Forget About A V12-Powered BMW 8 Series Once And For All

Despite our disappointment, BMW’s logic makes complete sense.

BMW has already said a V12-powered 8 Series is not in the cards. In other words, the 6.0-liter V12 from the M760Li won’t be transferred to the stunning GT coupe, even though it is technically possible. Why won’t this happen? Australia’s Go Auto recently had a chat with BMW Group vice president of product management Carsten Groeber who provided a perfectly logical explanation for the 8 Series’ V12’s absence.

“V12 is very heavy and we have a very perfect weight distribution with this car. So the package with the V8 with those technologies with the chassis and the drivetrain makes the car a proper sports car. In our opinion a V12 will be too heavy in the front,” said Groeber.

And there you have it. Weight. It has always has been and always will be the enemy, and in this case the V12 would eliminate the big coupe’s perfect weight distribution. Speaking of weight, battery hybrid technology is not exactly feather light, and this begs the question whether an 8 Series hybrid or plug-in hybrid is being considered. Again, no, at least not at the moment. Groeber added that, despite the extra bulk, an 8 Series hybrid or PHEV simply isn’t needed right now.

“Never say never,” he added. “There might be in the years to go. We are a learning company and as the market turns, if we need to do something we will react. But at this point in time, in 2018, the car is perfectly set up, and I think people love to have these cars.”

What Groeber did confirm, however, is that a rear-wheel-drive version will arrive next year. “We will have something in the near future, which is also rear-wheel drive,” he said. “We have M850i with the six-cylinder diesel engine. There will be an sDrive version of it.”

For now, the new BMW 8 Series will come with one but glorious engine: a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 with 523 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. All of that power is sent to all four wheels through an updated eight-speed Steptronic automatic transmission. Will the upcoming sDrive version offer additional power, or could it be more track-focused? We’ll find out next year.

You Won't Believe How Cheap It Can Be To Buy A V12-Powered Car

We found V12 cars starting at less than $10,000.

We recently compiled a list of the five coolest V10 cars that you could buy on a budget. The cheapest car on this list was available for just $7,500. While the V10 list was pretty cool, we had a thought: What is cooler than a V10? A V12 of course. That is why we have complied a list of the coolest V12 cars that you can currently buy (in the US) that won't break the bank. The cheapest car on this list costs just $5,500 and the most expensive one tops out at just $32,000. Fact: Everyone who is someone should own a V12 at some point in their life.

At the turn of the century, Aston Martin and Jaguar were both owned by Ford. The base DB7 came with a Jaguar-derived 4.0-liter V8, but for $140,000 you could buy a V12-powered DB7 Vantage. The 6.0-liter V12 made 420 horsepower and is not vastly different from the V12 that Aston Martin still uses today. We found a 2000 DB7 Vantage with 25,000 miles on it. The asking price is $32,000, which is less than a brand new Mustang GT. The exterior is painted in a perfect British Racing Green, but we would probably hold out to find one with the six-speed manual instead of the optional five-speed automatic. Even with the slushbox, this V12 can hit 165 mph (185 mph with the manual).

Our next car is another V12 coupe from Europe. Unlike the DB7, this one has a manual transmission. The 1992 BMW 850i is powered by a 5.0-liter V12 with 296 horsepower. Compared to today's neck-snapping sports cars, this may not sound like much, but the point of the BMW 8 Series was absolute comfort and autobahn cruising. The example that we found has a six-speed manual transmission and Conforti tuning chips that increase the horsepower to 340 ponies. With just 59,000 miles, this $28,000 V12 car is a complete gem. We would love to see BMW bring back the 8 Series, but for now this 1992 example costs less than a brand new 3 Series.

If you want a V12 car that is a bit more modern and a bit more comfortable, you should consider this Mercedes S600. This 2005 model has 97,000 miles, but it only costs $13,499. The 5.5-liter twin-turbo V12 produces 493 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. The S600 may be more than a decade old, but the number of features in this car would put many brand-new vehicles to shame. The tacked-on AMG badge on the trunk may be a bit silly, but the smooth comfort that this Mercedes provides won't disappoint. It may cost a fortune to run, but it is amazing to think that you can buy a Mercedes that had a base price of $96,000 back in 2005 for less than a brand new Nissan Versa.

If the $13,000 Mercedes was a bit too pricey for you, then let us present our cheapest option. This 2001 BMW 750iL is currently for sale for just $5,500. For that price you get a 5.4-liter V12 engine with 326 hp and 361 lb-ft of torque. This 2001 model doesn't have as many features as the newer Mercedes, but the E38 7 Series is one of the most stylish luxury cars of all time. Even back in 2001, the top-of-the-line 7 Series came with heated seats with massage functionality. The car has 116,000 miles on it, but for just over $5,000, you really aren't risking too much to buy this V12-powered German limousine.

Our final car is quite the looker. On any cheap V12 list it is difficult not to include the Jaguar XJS, and we simply couldn't resist doing so here. You could get the XJS with a six-cylinder engine, but we found a V12 version for just under $9,000. The car has 49,000 miles on it and looks to be in great condition. The V12 produces 260 hp and 278 lb-ft of torque, but this Jag is more about style than performance. The XJS will go down in history as one of the best looking Jaguars ever made, and we would love to pick one up for less than $10,000.

