Engine design question

[Achille Riviello <acriviel@mailhost.ecn.uoknor.edu>]

I have a stupid question:

Why, when designing a new car or engine, don't the engineers make the engine
the most it can be?  (humming the Army recruiting tune while writing
this...)  It just doesn't make sense.  For instance, my new A4Q has a 2.8
liter V6.  Ok, ample HP and torque, right?  Well, at 172 HP (5500 rpm) and
184 ft-lbs of torque (at 3000 rpm), it it only ample.  The engine is SOHC
and only 2 valves/cylinder.  Why didn't the designers make it DOHC and 4
valves/cylinder?  I would have happily paid $2000-$3000 more for that
engine.  The HP probably would have been up about 300 with torque better
than the M3.  So what gives?  Why not spend an extra couple thousand and get
what we really want?

Achille Riviello
acriviel@mailhost.ecn.uoknor.edu
83 4000s, 200+k miles
96 A4Q, 114 miles
HK USP 45
HK P7M13
"In a world of compromise, some don't."