Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your Flat 12 shopping experience:
1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the Flat 12 offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of Flat 12 at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.
2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about
3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Flat 12? Wrong! If the Flat 12 is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.
4. Questions - Got a question about Flat 12 then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....
5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling Flat 12? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about Flat 12 and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.
6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Flat 12 wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.
7. Feedback - happy with your Flat 12 then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.
8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Flat 12 site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site
9. Contact - got a question about Flat 12, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.
10. Payment - ready to pay for your Flat 12, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.
A
flat-12 is an
internal combustion engine in a Flat engine configuration, having 12 cylinder (engine)s.
The flat-12 is wider (but significantly lower in height) than a V12 engine . Despite the advantage of having a lower center of gravity than a V12, that advantage can be somewhat offset by the need for a higher mounting height in the engine bay to provide clearance for the exhaust system (six runners on either side). Whereas a V12 can be used in front-engined or mid-engined applications, a flat-12 is used exclusively in mid-engined sports cars. In addition, due to the fact that it has no advantage in terms of vibrations, the design is rarely used on production cars.
Flat-12 engines are generally are not true horizontally opposed engines (boxer), but rather 180° V engine-engines. A true boxer has one crank pin per piston, while in the 180° V-engine two pistons share the same crank pin. With twelve cylinders both layouts are perfectly balanced.
The flat design was used in Formula One and
Endurance racing. However, when Ground effect in cars requiring air-flow venturis came along in the late 1970s, the wide, flat layout obstructed the airflow and became obsolete.
In 1964-65, at the end of the 1.5 litre F1 era,
Ferrari introduced a flat-12 on the Ferrari 512, but a more classical V12 was chosen for the new 3 litre F1.
The Porsche 917 endurance racing car (introduced in 1969, for the Sport category) was powered by an air-cooled flat-12. This engine was an evolution of the Porsche
flat-8 boxer engine and used identical cylinders to those found on the Porsche 908, but differed in that it used a V12 type crankshaft.
The domination of the Porsche 917 over the V12 engine-powered Ferrari 512 probably influenced Ferrari, because they returned to the flat-12 in 3 litre water-cooled form for their prototypes and Formula One cars.
The Ferrari flat-12 design was successful and influential especially on Italian manufacturers, including Alfa-Romeo, who were also successful in endurance with a flat-12. The
Tecno Formula One flat-12 was a failure, however.
A 4.4-5.0 L 180° V12 was later introduced by
Ferrari in some of their production models, including the
Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer and
Ferrari Testarossa.
Motori Moderni designed a 3.5 litre flat-12 engine for
Subaru, which would be used in the 1990
Enzo Coloni Racing Car Systems Formula One car. The Coloni−Subaru was not competitive and did not start a Grand Prix. The Motor Moderni flat 12 engine also appeared in detuned form in the Jiotto Caspita
supercar. This only appeared in a single prototype and was not put into production.
In the early 1990's Mercedes-Benz built their 3.5-liter M291 flat-12 for endurance racing. This engine employed a clever cylinder-head design with the exhaust ports on the top, facing straight up, resulting in the exhaust system located above rather than below the engine (the intake ports are located between the intake and exhaust camshafts). This facilitated in a much lower mounting height in their racing car, the
C291 (and later
C292). Unfortunately, the engine suffered from oil scavenging problems early on in its development, and although the problem was eventually solved, changes in the rules at the ACO in which the car was entered, effectively doomed the future prospects of what could otherwise have been a competitive engine.
A
flat-12 is an internal combustion engine in a
Flat engine configuration, having 12 cylinder (engine)s.
The flat-12 is wider (but significantly lower in height) than a V12 engine . Despite the advantage of having a lower center of gravity than a V12, that advantage can be somewhat offset by the need for a higher mounting height in the engine bay to provide clearance for the exhaust system (six runners on either side). Whereas a V12 can be used in front-engined or mid-engined applications, a flat-12 is used exclusively in mid-engined sports cars. In addition, due to the fact that it has no advantage in terms of vibrations, the design is rarely used on production cars.
Flat-12 engines are generally are not true horizontally opposed engines (boxer), but rather 180°
V engine-engines. A true boxer has one crank pin per piston, while in the 180° V-engine two pistons share the same crank pin. With twelve cylinders both layouts are perfectly balanced.
The flat design was used in Formula One and
Endurance racing. However, when Ground effect in cars requiring air-flow venturis came along in the late 1970s, the wide, flat layout obstructed the airflow and became obsolete.
In 1964-65, at the end of the 1.5 litre F1 era, Ferrari introduced a flat-12 on the Ferrari 512, but a more classical V12 was chosen for the new 3 litre F1.
The Porsche 917 endurance racing car (introduced in 1969, for the Sport category) was powered by an air-cooled flat-12. This engine was an evolution of the Porsche
flat-8 boxer engine and used identical cylinders to those found on the Porsche 908, but differed in that it used a V12 type crankshaft.
The domination of the Porsche 917 over the
V12 engine-powered
Ferrari 512 probably influenced Ferrari, because they returned to the flat-12 in 3 litre water-cooled form for their prototypes and Formula One cars.
The Ferrari flat-12 design was successful and influential especially on Italian manufacturers, including
Alfa-Romeo, who were also successful in
endurance with a flat-12. The Tecno Formula One flat-12 was a failure, however.
A 4.4-5.0 L 180° V12 was later introduced by
Ferrari in some of their production models, including the Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer and Ferrari Testarossa.
Motori Moderni designed a 3.5 litre flat-12 engine for Subaru, which would be used in the 1990 Enzo Coloni Racing Car Systems Formula One car. The Coloni−Subaru was not competitive and did not start a Grand Prix. The Motor Moderni flat 12 engine also appeared in detuned form in the Jiotto Caspita
supercar. This only appeared in a single prototype and was not put into production.
In the early 1990's
Mercedes-Benz built their 3.5-liter
M291 flat-12 for endurance racing. This engine employed a clever cylinder-head design with the exhaust ports on the top, facing straight up, resulting in the exhaust system located above rather than below the engine (the intake ports are located between the intake and exhaust camshafts). This facilitated in a much lower mounting height in their racing car, the
C291 (and later C292). Unfortunately, the engine suffered from oil scavenging problems early on in its development, and although the problem was eventually solved, changes in the rules at the ACO in which the car was entered, effectively doomed the future prospects of what could otherwise have been a competitive engine.
