Under the Hood: Japan’s Biggest Engines, from V8s to a V12

Japanese automakers are famous for squeezing power out of small engines, think Honda’s VTEC or the turbocharged legends like the Toyota Supra and Nissan Skyline GT-R. But every now and then, engineers took a different route: they simply made the engine bigger. Here’s a look at the ten largest production engines ever built in Japan, from workhorse V8s to the only Japanese V12 ever made.

5-liter VK45DE V8, which powered sedans like the Infiniti Q45 and even found a second life in Super GT and LMP2 race cars. 5-liter 1VD-FTV twin-turbo diesel V8 became a legend in the Land Cruiser 200 Series, known for its smooth torque and reliability. 5-liter 8A80 V8, a front-wheel-drive luxury engine for the Proudia sedan, sold in Japan and, oddly, as the Hyundai Equus in Korea.

7-liter 2UZ-FE, a cast-iron V8 built to handle bad fuel and extreme off-road duty in the Land Cruiser, earning a cult following for its bulletproof durability.

But the real showstoppers come later. 8-liter 1LR-GUE V10, co-developed with Yamaha, powered only the LFA supercar and is remembered for its screaming exhaust note and 553 horsepower. 0-liter 1GZ-FE V12 is the sole Japanese V12 ever made, built for the ultra-luxury Century sedan with separate ECUs for each cylinder bank.

0-liter 2UR-GSE V8, found in the IS F, RC F, and LC500, delivered up to 471 horsepower and a raucous sound that makes it a favorite for swaps. 6-liter VK56DE became a heavy-duty workhorse in the Patrol and Titan, often compared to a Japanese LS engine. 7-liter 3UR-FE V8, the largest Japanese production engine ever, ironically built in Alabama for the Tundra, Sequoia, and US-market Land Cruiser, with a huge aftermarket following for supercharger builds.