New to the technicalities, simple question about engines.

So I was just wondering,

Is it true that more cylinders = more power? That's the message I'm getting from the research I'm doing, but I have friends with 4-cylinder engines that really haul.

Thanks,
Richard  

that is usually true. but with bigger motor usually come alot more weight that has to be moved. there is an old car saying, "nothing beats displacement." that is true most of the time. but 4cyls can also have a high displacement, i.e. a ej25t(subaru sti 2.5L turbo) has a base displacement of 2.5L, but when a turbo is added, you multiply is by 2 and then you would get a 5.0l. my bone stock pizza delivery saturn with its 1.9l spanks lightly modified d15 hondas.(ive only done it 4 times, i cant help it.)  
-------
the godfather has spoken

The displacement will also contribute (under most circumstances) towards torque. For example, my friend's 4g63t produces about 400HP, but only 310 ft/lb of torque. Where as my 6g73tt is only making 300 or so HP, but 315 ft/lb of torque (of course.  
----
1994 GTO Twin Turbo
nothin wrong with front-wheel drive, I just refuse to own one

but also, alot of the time as engine cylinders go up in number, so does the price.  

There are 2 things that make a motor powerful.

1. Displacement
2. Revolutions per minute.

Big blocks are fast because they have 8 [for example] cylinders firing during one revolution.  But more cylinders equals more weight which takes a lot of force and some serious engineering to turn quickly.  So these motors rely on high displacement and many cylinders to go fast.

Inline 4's on the other hand have much lower displacement because they have half the cylinders, and half the weight as well.  Which allows for less complicated measures to be used to spin them quickly.  A faster spinning motor can be matched with a longer gear ratio.  And naturally, the faster something spins, the more powerful it gets.

So now you know why Ferrari's are so damn fast.  They have small, light V12s that rev to well over 7k at least.  That also contributes to their high-pitched tone.  I mean come on, 12 ignitions in one revolution?  Let alone at 7k rpm?  That's 84,000 ignitions in one minute... and 1400 per SECOND... woah.. no wonder Ferrari builds the best tranny's on the planet.. lol  
----
"It's either a fuel injection or carbeuration problem" said the man with a 2001 Saturn Ion
---
Daily: 2000 Honda Accord Coupe F23A1 VTEC
Project: 1995 Eagle Talon TSi AWD

"i.e. a ej25t(subaru sti 2.5L turbo) has a base displacement of 2.5L, but when a turbo is added, you multiply is by 2 and then you would get a 5.0l"

What?  Out of all the useless crap I've read on this site, THAT has to be the worst yet... :/  
----
"It's either a fuel injection or carbeuration problem" said the man with a 2001 Saturn Ion
---
Daily: 2000 Honda Accord Coupe F23A1 VTEC
Project: 1995 Eagle Talon TSi AWD