A V8 engine is an eight-cylinder piston engine in which two banks of four cylinders share a common crankshaft and are arranged in a V configuration. The first V8 engine was produced by the French in 1905, and the V8 engine with a cross-plane crankshaft is a common configuration for large automobile engines. The displacement of modern V8 engines is typically between 3.5 to 6.4 L (214 to 391 cu in), though larger and smaller examples have been produced. Due to their large external dimensions, V8 engines are typically used in cars that use a longitudinal engine layout and rear-wheel drive (or all-wheel drive), although they have also occasionally been used in transverse engine front-wheel drive vehicles.

In summary, a V8 engine is a type of eight-cylinder piston engine that is arranged in a V configuration. It is commonly used in large automobile engines and is typically found in cars that use a longitudinal engine layout and rear-wheel drive (or all-wheel drive).