Twelve-cylinder cult: W12 unit from VW – no trace of downsizing

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• W12 unit from VW – no trace of downsizing
• Noble and strong – the new Mercedes S 600
• Flying Spur W12 with 14.7 liters standard consumption
• A beautiful dream in matt gray
• Continental GT with W12 develops 575 hp
• Two small Rolls-Royce with big engines

W12 unit from VW – no trace of downsizing

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Phaeton and Touareg are no longer offered as twelve-cylinder, but you can still order the Audi A8 with them.

Source: Audi

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The W12 unit has even been extensively modified for the current A8.

Source: Audi

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The displacement grew from six to 6.3 liters, and the fuel is now injected directly. The engine has an output of 500 hp.

Source: Audi

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The Bentley Flying with twelve cylinders, however, remains below the six-liter limit.

Source: Bentley

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The W12 has exactly 5998 cubic centimeters.

Source: Bentley

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But since the machine is ventilated by two turbochargers, its output exceeds that of the top A8 by 125 hp. The top speed is 320 km / h.

Source: Bentley

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If you like it a bit sportier, you can also use the Bentley Continental in the Volkswagen Group. Both the Coupe GT and …

Source: Bentley

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… the GTC luxury convertible is available in two different twelve-cylinder versions. In the "normal" W12 variant, the Continental has 575 hp, and as the W12 Speed ​​even 625 hp.

Source: Bentley

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There may soon be another series with a W12 unit. Although it has not yet been pronounced openly, it is reasonable to assume that the announced SUV …powered by a twelve-cylinder Bentley.

Source: Bentley

While the trend is towards small engines, the twelve-cylinder cult is cultivated in luxury cars. The VW Group offers W12 engines in three model series. The unit has a great future.

Nelsewhere, the reciprocating pistons of an engine are arranged as extravagantly as in the luxury and comfort-oriented models of the VW Group: in a W-shape. The technical peculiarity goes back to the chairman of the supervisory board, Ferdinand Piëch, who likes to think outside the box and in doing so quickly abandons tried and tested concepts such as that of the traditional V12.

In the meantime, the exotic twelve-cylinder with a 72 degree bank angle and 15 degree cylinder angle has become a constant in the group. With a characteristic sound, silky smoothness and vehement thrust, it drives the Audi A8, all small Bentley versions from Continental to Flying Spur, the VW Phaeton and the VW Touareg in different versions.

Although the two Wolfsburg models have since disappeared from the range as the W12, the famous engine, which the developers initially did not see as a problem with fuel consumption, still exists. The unit has been extensively modified for the current Audi A8; the displacement grew to 6.3 liters and the fuel is now injected directly.

Noble and strong – the new Mercedes S 600

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The sixth generation of the Mercedes S-Class has been on the market since mid-2013, and Daimler is now presenting the twelve-cylinder luxury class at the Detroit Motor Show.

Source: Daimler AG

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The S 600 rightly bears its name: because the luxury liner has six liters of displacement under the hood.

Source: Daimler AG

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Sales start in March, the starting price is estimated at 140,000 euros.

Source: Daimler AG

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With its 530 HP and a maximum torque of 850 Nm, the driver of this sedan chair can accelerate from zero to 100 km / h in around four seconds.

Source: Daimler AG

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With such impressive values, one reckons with consumption values ​​of astronomical heights. Mercedes, however, specifies the standard value with 11.1 liters, which is 20 percent less than with… Previous model with less power.

Source: Daimler AG

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Mercedes S 600, upper class, S-class, Daimler, January 2014

Source: Daimler AG

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However, innovations are not only found under the hood of the S 600, but also in the cockpit. Here Mercedes offers some extras that are actually already being introduced to the new…en S-Class expected.

Source: Daimler AG

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For the first time, buyers of the S 600 can order a head-up display as well…

Source: Daimler AG

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… the touchpad as a new operating concept in the center tunnel.

Source: Daimler AG

The top A8 is perhaps the most inconspicuous form in the VW group of driving the second most luxurious W engine after the sixteen-cylinder of the Bugatti Veyron. The connoisseur identifies the 500 hp A8 by means of the double struts in the radiator grille. The W12 lettering on the door sills is another insignia.

With a brief push of a button, the mighty six-three wakes up and promptly falls into an almost inaudible idle state. Selector lever in "D", and the twelve with cylinder deactivation pushes the 2.2-ton truck powerfully. With an acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h in 4.6 seconds, the all-wheel drive is one of the fastest in the country.

Flying Spur W12 with 14.7 liters standard consumption

In order to be able to fully enjoy the comfort in the rear, the electrically adjustable individual seats are required. For the extra cost of 8800 euros, you get a center console without interruption to the front.

Even without these features, the Flying Spur is taken seriously as a luxury liner. The 5.30 meter long Bentley with the mighty grill at a base price of 193,302 euros offers a continuous bench seat as standard. But one on which two-meter men can comfortably stretch their legs.

A beautiful dream in matt gray

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At night when it rains on a dirt road: LED street lights illuminate the F12 Berlinetta, which is painted in matt gray, and of course …

Source: Stefan Anker

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… the Cavallino Rampante, the jumping horse on the trademark. The letters SF stand for Scuderia Ferrari.

