Power And Elegance: Can You Name These V12-Powered Automobiles?
Written by Vasilii Kulev
Last updated · 8 min play time
Due to the ever-increasing fuel economy and emissions standards, V12 engines are a dying breed. And that's a shame because there's just something special about driving a car with a double-digit cylinder count. Test your knowledge of V12-powered cars with our quiz!
When Mercedes-Benz presented the new generation of their flagship S-Class sedan in the last weeks of 2020, the car world mourned the fact that the S-Class will no longer be offered with the iconic V12 engine (apart from the opulent Maybach versions).
V12 engines are only getting rarer and rarer. There are many factors to blame for that, starting with the ever-increasing fuel economy and emissions standards and going to the sheer cost and complexity of these sophisticated motors.
V12s have always been valued by the upper echelon of car manufacturers for their unparalleled smoothness and high performance. Nowadays, similar smoothness and performance can be achieved by V8s or even V6s, essentially rendering V12 engines obsolete.
Still, we believe that V12s and V12-powered cars should be celebrated as a pinnacle of automotive design and engineering! If you agree, jump right into our quiz to test your V12 knowledge!
Quiz written by
Vasilii KulevVasilii Kulev is a digital marketing specialist during business hours and a trivia writer in his spare time. His areas of interest range from cars and music to science, history, and food. Whenever he's not busy writing quizzes, you can catch him at the local used records store or the newest craft beer bar. He also wrote this entire bio himself in third person.
V12 Cars Quiz Questions
20 Questions · 158 Plays · No comments
Question 1
Born out of a feud between two hot-tempered Italian gentlemen as a passion project by a handful of rebellious engineers, this V12-powered beauty practically invented the term supercar. You already know what car we're talking about, right?
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APagani Zonda
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BLamborghini Miura
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CAlfa Romeo 33 Stradale
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DIso Grifo
Lamborghini Miura
With the Miura, Lamborghini did not invent the V12 engine or the mid-engine layout. What they did, however, is made them desired and special. The 3.9-liter unit in the Miura is almost as iconic as the car itself, with its 350-hp power output and a soundtrack to match.
Question 2
When you're a car manufacturer that stands for absolute luxury no matter the cost, V12 is probably the only engine choice that would be appropriate. Can you identify this V12-powered palace on wheels?
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ABMW 760iL
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BMercedes-Benz S600 Pullman
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CRolls-Royce Phantom
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DBentley Mulsanne
Rolls-Royce Phantom
Even in comparison to the finest automobiles money can buy, the Rolls-Royce Phantom is a car from another league. Starting from the conservative styling, the unmatched road presence, and the incomprehensible interior craftsmanship to the powerplant, a twin-turbocharged 6.75l V12, it's a luxury car like no other.
Question 3
Unveiled in 1991, this supercar was an attempt to revive a once-revered luxury car marque. While it wasn't so successful, it definitely left a mark on the car industry. What car are we talking about?
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ASpyker C8
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BBugatti EB110
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CBMW Nazca C2
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DVolkswagen W12 Nardó
Bugatti EB110
While the EB110 was not as successful as its successors, developed by Volkswagen, it was still a magnificent supercar that was a Bugatti to the bone. It was opulent, rare, expensive and, above all, incredibly fast. The latter should be credited to its extreme powerplant - a 3.5l quad-turbocharged V12 rated for 550 horsepower.
Question 4
Here's yet another oddball on this list - but not only because it's a V12-powered SUV. There is another much more bizarre aspect to it - name the car correctly and we'll tell you what it is.
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AAudi RS Q8
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BPorsche Cayenne Turbo S
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CLamborghini Urus
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DAudi Q7 V12 TDi
Audi Q7 V12 TDi
In case you haven't already figured it out from the "TDi" designation, the weirdest part about the Q7 V12 is that it runs on diesel! That's right, in 2008 Audi developed a diesel-powered 6.0-liter V12. We'll never why, but we know is that it was a brutal powerplant, with a power output of 500 horsepower and enough torque to pull a freight train - 740 lb-ft, to be exact.
Question 5
Widely regarded as the greatest sports car of all time, this iconic supercar was powered by a BMW-developed V12. We don't need to say anything else, do we?
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AFerrari Enzo
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BMcLaren P1
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CMcLaren F1
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DLexus LFA
McLaren F1
The story behind the F1's engine is as legendary as the car itself. Developed by BMW, the 6.1-liter unit was based on the S50 straight-six found in the E36 BMW M3. The result was a 618-horsepower beast that helped the F1 claim the title of the faster production car in the world.
