Do Americans dislike v12's but love v8's?
Discussion
redtwin said:
V8s will do everything V12s will do while using less fuel.
V12 is a far more balanced engineJust as an I6 is much more balanced than an I4.
V8 is two I4 welded together while v12 two I6 and are renound for the smoothness.
Point taken re length also more parts to go wrong.
V8 doesn't sound as good as a v12 - though I'd love a v8.
V12's have more power on an identical capacity comparison due to the fact the more cylinders the more torque all else being equal same heads etc.
Fuel economy valid point but traditionally fuel was dead cheap.
As an aside for UK and European trucks are these mainly huge capacity I6's?
Welshbeef said:
V12 is a far more balanced engine
Just as an I6 is much more balanced than an I4.
V8 is two I4 welded together while v12 two I6 and are renound for the smoothness.
I can't say I have ever driven a V8 (I have owned 4 and driven quite a few others) and came away thinking that it was rough or lacked balance. The V12 maybe be smoother, but if the V8 is smooth enough...Just as an I6 is much more balanced than an I4.
V8 is two I4 welded together while v12 two I6 and are renound for the smoothness.
Whatever the advantages of the V12 are, they were not enough to ensure it's mainstream survival. FWIW, I don't consider Lambos and Astons etc mainstream, mass produced cars.
The V8 is deeply embedded in American car culture, with the Ford flathead V8 and the Chevy small block being iconic. There were some Lincoln V12s and the odd V16 Caddy, but the engine of the forties through to today is still the V8. Recently fuel consumption has caught up with it so the V6 is now more common in cars. I have owned a lot of American cars and most were V8s.
It's scales. Chevy has made over 100 million small blocks, they work in every situation in the states, or at least have done until fuel mileage became an issue.
V12s offer refinement but that's not what the market demands. The US market has demanded cheap grunt and the small block offers it at such a low price (you can actually buy a small block engine for about $1000. Cost to build must be FA)
V12s offer refinement but that's not what the market demands. The US market has demanded cheap grunt and the small block offers it at such a low price (you can actually buy a small block engine for about $1000. Cost to build must be FA)
There is one famous post-war American V-12- the GMC "Twin-Six" 702cid (11.5L) truck engine, produced from 1960 to 1974. Only 250 horsepower, but 585 lb ft of torque (and yes, that's a petrol engine).
The Twin Six was related to GMC's smaller V-6 engines, which made it a strange beast. Although it's a myth that it was simply two V-6's welded together end to end, it did have four heads and four exhaust manifolds as well as two distributor caps, and a great many parts were interchangeable with the 351 V-6:
The Twin Six was related to GMC's smaller V-6 engines, which made it a strange beast. Although it's a myth that it was simply two V-6's welded together end to end, it did have four heads and four exhaust manifolds as well as two distributor caps, and a great many parts were interchangeable with the 351 V-6:
I think V12s are not in mainstream cars as they are difficult to package in a car that is designed for other smaller engines; without making major modifications that is, which manufacturers don't like doing.
I guess modern calibration and vibration reduction makes the V8 a good choice, especially as turbocharging/supercharging brings the power up to V12 levels.
I guess modern calibration and vibration reduction makes the V8 a good choice, especially as turbocharging/supercharging brings the power up to V12 levels.
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