Source: Stefan Anker

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Night or day, the subtle lines of the super sports car are always recognizable, even if it …

Source: Stefan Anker

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… does a few extravagances like moving into the fender and door. By the way, there is really a hole between the upper fender section and the bonnet – the whole thing is for better airflow…t flow.

Source: Stefan Anker

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Inside, the F12 welcomes its driver with a digital cockpit and the typical, flattened steering wheel with a display on top. When you accelerate, red dots appear there, d…Indicate that the maximum speed will soon be reached. The red switch at the bottom right is called Manettino. This sets the mode of operation of the control systems.

Source: Stefan Anker

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Wherever you look in the cockpit of the F12, you will find carbon, leather and aluminum. The ventilation nozzles milled from solid are a particular eye-catcher.

Source: Stefan Anker

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In addition to the Manettino, there is another red dot on the steering wheel: the start button is located at the bottom left. Before you press it, you have to turn the ignition key in the lock…hen, and you also need the key to turn off the engine.

Source: Stefan Anker

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There are only three buttons in the center console: R for reverse gear, Auto for automatically changing gears (normally you do this with the large shift paddles lin…ks and to the right of the steering wheel) and Launch for using the launch control. It helps the driver to start suddenly at an increased speed.

Source: Stefan Anker

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The 6.3 liter twelve-cylinder is installed behind the front axle, so that only 46 percent of the car’s weight of just 1630 kilograms rests on the front axle.

Source: Stefan Anker

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Typically the V12 has red cylinder heads, even if the car today …

Source: Stefan Anker

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… no longer bears the appropriate name Testarossa.

Source: Stefan Anker

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In profile, the entire elegance of the 4.62-meter-long Ferrari is shown once again – as well as its aerodynamic efficiency. Spoilers are frowned upon in Maranello, the rear …

Source: Stefan Anker

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… receives the necessary downforce through a diffuser and a ground effect designed underbody. The air is guided in such a way that the car moves more and more a…nsucks.

Source: Stefan Anker

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The front of the F12 Berlinetta is also rather unspectacular and does not require a large spoiler.

Source: Stefan Anker

Single rear seats can also be ordered for this British model with a W12 engine concept – but then the Bentley will be more expensive by three and a half thousand euros. Perhaps a flaw for Bentley drivers with the arrogance of class: The Flying Spur 6.0 W12 with 14.7 liter standard consumption and eight-speed automatic transmission remains below the six-liter limit; the W12 comes up with exactly 5998 cubic centimeters.

But since the machine is ventilated by two turbochargers, its output exceeds that of the top A8 by 125 hp. And since, in contrast to the version from Ingolstadt, it is not regulated, the Bentley reaches Tempo 320, which earns it the title of “fastest production sedan”.

Continental GT with W12 develops 575 hp

In practice, it turns out that the two-and-a-half-tonne truck trimmed to a dresser needs a long run-up to break the 300 km / h mark. It’s not a super sports car. Even mild bends on the fast runway become hard work for the pilot, and strong crosswinds at high speeds also make the limousine difficult.

In most cases the driver will handle a Flying Spur rather gently; and the rear occupants can use a display to check what the person behind the wheel is doing.

Two small Rolls-Royce with big engines

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New and old: There are only twelve years between the 2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost (left) and the Silver Seraph, the optical one …

Source: Spotpress

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… The impression is, however, a completely different one. In terms of design, the Silver Seraph has little more to offer than neat British conservatism.

Source: Spotpress

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Incidentally, both interpret the same measure of length so differently, the Ghost measures 5.40, the Silver Seraph 5.39 meters. This means that they are both part of the small Rolls-Royce series…, each located below the phantom.

Source: Spotpress

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The engines also have one thing in common: both twelve-cylinder units come from BMW; that of the Ghost has, however, been further refined compared to the engine of the BMW 7 Series, while in 1998 the… BMW engine transplanted into the Silver Seraph without any further changes.

Source: Spotpress

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In the interior, too, you can clearly see which car exudes the classic, somewhat dusty nobility (namely the Silver Seraph), and which car …

Source: Spotpress

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… combines noble materials with massive, self-confident design. It’s like the exterior design and the technology: there are far more than two small Rolls-Royces between the two …twelve years.

Source: Spotpress

Those who like it sportier can take the Coupe Continental GT. The base price for the two-door model with the W12, which develops 575 hp, starts at 188,972 euros. As powerful as the mighty six-liter engine is, and as nimble as it makes the British, it is extremely front-heavy. As far as the background noise is concerned, the two Bentleys leave a better impression than the technocratically cool Audi A8.

On the other hand: Many buyers may not have the courage to buy a Bentley, after all, you can cruise the streets unmolested in an A8 while passers-by turn their heads to a Bentley.

Despite all of the manufacturers’ downsizing projects, the W12 is still expected to have a great future – both in the luxury class and in the upper class. And the legacy of the Volkswagen Touareg W12 may even be adopted by Bentley’s upcoming SUV. There are rumors that it will also be powered by the W12, which has long since matured into a tradition.

This would mean there is another series that does not take the manufacturers’ shrinkage treatments into account. Good news for old displacement fans. Good prospects for customers who do not have to downsize themselves financially.

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