The 12-cylinder cars that still reign in the international market

Right now there are several engines on the market that deliver great power from a not particularly spectacular displacement. Technology makes it possible to obtain that power and a very pleasant driving behaviour, as can be found in proposals such as the Ecoboost series from Ford or the 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engine that Volvo has presented. But let’s be honest. There is nothing like feeling the power and smoothness achieved with a 12-cylinder engine, powerful, intense blocks that are a pleasure to use.

But this engine seems to be doomed to extinction, reserved for supercars that increasingly opt for other types of powertrains offering similar performance at a lower cost. But let’s not despair, because there are still brave manufacturers that include them in their cars, although these are, generally speaking, out of our reach. Let’s review some of these, to see what we might miss out on because of this change in technology.

Ferrari

When we think of 12-cylinder engines, the mind flies to the cavallino rampante brand. It was the first to use a 12-cylinder engine, although it displaced only 1.5 litres. It was fitted to the 125S in 1947 and although it gradually abandoned this type of engine for competition, it continues to use it in several road models. The pressure to improve emissions is leading it to equip its V8s with turbochargers, and there is talk of incorporating a hybrid system for the V12s. But we can be more or less at ease, because the Ferrari F12 and GTC4Lusso continue with naturally aspirated 12-cylinder engines.

Lamborghini

Another firm defender of the 12-cylinder engine is Lamborghini. Its catalogue includes some of the most important models in this category. Miura, Countach, Diablo and Murciélago are some of them, and they have seen the Aventador keep this heritage alive. Before, the Huracán used a V10, and the brand’s future crossover will arrive with a V8 engine, but the V12 remains the company’s main option.

Pagani

Pagani is one of the brands that makes cars with 12-cylinder engines, but these are not made by it; instead it relies on engines supplied by Mercedes AMG. Thanks to this agreement, Paganis have engines of this displacement, ranging from 6.0 litres up to the 7.3 litres used by the Zonda. The Huayra, which replaced it, keeps the displacement but adds twin turbos to the equation. This engine is what sets the Italian brand apart from other supercar manufacturers, since Koenigsegg opts for a V8 and Bugatti pioneered the use of the W16.

Aston Martin

The first engine of these characteristics that Aston Martin created came from joining two 6-cylinder engines from the Ford Mondeo, since it was owned by Ford in those years. Since then it has relied on Mercedes-AMG to design this type of block, such as the one fitted to the new DB11. Even so, it manufactures these powerful engines at its plant in Cologne. For the time being, these engines are reserved for special models, so although it is not the brand’s main option, they are there, waiting to be mounted in spectacular cars.

Bentley and Audi

Bentley is the largest producer of this type of engine, but it does not use these engines in its own cars. It uses engines because it employs four blocks with three cylinders each, arranged in a W shape. These are 6.0-litre engines fitted to the Continental GT and GTC, the Flying Spur saloon and the new Bentayga crossover. Bentley supplies these engines to its parent company Volkswagen and even sends blocks so that the Audi A8 can be as spectacular a car as it is, with a W12 engine delivering 500 CV.

BMW and Rolls Royce

BMW launched its first 12-cylinder engine about 30 years ago, fitted to the 7 Series. Currently, the 6.6-litre twin-turbo block powers the M760Li xDrive, but it is also part of the British luxury subsidiary. It is also present in the Rolls-Royce Ghost, Wraith and Dawn. It is currently preparing the 6.7-litre naturally aspirated V12 that will power the new generation of the Phantom.

Mercedes-Benz

In addition to collaborating with Pagani and Aston Martin, Mercedes also has its own engines of these characteristics. The Mercedes S-Class and Maybach, a variant of those models, benefit from a 6.0-litre twin-turbo V12. But the jewel of the star brand lies in the AMG models. The S65, SL65 and G65 use this engine and achieve 621 CV of power and a maximum torque of 1,000 Nm. This means it cannot be used with many of the company’s transmissions and all-wheel-drive systems.

Toyota

A surprise we take from this list, since the V12 engine of the Japanese company is reserved for one of the models sold only in its country of origin. The Toyota Century uses a V12 block delivering 300 CV and a similar maximum torque, something that cannot be compared with other similar models. Still, a version of this car was prepared for members of the Japanese imperial family to ride in, so its pedigree is assured.

Via | Carscoops