Question 6
Released in 1990, this grand tourer was gorgeous, expensive, and ridiculously over-engineered - just like a V12 car should be. Can you identify it?
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AMercedes-Benz 560SEC
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BAston Martin DB7
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CBMW 850i
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DAudi TT
BMW 850i
The 5.0-liter found in the 850i was actually the first German road-going V12 engine, prompting Mercedes to develop one on their own for the W140 S600. Thanks to the engine's 350-hp output, the 850i could accelerate all the way to 186 mph.
Question 7
This luxury car manufacturer that emerged at the turn of the 20th century is known for making the first road-going V12-powered car ever. Which model was that?
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AHispano-Suiza J12
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BCadillac V12
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CPackard Twin-Six
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DMercedes-Benz 600
Packard Twin-Six
Released in 1915, the Packard Twin-Six was among the most expensive, opulent, and fastest cars money could buy. It was only natural that it was powered by a V12 - a 6.9-liter unit that cranked out 88hp and gave the car a 60mph cruising speed - a mind-boggling number at the time.
Question 8
Loosely based on a mid-size luxury coupe, this limited-production racecar for the road was built to satisfy the FIA homologation rules. And as it usually happens in such cases, the result was stunning. Can you name this supercar?
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AMercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series
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BPorsche 918 Spyder
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CMercedes-Benz CLK GTR
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DPorsche 911 GT1
Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR
Despite the name, the CLK GTR has little in common with the regular Mercedes CLK coupes, apart from a few design elements. When it first came out, it was the most expensive new car in history with a price tag of over $1.5 million. Naturally, it had an engine to match - a 6.9-liter V12 with 604 horsepower.
Question 9
In the postwar period, V12 engines were only available in extreme sports cars and racecars. However, this sedan changed everything as the only V12-powered four-door car at the time. What car are we talking about?
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ABMW 750i
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BJaguar E-Type
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CJaguar XJ12
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DMercedes-Benz 300SEL 6.3
Jaguar XJ12
When the Series 1 Jaguar XJ12 came out in 1972, it was not just the only V12-powered sedan on sale, it was also the fastest, with a top speed of around 140 mph.
Question 10
Ferrari is almost synonymous with high-revving, powerful V12s - their first road-going car was powered by one, after all. However, nothing can eclipse this car, widely considered to be one of the best sports cars ever made. Can you identify it?
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AFerrari 400 Superamerica
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BFerrari 500 Superfast
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CFerrari 250 GTO
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DFerrari 250 GT California Spyder
Ferrari 250 GTO
Essentially a racecar for the road, the 250 GTO's fame, brilliance, and outstanding performance is largely due to its V12 engine. The 3.0-liter motor designed by Gioacchino Colombo pushed out around 300 horsepower, making the GTO one of the fastest cars on the road in 1962.
Question 11
While the manufacturer of this supercar isn't as associated with V12 engines as, say, Ferrari or Lamborghini, it's among the few car brands out there keeping the V12s alive. What's the name of this twelve-cylinder beauty?
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AAudi R8
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BAston Martin DBS Superleggera
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CJaguar F-Type
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DAston Martin DB9
Aston Martin DBS Superleggera
Despite its turbulent history, one thing Aston Martin has stayed true to are its V12 engines - and the DBS Superleggera is no exception. Its twin-turbocharged 5.2-liter unit cranks out a whopping 715 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque, allowing the hefty grand tourer to accelerate from 0 to 100 mph in only 6.4 seconds.
Question 12
While this sedan is not technically powered by a V12, the design of its engine is close enough for it to be featured on this list - especially considering just how special and unusual the car is. Can you identify it?
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ABentley Continental GT
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BVolkswagen Phaeton
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CVolkswagen Passat
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DAudi A8
Volkswagen Phaeton
The Phaeton was Volkswagen's attempt to offer a full-size luxury sedan experience in a more understated package. However, that doesn't mean that it was a lesser car - especially considering its top engine option, the 6.0-liter W12 unit capable of 444 hp.
Question 13
This supercar is a true 2000s pop culture icon, appearing in countless music videos, video games, and bedroom wall posters. To this day, it's considered to be one of the marque's best-looking, best-sounding, and best-performing vehicles. Can you name it?
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AFerrari F50
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BPagani Zonda
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CLamborghini Diablo
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DLamborghini Murciélago
Lamborghini Murciélago
The Murciélago was the first Lamborghini to be developed under Volkswagen ownership. And despite the initial skepticism, it was a hit thanks to the gorgeous styling and the incredible performance courtesy of the 6.2-liter, 572-hp V12.
