Power And Elegance: Can You Name These V12-Powered Automobiles?

Vasilii Kulev profile picture

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Last updated · 8 min play time

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!


Vasilii 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?

  • A
    Pagani Zonda
  • B
    Lamborghini Miura
  • C
    Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale
  • D
    Iso Grifo

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?

  • A
    BMW 760iL
  • B
    Mercedes-Benz S600 Pullman
  • C
    Rolls-Royce Phantom
  • D
    Bentley Mulsanne

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?

  • A
    Spyker C8
  • B
    Bugatti EB110
  • C
    BMW Nazca C2
  • D
    Volkswagen W12 Nardó

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.

  • A
    Audi RS Q8
  • B
    Porsche Cayenne Turbo S
  • C
    Lamborghini Urus
  • D
    Audi Q7 V12 TDi

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?

  • A
    Ferrari Enzo
  • B
    McLaren P1
  • C
    McLaren F1
  • D
    Lexus LFA

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?

  • A
    Mercedes-Benz 560SEC
  • B
    Aston Martin DB7
  • C
    BMW 850i
  • D
    Audi TT

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?

  • A
    Hispano-Suiza J12
  • B
    Cadillac V12
  • C
    Packard Twin-Six
  • D
    Mercedes-Benz 600

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?

  • A
    Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series
  • B
    Porsche 918 Spyder
  • C
    Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR
  • D
    Porsche 911 GT1

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?

  • A
    BMW 750i
  • B
    Jaguar E-Type
  • C
    Jaguar XJ12
  • D
    Mercedes-Benz 300SEL 6.3

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?

  • A
    Ferrari 400 Superamerica
  • B
    Ferrari 500 Superfast
  • C
    Ferrari 250 GTO
  • D
    Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder

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?

  • A
    Audi R8
  • B
    Aston Martin DBS Superleggera
  • C
    Jaguar F-Type
  • D
    Aston Martin DB9

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?

  • A
    Bentley Continental GT
  • B
    Volkswagen Phaeton
  • C
    Volkswagen Passat
  • D
    Audi A8

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?

  • A
    Ferrari F50
  • B
    Pagani Zonda
  • C
    Lamborghini Diablo
  • D
    Lamborghini Murciélago

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?

  • A
    Maserati MC12
  • B
    Pagani Zonda
  • C
    Pagani Huayra
  • D
    Alfa Romeo 8C

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?

  • A
    Jeep Cherokee XJ
  • B
    Lamborghini LM002
  • C
    Bertone Freeclimber
  • D
    Mercedes-Benz G-Class

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?

  • A
    Lexus LS400
  • B
    Toyota Century
  • C
    Mercedes-Benz S600
  • D
    Nissan President

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?

  • A
    Locomotives
  • B
    Airplanes
  • C
    Racing boats
  • D
    Tanks

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?

  • A
    Ferrari 812 Superfast
  • B
    McLaren GT
  • C
    Ferrari GTC4 Lusso
  • D
    Lamborghini Huracan

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?

  • A
    Mercedes-Benz SL600
  • B
    Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG
  • C
    Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG
  • D
    Mercedes-Benz E400

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?

  • A
    They operate at a lower temperature due to their size
  • B
    They have an even firing order
  • C
    They have a very narrow cylinder bank angle
  • D
    They are symmetrical

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