X-Nico

14 unusual facts about V12 engine


Ferrari 166 S

The 1.5 L Gioacchino Colombo-designed V12 engine of the 125 was changed, however, with single overhead camshafts specified and a larger 2.0 L (1995 cc/121 in³) displacement.

Ferrari 195 S

The two cars, one open and one closed coupe, shared that car's 2250 mm (89 in) wheelbase but sported an enlarged 2.3 L (2341 cc/142 in³) version of the Colombo V12.

Ferrari 290 MM

Engine was a V12 at 60°, derived from the 4.5 liter which was then used in the scuderia's Formula One cars.

Ferrari 315 S

The 315 S mounted a frontal V12 engine at 60°, with two valves per cylinder, for a total displacement of 3783,40 cm³.

Ferrari 333 SP

While the 333 SP was on its planning stages, Ferrari contracted Italian motor racing chassis manufacturer Dallara to develop the chassis and tub, leaving the maker to concentrate on the engine, a version of the V12 powerplant used in the 1992 Ferrari F92A Formula One car, enlarged to 4.0 L, with power around 600 bhp (around 450 kW).

Ferrari 335 S

An evolution of the 315 S, it had V12 engine with a greater 4023 cm³ displacement and a maximum power of 390 HP at 7400 rpm; the maximum speed was around 300 km/h.

Ferrari Monza

In the early 1950s, Ferrari shifted from using the compact Gioacchino Colombo-designed V12 engine in its smallest class of sports racers to a line of four-cylinder engines designed by Aurelio Lampredi.

Garland SF-03

Engine position = mid-mounted
SF-03/G: GIO V Spec-01 (Spec-02) cyber cycle hydrogen 4,497 cc V12 with twin boost pods, mid-mounted

Jaguar XJR-12

Weighing 900 kg, and powered by a 7 L 60 degree SOHC V12 developing 730 hp / 545 kW @ 7000 rpm, and 579 ft.-lb. / 785 N·m @ 5500 rpm, the XJR-12 could hit 368 km/h / 229 mph.

Lola B08/60

In November 2007 Aston Martin reached an agreement with Lola to purchase the first B08/60 and installing the 6.0 litre V12 from the DBR9 race car.

Nissan R382

Although the previous R381 had shown its potential in terms of aerodynamics and reliability, the car had been unable to use the planned 600 hp 5954cc V12 engine that Prince was building for Nissan.

Built to the Group 7 motorsports formula, the car featured Nissan's first V12 engine.

Nissan R383

The R383 would retain the GRX-3 5954cc V12 engine from the R382, yet would see power improved to 700 hp.

Ulrich Baretzky

Ulrich Baretzky is "?title=Audi">Audi Sports' Head of Engine Technology, and has been credited with developing the V12 TDI engine, used in the Audi R10 racecar.


Ailsa Craig Engines

Named after the island Ailsa Craig, the company began as a bicycle manufacturer in Glasgow in 1891, later moving to Putney, in London where the then owner went into partnership and set about building early vehicles, going on to produce the world's first V12 engine and even a petrol engined vacuum cleaner for Hubert Cecil Booth in 1904.

Brabham BT60

The first car, the BT60Y was powered by the Yamaha OX99 V12 engine and was driven by Martin Brundle, returning to Brabham and F1 again after driving for Jaguar in the World Sportscar Championship.

Cadillac V16 engine

With its chief competitor, Packard, already having sold a V12 engine against Cadillac's eight-cylinder cars, work began late in the 1920s under Hemmings to produce a car of real impact.

Continental Motors, Inc.

Although Continental is most well known for its engines for light aircraft, it was also contracted to produce the air-cooled V-12 AV-1790-5B gasoline engine for the U.S. Army's M47 Patton tank and the diesel AVDS-1790-2A and its derivatives for the M48, M60 Patton and Merkava main battle tanks.

Germany–Israel relations

The Merkava 4, uses a German MTU MB 873 Ka-501 air-cooled diesel V12 engine produced under license.

Royal Aircraft Factory C.E.1

The first prototype, powered by a 230 hp (172 kW) RAF 3 V12 engine driving a four-bladed propeller was completed at Farnborough late in 1917, being sent to Hamble near Southampton for final assembly and initial flight testing on 25 December.