The W12 is a 12 cylinder internal combustion engine that is powerful yet compact. The engine is created by conjoining two V6 engines at a narrow-angle of 15° and an incline angle of 75°. The ‘W’ in the name signifies its unique configuration. Each cylinder bank contains one ore more cylinders.
The following paragraphs will answer what is a W12 engine, its working and its advantages.
History of W12
The first W12 engine was manufactured by D. Napier and Sons in 1917. This 24-Liter engine with four-cylinder banks and a single crankshaft was also called “Napier Lion”. It was capable of generating 900 hp and was one of the most powerful engines at that time. However, it was only used in aircraft and speed boats due to its heavyweight and size. During the 1980s, Volkswagen took charge of the W12 cars and resolved the issue by joining two V6 engines.
These new W12 engines contain 12 cylinders joined at a sharp angle. The cast aluminum alloy was used in manufacturing to reduce the heavyweight. Whereas, 48 valves bore diameter was also increased for enhancing its efficiency. Since then, the engine has been generally used by luxury and exotic car makers. Audi A8 was the first commercially available vehicle equipped with a W12 engine.
W12 Engine Layout
The W12 engine contains four-cylinder banks each containing three cylinders and the angle of V is 72°. It contains the stroke of the VR6 engine, but each cylinder has an increased bore diameter of 84mm. This helps in increasing the engine compression ratio that ultimately leads to a higher power. The higher power means higher friction heat, hence the engine is prepared from aluminum alloy to disperse heat.
The W12 works similarly to that of any internal combustion engine. All the cylinders are attached to a single crankshaft. The pistons descend and suck the air-to-fuel ratio. This mixture is compressed and combusted inside the closed cylinder. The entry created from combustion is transferred to the crankshaft that rotates the flywheel and transfers engine torque to the axle.
The firing sequence of W12 engines may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. These engines are naturally balanced, exempting the need of a balance shaft and increasing the efficiency of the engine. The W12 cars can produce a maximum of 900 hp and can speed from 0 to 95 km/h in just 3.5 seconds.
Benefits of W12 Engines
The W12 engine cars are exclusive to the top auto manufacturers across the globe. The usage of W12 in luxury sedans makes it synonymous with prestige. Here we have listed some of the core benefits of using W12 in cars.
AWD Drivetrain
The AWD drivetrain system requires additional components attached between the engine and axle for its adequate functioning. The compact size of W12 provides enough space for these components to fix properly.
Smoothness
The smoothness of W12 engines are higher in comparison to the power it generates. The main reason for this can be the angle of V and the number of cylinders. .
Exclusivity
The W12s are exclusive and rare to high-end cars. The engine is largely used by auto manufacturers like Bentley and Audi.
V12 Vs W12
The W12 and V12 engines are often compared in terms of performance, as both contain a similar number of cylinders. Despite having the same number of cylinders, the configuration and performance of both engines vary greatly. Now, that you know what does a W12 engine mean, let’s discuss the difference between W12 and V12.
The first difference is in the configuration, the W12 is arranged in a ‘W’ shape. Whereas, the V12 are the traditional ‘V’ shape engines. Moreover, the V12 engines have two cylinder banks and the W12 have four-cylinder banks that impact smoothness.
Contrary to these postulates, the similarity in both the engines is: smoothness, high power and exclusivity.
That is all the important information about a W12 engine. These engines are known for their higher performance and efficiency. If you are still driving a car with a low-power engine, it is time to upgrade your vehicle. Browse through these used cars for sale in the UAE, and leverage them from high-power engines. We have also enlisted some considerable car models with W12 engines.
Stay tuned to the favorite auto blog of the UAE for more information on car engines.
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