Why does a Ferrari V8 scream while an American muscle car V8 burbles, even at the same displacement? The answer is buried inside the crankshaft, in a design choice most drivers never think about. Engineering Explained breaks down the flatplane versus crossplane debate that keeps resurfacing every time a new flagship car, from the Shelby GT350 to the Corvette Z06, makes headlines. It is a short explanation that changes how you listen to every V8 afterward.