How many cylinders does the Audi A8 W12 have?
3 Answers
The Audi A8 W12 has a 12-cylinder engine. The Audi A8L W12 is equipped with a 6.0L W-shaped 12-cylinder engine. Engine cylinder counts are typically categorized into 3, 4, 6, 8, and 12 cylinders, as detailed below: 1. A 3-cylinder engine has a displacement below 1 liter. 2. A 4-cylinder engine has a displacement of 2.5 liters. 3. A 6-cylinder engine has a displacement of around 3 liters. 4. An 8-cylinder engine has a displacement of 4 liters. 5. A 12-cylinder engine has a displacement of over 5 liters, and 12-cylinder engines are generally used in luxury cars.
I once drove my friend's Audi A8 W12, and this car was truly impressive. The W12 engine essentially has 12 cylinders, but its structure is quite unique—unlike traditional inline or V-type arrangements, it's arranged in three rows like the letter W, essentially combining two sets of V6 engines. This design allows it to fit 12 cylinders into a limited space while delivering powerful and smooth performance. However, it feels a bit excessive for daily use; in traffic jams, you barely utilize half of its potential, and the fuel consumption is particularly high. Such top-tier flagship engines are becoming increasingly rare these days, especially with the growing popularity of electric vehicles. But the roar of those large-displacement engines is truly something to miss.
As a seasoned master mechanic specializing in luxury cars, I'm intimately familiar with the Audi A8 W12's engine. The W12 designation indicates it's equipped with a 12-cylinder engine, featuring a W-configuration where two VR6 engine banks share a common crankshaft. While this design offers excellent space efficiency, it's notoriously difficult to service—even replacing spark plugs requires disassembling half the engine bay. Important note: This large-displacement engine demands high-quality fuel—98 octane is strongly recommended in China to prevent knocking. Don't cut corners on maintenance either—always use VW 502-compliant full synthetic oil, or you risk camshaft issues.
