Piëch knows best

The fated birth of the W12 began on a train ride across Japan, scribbled on the back of an envelope. The rudimentary sketch laid the ground work for a 6 bank, 18 cylinder W engine. An engine for which Piëch had purchased the Bugatti brand; with the purpose of showcasing the monumental tech. Thus the EB 18/3 Chiron and EB 18/3 Veyron concepts were born and Bugatti, the most luxurious driver's brand in the world, was rebirthed. From the basis of this architecture Piëch would scale the formula down for production of the 8L W16, 6L W12 and 4.0L W8. Producing up to 740 horsepower and 737 lb-ft of torque from factory the W12 has provided VAG's flagships with a deadflat torque curve, buttery smooth manners and compact packaging. No other modern engine has successfully broken convention like the W12. You've landed at the page dedicated to this engineering marvel and the cars that it has powered. Find historical info, technical info, DIY articles, obscure information, rare parts and videos.