What exactly is a W12 Engine?

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=522704

 

Here is a picture of one head. Notice how much shorter it is by not having all the cylinders in a straight line.

15 degrees represents the misalignedness in one head, while 72 degrees is the angulation between banks of 6 offset center cylinders.

 

Doesn't get much clearer than "2 VR6s" to me. The picture above is a VR6. Basically, it takes a lot less room than an online 6, but somewhat maintains the quality of the inline 6. Now picture 2 VR6s, both on the same crank. Basically like a V12, but the cylinder are squished like in the picture above, to make for a more compact engine, and more engineering headaches.

edit : here are some W12 pics ... can't find a good cutaway ...

http://www.***************.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=15044

http://www.***************.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=15052

http://www.newspress.co.uk/np12p/audi/a8/a8_6_0_w12.jpg

http://www.valueparts.com.tw/database/tech/image/W12_1.jpg

http://www.valueparts.com.tw/database/tech/image/W12_2.jpg

VR6 engine : http://www.valueparts.com.tw/database/tech/image/VR6_1.jpg

 

In this listing the V8 crankshaft is a 90 degree (sometimes called a 360 degree) crank for Americal-like V8 engines. The flat plane crank of Ferrari engines is more similar to the W6 crank in its webing and balance weight system.

 

The use of narrow angled V's is definitely not a VW invention as Lancia used it many moons ago with their v4's. They even had just one cylinder head (not sure about the VW engine) that went right across.

Pete

 

Here's a Prototype
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