Sometimes it seems we’re drinking in the Last Chance saloon where engines we actually want in our cars are concerned. But, of course, we’re not. A last chance offers at least the hope of redemption, an opportunity to mend our wicked ways. But so far as the V12 engine is concerned, it’s the No Chance saloon, the place you go to get absolutely plastered before being wiped off the face of the planet.
Which is why there are so many of them. If I can be allowed to mix my metaphors, it’s called making hay while the sun shines, because everyone can see it’s about to slip beneath the horizon, never to return.
BMW has one, as does Bentley (okay, a W12 but let’s not sweat the small stuff here), Aston Martin, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Rolls-Royce and Mercedes-Benz, such as that fitted to this S65. And let’s not forget that Cosworth has recently been commissioned to design from scratch brand-new V12s for both Aston Martin’s Valkyrie and Gordon Murray Automotive’s T.50. You’d barely believe there was a problem at all.
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Straff
Start up
You've forgotten the unique sound of a V12 firing up, Andrew! The whine of the starter motor before it bursts into life.
I'm lucky to own a V12 and several V8s. Both fantastic sounding engines
eseaton
Some rare and very welcome
Well done Andrew.
I am curiously growing to dislike the AMG 4.0 turbo. Not because it is a bad engine. It is certainly effective. But there is an element of fraud about it.
It is no 6.2 V8, and certainly no V12.
TheSaintmobile
There come time brand with
There come time brand with V12 are to go before 2025. Jaguar already did in 1997, 3 years before new Millium year 2000 replaced by V8. German brands like Audi, BMW & Mercedes Benz are likely get rid of the V12 too. Italian brand Lamborghi & Fearrari be V8 brand only without V12. Aston Martin will remain their V12 till 2030 when their model become hybrid & electric. Bentley & Rolls Royce I don't know.
david RS
You should celebrate the
You should celebrate the endangered Car.
Sundym
And what about the Jag V12?
vdorta
I just want to add
that part of the magic was due to the original 60-degree vee angle. The latter 65-degree angle to allow for more space doesn't sound as smooth and musical but sharper and more towards the sound of a flat-crank V-8. I still love it, though.
Uncle Mellow
RR V12
Autocar used to test secondhand cars in the 1960s, and when they tested a pre-war V12 Royce the tester commented that you could start it by just turning on the ignition - there was always likely to be a piston at TDC with some petrol vapour remaining....
405line
Straight to the point
The only 2 configuarations that are primarily and secondarily balanced are Straight 6's and V12's as per Aston Martin.
scrap
Another little bit of
Another little bit of nostalgia in this article... used to be that a magazine couldn’t show it had tested a car properly unless it included at least one shot of the car going sideways. This justified a few paragraphs describing what happened when you approached and then over stepped the limit...
Obviously cars have much higher limits these days and there are fewer opportunities on public roads to indulge them. So well done on getting the big Merc out of shape Andrew!
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