Question 14
Gorgeous, fast and outrageous - this Italian supercar is the vehicle to go for when the likes of Ferrari and Lamborghini just aren't interesting enough. And just like a true Italian supercar, it's powered by a V12 engine. What is the car in question?
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AMaserati MC12
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BPagani Zonda
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CPagani Huayra
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DAlfa Romeo 8C
Pagani Huayra
The bonkers multi-million dollar Huayra is as Italian as a car can get - even its side mirrors are styled to resemble a woman's eyes. However, that doesn't apply to the Huayra's engine - its 6.0-liter V12 actually comes from Mercedes-Benz's performance division AMG, who modified their famed M275 powerplant to fit Pagani's needs.
Question 15
When this extreme SUV first came out in 1982, there was no such thing as high-performance off-roaders. Most of them were relatively underpowered and utilitarian, so this V12-powered beast definitely stood out. What SUV are we talking about?
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AJeep Cherokee XJ
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BLamborghini LM002
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CBertone Freeclimber
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DMercedes-Benz G-Class
Lamborghini LM002
Also known as the "Rambo Lambo" for its brutish appearance, the LM002 was as brilliant as it was absurd. Not only was it ridiculously heavy and expensive, but it was also powered by the 5.2-liter V12 from the Lamborghini Countach.
Question 16
This car is very different from the others on the list - it's not a head-turning supercar but, rather, a very conservative luxury sedan. What it has in common with the other cars featured here, however, is its twelve-cylinder heart. Can you identify it?
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ALexus LS400
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BToyota Century
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CMercedes-Benz S600
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DNissan President
Toyota Century
The Japan-only Century was built with one goal in mind - to provide the highest levels of serenity and comfort possible to its occupants. For that goal, nothing but a purpose-built naturally-aspirated V12 would do. The 5.0l unit might not be very powerful at 276 horsepower, yet it's incredibly quiet and buttery-smooth - all you need from an engine in a luxury car.
Question 17
A little trivia about the V12 engine layout itself: while it's most famous for powering luxurious European sports cars, it had a different application originally. Can you guess which one?
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ALocomotives
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BAirplanes
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CRacing boats
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DTanks
Racing boats
The first-ever V12 engine was developed by the London-based Putney Motor Works in 1904. Intended for boat racing, the engine boasted a displacement of 18.4 liters and a power output of around 150 horsepower.
Question 18
This specimen brilliantly combines the performance of a track-focused supercar with the practicality of a family hatchback - while packing a sweet-sounding V12 under the hood. Can you name it?
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AFerrari 812 Superfast
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BMcLaren GT
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CFerrari GTC4 Lusso
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DLamborghini Huracan
Ferrari GTC4 Lusso
Just like it's predecessor, the FF, the four-seat GTC4 Lusso is somewhat of a controversial subject for Ferrari fans. Some praise its versatility, others disparage its styling. What they seem to agree on, however, is that the 680-horsepower naturally-aspirated 6.3-liter V12 engine that powers the hatchback/shooting brake is among the finest engines Ferrari has ever put in a car.
Question 19
Nothing beats a big, comfortable V12-powered German luxury coupe - and this one is arguably one of the finest examples ever created if you don't mind the mind-boggling gas station receipts. Can you name the car in question?
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AMercedes-Benz SL600
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BMercedes-Benz S63 AMG
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CMercedes-Benz CL65 AMG
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DMercedes-Benz E400
Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG
Before it was discontinued, the Mercedes CL-Class was the essential two-door version of the S-Class sedan. As such, the two models have always had similar engine options, including the insane 6.0-liter bi-turbo V12 in the top-of-the-line CL65 AMG version. With 630 hp and 738 lb-ft of torque, it was made to sit comfortably at 150 mph for hours without breaking a sweat.
Question 20
One of the best-known advantages of V12 engines is their smoothness. However, what's not so well-known is why exactly they are so smooth - can you guess?
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AThey operate at a lower temperature due to their size
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BThey have an even firing order
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CThey have a very narrow cylinder bank angle
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DThey are symmetrical
They are symmetrical
The main reason behind the smoothness and the linear power delivery of V12 engines is rather simple. Just like straight-six engines, V12s are symmetrical in their operation - when a piston in one of the cylinder goes up, the piston on the opposing cylinder goes down. This means that both straight-sixes and V12s perfect engine balance and almost no vibration if tuned properly.
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