Even with the development of electric motors that can give all the effortless performance, we’ll ever need, the V12 remains a valid claim to the automobile world because it is capable of producing the most addictive, evocative sounds of any mechanical device that adds flare to motoring.
V12 engines are unusually well-balanced, with one cylinder firing every 60 degrees of crank rotation (and the entire set firing in two crankshaft rotations), and each cylinder helping to dampen the vibrations caused by the others.
That’s good for refinement and, if necessary, noise reduction, but with so many power pulses going on at once, precise induction and exhaust tune can also turn a V12 into a remarkable musical instrument. Here is a collection of some of the very best.
Aston Martin V12 Vantage
The Aston Martin V12 Vantage is one car that rings the loudest bell in the auto world from when it was launched. The V12 Vantage has been confirmed as the fastest accelerating series production Aston ever made.
With a 0-62mph time of 3.9sec and a top speed of 205mph, only the Aston Martin One-77 is faster. The car, which will commence deliveries at the end of the year, is priced at £138,000 – a modest increase over the standard V12 Vantage’s £136,085 price tag.
Rolls-Royce Wraith & Dawn
The Wraith is powered by a 6.6-liter twin-turbo V12 engine, making a healthy 624 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. The engine was later updated to offer 605 lb-ft.
A Black Badge version of the Wraith joined the lineup in 2016, with a more powerful version of the V12 engine that made 642 lb-ft of torque.
As its name suggests, the Black Badge was all about removing the brightwork and giving the Wraith a more sinister appearance.
The Dawn grille uses a different design and the front bumper was extended by 2 inches. Power came from the same twin-turbo V12 as the Wraith but most recently had 563 hp and 605 lb-ft. Like the Wraith, the Dawn received the Black Badge treatment, as well, with power increasing to 593 hp and 620 lb-ft.”The Dawn is meant for cruising, and it does that amazingly well.”
Lamborghini Miura
The iconic Miura is often considered to be the world’s first supercar. Following decades of financial upheaval and ownership changes, the company is now part of the Volkswagen empire, and sales have increased significantly in the last 15 years.
It possessed the same transversely-mounted 4.0-liter V-12 as the preceding P400 and P400 S variants but was modified to produce 385 hp thanks to its mid-engine configuration and curvy appearance.
A sturdier chassis, updated rear suspension with various anchor points and arms, and a wider rear track were also included. The Miura SV had a top speed of 180 mph and could cover a kilometer in under 24 seconds from a standstill when it was new.
Wider rear fenders, revised taillights, a new front air intake, and model-specific wheels (available in gold) separated the Miura SV visually.
To speed up production, company founder Ferruccio Lamborghini had the Miura’s signature headlight “eyelashes” removed, but he had them replaced on his personal Miura SV.
Rolls-Royce Cullinan
The 2020 Rolls-Royce Cullinan comes in the following submodels: Cullinan SUV. Available styles include 4dr SUV AWD (6.8L 12cyl Turbo 8A), and Black Badge 4dr SUV AWD (6.8L 12cyl Turbo 8A).
The 2020 Rolls-Royce Cullinan comes with an all-wheel drive. Available transmissions include an 8-speed shiftable automatic.
The 2020 Rolls-Royce Cullinan comes with a 4 yr./ unlimited mi. basic warranty, a 4 yr./ unlimited mi. roadside warranty, and a 4 yr./ unlimited mi. powertrain warranty.
Maserati MC12
MC12 came into existence in 2004 as the first and only modern car from Maserati. It was built on the same chassis Ferrari used for the Enzo supercar (launched in 2002), the MC12 was actually a secondary project to Maserati’s FIA GT-spec race car, being developed as a homologation vehicle.
Parking was difficult as it lacks a rear window, The MC12 was longer than an Enzo and wider than a Hummer H2. This brought about serious criticisms. Although its wired design is what made it unique among other supercars.
MC12 used a slightly modified version of Enzo’s 6.0-liter V-12. Output was dropped to 624 horsepower and 481 pound-feet of torque from Enzo’s 651-horsepower and 485-pound-feet rating, while the redline was decreased from 8,200 to 7,500 rpm.
Mercedes-Maybach S-Class
Twin-turbo torque is apportioned to all four wheels with constantly calculated precision. When the weather changes or the road turns, 4MATIC® sends power to the wheels that can use it best.
The innovative electric assist of EQ Boost adds gas-free torque to the Biturbo V8’s already strong output of 496 hp and 516 lb-ft. It’s motivation with a modern twist.
Vector M12
The Vector M12 was a rare supercar produced between 1995 and 1999 by Vector Aeromotive under the parent company Megatech. Only 14 examples were manufactured before production was canceled due to low interest and mismanagement of the company.
The M12 had a Lamborghini Diablo-sourced 5.7-liter V12 engine mated to a five-speed manual gearbox. With 492 horsepower (367 kilowatts) at 5,200 rpm and 425 pound-feet (576 Newton-meters) of torque at 4,900 rpm, it propelled the M12 from a standstill to 60 miles per hour (0-96 kilometers per hour) in 4.5 seconds.
Ferrari 812 & 812 GTS
The Ferrari 812 Superfast has taken the automotive world by storm since its release, hailed as a groundbreaking supercar that pushes the limits of performance and design.
The 812 GTS shares much of the same DNA as the Superfast — but it comes with a droptop! When comparing the Ferrari 812 Superfast and GTS, the retractable hardtop is the most obvious difference.
Ferrari 812, reach a top speed of 211 mph. While the GTS’s transmission has shorter throw rations than that of the Superfast, the only noticeable cost of the drop-top is that the 812 GTS takes a tenth of a second longer to reach 62 mph from a standstill.
Jaguar XJ12
Combining refinement, luxury, 120-mph performance, and superb handling saw XJ12 scaled its height. With a final upgrade in 1980, the XJ12 had its rear roof raised, also smoothed out its rear fender line with improved quality control. With standard air conditioning, XJ12 used the 5.3-liter V-12 engine found in the Series III E-type.
Jaguar raised the XJ6 and XJ12 front bumpers to meet U.S. regulations in the 1974 Series II, and fuel injection replaced the V-12’s four carburetors, pumping the engine from 244 hp to 285 hp in 1975. The XJ6 was fuel-injected from 1978.
BMW M760i xDrive
The only 12-cylinder BMW money can buy (if you don’t count Rolls-Royces. More on them in a bit). With its 6.6-liter V12 making a little over 600bhp, the flagship 7 Series isn’t actually available in the UK. In the US you’ll pay $157,800 before options.