, inline types tend to be seen as the cheaper and more economical choice, with motors like inline-4s being the typical image that dominates the type.

While a V6 is often not the first choice for performance, with inline engines, a 6 cylinder can offer some great performance with some of the simplest construction compared to V engines. Used in many legendary cars, with many legendary types, the inline-6 deserves a lot more respect for what it's truly capable of. Helping to illustrate that, these are the greatest of the type ever created.

8 TVR Speed Six

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A crazy engine for an even crazier car, the TVR Speed Six is far from the best inline-6 out there in terms of strength, but when it comes to pure uniqueness and thrill factor, stands out as a seriously great one.

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Previously using tweaked Rover V8 engines, the Speed Six was developed as a way to give TVR's thoroughly unique sports car a powerplant to call their own. Used in many of their cars, like the Tuscan, Cerbera, and Sagaris, the Speed Six could lay down up to 406 hp, with a brutal exhaust noise, adding a layer of crazy thrills to their sports cars. Used from 1996 to 2006, the Speed Six isn't the most powerful, long-lived, or reliable inline-6 out there, but is hard to beat when it comes to delivering a crazy and unique experience.

7 BMW N55/S55

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An engine type BMW is rather famous for making solid and fun examples of, their N55 and its performance variant - the S55, are among the best of their modern inline-6s.

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First introduced in 2009, the N55 moved to a more clean-sheet design over previous derivative designs and quickly began to be used in most BMW models of the time. A solid and peppy engine, the N55's greatest variant though was the S55, first being used in the 2014 M3 and M4, and continuing to be the powerplant of choice for them up until today. Capable of nearly 500 hp with an awesome exhaust note, the N and S55 will be missed in the M3 and M4.

RELATED: 5 Reasons Why We Love The New BMW M4 (5 Things The Previous Model Did Better)

6 BMW M88

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While not a prolific engine in BMW's lineup, the M88 can be considered one of the greatest for the legacy it spawned, and the insane power it was capable of.

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First developed in 1978, the M88 was a special engine created for an even more special car - the legendary BMW M1 supercar. Initially making a seriously powerful for its time 273 hp, the supercar-worthy M88 would be put into BMW's 6 series sedan to create the first M6 in 1983, as well as the first M5 in 1984. But, where the M88 reached its peak was in the race-spec M1 Procar, where it was turbocharged and de-restricted to lay down nearly 1,000 hp in brutal fashion.

5 Cummins 6BT

Cummins 6BT diesel inline 6
Diesel Bombers

They may not seem as exciting as sports car-derived gasoline inline-6s, but certain diesel motors are massive powerhouses, and when it comes to 6 cylinder ones, the Cummins 6BT stands out as an absolute monster.

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First created in 1984 for use in farming machines, the Cummins 6BT saw its first road use in 1989 when Dodge chose the 5.9 L for their heavy-duty Ram trucks. A behemoth of an inline-6, the Cummins 6BT can weigh well over 1,000 lbs, but that lends itself to just how strong they are. Better than just being durable, later 6BTs like the 6.7 L can make up to 1,000 lb-ft of torque when stock, and can produce 2,500 lb-ft when modified. A solid and powerful workhorse that can also be tuned and swapped for performance use, the Cummins 6BT is an absolute beast of an inline-6 and is still being made today.

RELATED: Looking Back At The First Generation Cummins-Powered Dodge Ram Truck

4 Jaguar XK6

jaguar xk6 inline 6 engine
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Jaguar's insanely long-lived engine, the XK6 didn't just power one of their legendary cars, but an entire roster of them. Used in everything from the E-Type, to military tanks, the XK6 is one of the greatest classic British engines.

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First introduced all the way back in 1948, the XK6 engine saw use in just about every iconic Jag of the following decades, like the C and D-Type Le Mans racers, as well as the legendarily gorgeous, and groundbreaking speed machine that was XK120. Also used across several variants in cars like the E-Type, XJ sedan, and many more, the XK6 engine evolved and was produced right up until 1992, making it one of the longest-lasting motors out there. Also used in the Alvis Scimitar light tank, the XK6 is one of the greatest inline-6s ever made.

3 Ford Barra

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Not prolific at all outside Australia, the Barra inline-6 is a legend down under, being a beloved tuning platform that can make huge power, and has some serious durability to it.

Ford Barra Engine
Engine Swap Depot

Debuting with the Australian BA generation Ford Falcon in 2002, the Barra engine was an evolution of other Ford Australia inline-6s dating back to the '80s. Making around 244 hp at first, the Barra would get better and better, making around 436 hp by the Falcon's production end in 2016. But, stock power isn't entirely what makes it great, as the Barra is a tuner favorite with the potential to make up to 2000 hp, is a great motor for swaps, and has some incredible durability to it, much like the iconic Japanese inline-6s in the next entries.

RELATED: 800 HP Barra-Engined BMW E46 Cuts Up The Drift Circuit

2 Nissan RB26DETT

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The legendary Godzilla powerplant, the RB26 is the best Nissan's RB engine series got, with absolutely monstrous performance potential, and some of the coolest JDM engine sounds possible.

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Introduced with the R31 series Skyline, the RB series evolved into the RB26 for the iconic R32 generation in 1989. Offered only in the Skyline GT-R, and briefly, in the Skyline-based Stagea wagon, the RB26DETT on paper complied with the "Gentleman's Agreement" 276 hp, but is well known to have made more. Even then, the RB26 can handle plenty of power modification, with the R32, R33, and R34 generation GT-R models all being tuner legends for this iconic inline-6.

1 Toyota 2JZ

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What more needs to be said about the legendary 2JZ other than it powered the Supra, and can be tuned to downright ridiculous power? A favorite of tuners and JDM fans, this motor is among the most iconic inline-6s out there in performance and sound.

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First created in 1991, and not actually for the Supra, the 2JZ saw its first use in the Toyota Aristo - known as the Lexus GS300 outside Japan. A 3.0 L unit with rock-solid construction, and plenty of performance potential, the 2JZ would be used in cars like Lexus SC300 and IS300 without a turbo but is most iconic within the Supra in twin-turbo 2JZ-GTE form. Sounding incredible, being respectably reliable, and packed with plenty of potential the 2JZ is arguably the best inline-6 ever fitted to a sports car, and is a prime candidate for swapping into other cars to make wicked power with.

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