A Look Back as V12 Engines Roar Toward the Finish Line

BMW recently announced that the company will soon conclude production of V12 engines, as it moves toward an electrified future by eliminating its thirstiest combustion engines first.

The company entered the V12 business in 1987 with the naturally-aspirated, 5.0-liter M70 single overhead cam V12 that produced 295 hp in the original BMW 750iL.  

As BMW's V12 reaches the checkered flag in June, the engine is now twin-turbocharged and displaces 6.6 liters. The two single-scroll turbochargers, infinitely variable valve control, and high-precision direct injection combine to help the engine produce 601 hp to push the 760 to mph in 3.6 seconds. 

The V12 remains a rare breed due to its complexity, size, weight, thirst, and cost, but a handful of companies still make them. Historically the engine configuration has been limited to the most exclusive brands and models, so if this is finally the beginning of the end for V12s, we thought it would be good to take a look back at companies that have built cars using these engines over the years.

The V12 is noted for its smoothness and power. That is because it is a pair of inline-six-cylinder engines mated at the crankshaft, and inline sixes have perfect primary balance. Setting the banks of a V12 at 60 degrees (or 120 degrees or 180 degrees) preserves this balance with even more power pulses smoothing the flow.

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