Americans learn bigger isn't always better

There is a saying in the USA that there is no substitute for cubic inches, and before this goes horribly off track, may I assure you it is all to do with engine size and nothing else!
The Americans calibrate engines in cubic inches whereas we use cubic centimetres.
You see, if the Americans needed more horsepower, they simply enlarged their V8 engine regardless of added weight. For them, bigger is better.
Generally speaking, that’s how the American internal combustion engine developed, getting bigger and bigger until mainstream saloon cars were running seven-litre all-iron monster lumps with a thirst to match.
America continued to believe in big being beautiful but then, owning their own continent and oil wells, and not realising the world spun around, thus having to share the atmosphere, why would they worry about emissions.
Europe by contrast, went for more efficient ways to increase power and intelligently worked out that smaller engines weigh less. The technology of fuel injection, then turbo charging allowed higher power outputs from small 4 cylinder engines. Formula 1 halved the engine size from 3 litres to 1.5 litres yet produced the quickest turbocharged cars of the era in the 1980s with over 600bhp.
My own personal experiment with size involved increasing my Jaguar XJS V12 from 5.3 litres to 6 litres, adding six twin choke weber carburettors which upped the power from 295bhp to 425bhp. This gave supercar performance and increased top speed from 150mph to 176mph but also meant that it took a full tank of fuel for my London to Exeter fast night trip! At the same time, Ford produced similar performance but from a 2 litre Sierra Cosworth 4 door saloon. These things are best left to the experts, I think! Ford UK currently produce highly efficient 1 litre 3 cylinder petrol engines with remarkable economy and adequate power for their family cars.
Now it is all change once more with the onset of electric power.
Vehicular propulsion systems are a constantly evolving process but it is safe to say large engines are a thing of the past.