The Devel Sixteen Gets An Engine
When the Devel Sixteen was shown for the first time at the 2013 Dubai Auto Show, we couldn’t help but smile. It was extremely unlikely that a new manufacturer, who never built so much as a toaster, could go ahead and manufacture a high-performance car… especially since the numbers they showed us seemed to be pulled out of thin air. The car would use a V16 engine and supposedly have more than 5000 horsepower on tap, enough to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 1.8 seconds and hit 560 km/h.
It seems as though this wasn’t an illusion. We can now see the engine, well on its way to be completed!
Built by renowned American motor builder Steve Morris Engine, the huge V16 is based on a known design: with its pushrod heads and narrow V angle, it’s been designed using GM’s proven LS architecture.
However, this V16 isn’t just a pair of V8s welded together: it boasts a single-piece crankshaft and cams, and its block has been cast from a single piece.
Overall, the engine displaces 12.3 litres and can currently generate 4,500 horsepower as well as 3,500 pound-feet of torque. According to the manufacturer, it could make even more power, but it would need to be hooked to a stronger dyno!
After seeing this mill run, we are now genuinely interested in seeing the Devel Sixteen fire up on a track.