Motorcycle engines come in all shapes and sizes. From single-cylinder thumpers and parallel twins to inline-threes, high-revving fours, burly V4s and V-twins, and even the occasional flat-eight, the variety is vast. But one layout rarely makes an appearance: the five-cylinder. That’s exactly what MV Agusta has cooked up — and it’s not what you might expect.
This isn’t an inline-five like the one Audi fits in its RS3, nor is it a callback to Volkswagen’s curious old VR5. Instead, it’s something far more unusual, best described as a compact trapezoid layout, with two cylinders on top and three below. As odd as it sounds, this engine isn’t just a design flex—it delivers serious performance.
### Introducing MV Agusta’s Unique Five-Cylinder Engine
Unveiled as a concept in early November at EICMA in Italy, the biggest show on the motorcycle calendar, MV Agusta’s new five-cylinder engine offers a displacement range from 850 cc to 1150 cc (0.9 to 1.2 liters). It can churn out a monumental 240 hp and 99.5 lb-ft (135 Nm) of torque at 8,500 rpm.
To put this into perspective, the current king of superbikes, the Ducati Panigale V4 R, maxes out at 218 hp and 84.4 lb-ft (114.5 Nm). What’s particularly impressive about MV’s five-cylinder is its extraordinary rev limit of 16,000 rpm—matching the high-revving nature of smaller four-cylinder engines from rival brands.
### Lightweight and Powerful
MV Agusta calls this engine the *Cinque Cilindri*, and it’s as light as it is powerful. Weighing under 60 kg (132 lbs), it’s remarkable for a powertrain delivering this level of output.
According to MV, the firing order plays a significant role in shaping the engine’s character. It helps deliver strong, linear torque without relying on complex variable valve timing systems.
### Compact Packaging with an Unusual Configuration
The packaging of this engine is equally impressive. It’s narrower than a conventional inline-four and shorter than a V4. The engine features an unusual arrangement, with a three-cylinder crankshaft placed at the front and a separate two-cylinder crankshaft positioned behind it.
### Not Your Average Five-Cylinder Layout
Despite the name, this isn’t just a rehash of VW’s VR5, which used a staggered V configuration to cram five cylinders into a compact space. MV Agusta takes a different approach by loosely borrowing the concept of a square-four and adding a fifth cylinder, creating something entirely its own.
The result is more of a mechanical trapezoid than anything else—an innovative design that sets it apart from traditional engine layouts.
### When Will We See It On The Road?
For now, the engine exists only as a concept, but it won’t stay that way for long. MV Agusta has confirmed that this engine will power a “highly anticipated” new model, which will be unveiled in the coming years.
There’s no word yet on what form this bike will take, but MV says the engine has been developed to suit multiple segments—from the Supersport class through to Naked and Touring bikes.
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Stay tuned for more updates on this groundbreaking engine and the new MV Agusta model it will power. The future of motorcycle performance just got a lot more exciting!
https://www.carscoops.com/2025/12/this-five-cylinder-revs-past-16000-and-isnt-an-inline-5-or-a-vr5/