Internal combustion engines have appeared in numerous configurations over the decades, but just when you think you’ve seen them all a carmaker decides to do things a little differently. Arranging the cylinders in a ‘W’ pattern isn’t a new idea – it dates back to the earlier part of the twentieth century – but it was certainly unusual for a modern road car, which made Volkswagen’s decision to launch its W12 engine somewhat notable. 2021 saw the impressive unit celebrate twenty years of production, but with its disappearance within sight as the switch to electric vehicles takes place it felt like the right time to explore this impressive engine in more detail.
Essentially, the W12 engine comprises four banks of three cylinders which share