Here's Every V12-Powered Car Still In Production

Surprisingly, downsizing hasn't affected the V12 sector much.

In the age of downsizing, it would be fair to assume that the V12 would be one engine lost to the times, with modern turbocharged V8s offering comparable power outputs, let weight, and thus, greater performance. But surprisingly enough, the V12 engine isn’t as dead as you might think, with no less than 18 models still in production making use of the configuration, hailing from 7 different manufacturers. While others may struggle with the effects of downsizing, these 7 manufacturers, gods of the industry, continue to produce some of the most glorious 12-cylinder motors around.

Aston Martin

It’s no surprise that Aston Martin feature on this list, and they do so in grand fashion with 4 models featuring a V12. Though the rather small-scale sports car brand from England may have signed a deal with Mercedes to utilize AMG V8s, at this stage their V12s are their own.

The DB11 and DBS Superleggera are based on effectively the same vehicle, though using Mercedes wiring and electronics, the 5.2-liter bi-turbo V12 is developed and built in-house, producing an impressive 600 horsepower in DB11 guise. But with the recently unveiled DBS Superleggera, Aston have turned the dial way up to 11, with the Superleggera’s version of the same V12 generating 715hp all sent to the rear wheels. It may not be lightweight as its name suggests, but that’s nothing a little power can’t fix.

Two of Aston’s older models still feature V8s too, though how long these two models have left in production is uncertain. The Vanquish S and its convertible counterpart both make use of a V12 engine, 5.9 liters in displacement and generating 565hp to go along with it But the Vanquish S is known to be the Vanquish’ last hurrah before it ends production, so this one may be dying off soon.

The last aging Aston with a V12 powerplant is the Rapide S. When it comes to luxury sedans, Aston is a brand seldom thought of. Admittedly, the Rapide S does a somewhat poor job of being a luxo-barge against the current crop from Mercedes, BMW, and the likes of Porsche even. However, the Rapide S has a definite driver focus, and the V12 engine is central to that impression. Delivering 552hp from its 5.9-liter displacement, it’s a potent piece of kit that gives the Rapide S unmistakable presence.

BMW

BMW is one brand to have wholeheartedly invested in downsizing. Just look at the i8 sports car with a 3-cylinder engine or the fact that the M3 dropped from a V8 to an inline-6. For most high-power applications for the brand, a twin-turbo V8 is more than enough to get the job done. But when it comes to its halo of luxury and performance, a mere V8 simply wouldn’t do; which is why in the range-topping M760i xDrive, BMW has equipped a 602hp bi-turbocharged 6.6-liter V12, driving all 4 wheels through an 8-speed automatic gearbox. The V12 offers superb refinement, but even more astounding is the performance, shunting the massive limousine from 0-62mph in 3.9 seconds.

Ferrari

Ferrari is famous for its use of front-mounted V12 engines in its big grand tourers. In fact, for the longest of times, there wasn’t a Ferrari built without a front-mounted V12 – at least until Enzo Ferrari shook things up. At present, two Ferraris are available for order with V12 powerplants. The GTC4Lusso packs a front-mid mounted 6.3-liter naturally aspirated V12. In a unique twist, it drives all 4 wheels via a twin-gearbox setup, making full use of the 681hp to make the hatchback Ferrari immensely quick in all weather conditions. But the Lusso hasn't escaped downsizing, as there is a V8 turbocharged version too.

The 812 Superfast utilizes a front mid-mounted advancement of the GTC4Lusso’s V12, with displacement increased to 6.5-liters and power uprated to an astounding 789hp. Drive goes solely to the rear wheels through a dual-clutch transmission. Though the 812 Superfast is the most powerful unassisted Ferrari ever produced (only the LaFerrari offers more power), its primary role is as a GT car, not an all-out supercar. While there have been doubts as to whether Ferrari will continue with the V12 engine, the 812 Superfast is a reassuring commitment to the engine so steeped in the brand’s history.

Lamborghini

Lamborghini’s history is one entangled with Ferrari right from the very beginning. Though there have been V8-powered Lambos through the years, they’ll always be known for their insane V12-powered monsters that defined, and redefined the supercar genre time and time again. It should come as no surprise then that the brand is still showing their commitment to the V12 with the Aventador S. Powered by a mid-engined 6.5-liter naturally aspirated V12, in current S trim, that develops 630hp sent to all 4 wheels. There’s more power to come though, as the forthcoming Aventador SVJ will output between 770-800hp – enough to enable it to smash the Nurburgring lap record.

Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz is one of two manufacturers here that each produces four V12-powered models apiece, though it splits them across two divisions of its company. It’s no surprise that three of those are Mercedes-AMG derivatives; after all, the AMG division has a history of V12 engines. The Mercedes-AMG S65 – available in sedan, coupe, and convertible guise – SL65, and G65 are all very different vehicles, but they share the ‘65’ denomination, and the engine that comes with it. All 3 feature a 6.0-liter bi-turbo V12 developing 621 horsepower, and whilst the AMG 63 variants may be quicker, they don’t have the prestige that comes with the range-topping 65 models.

The last of four Mercedes models to feature a V12 comes in the form of the Mercedes-Maybach S650. Mercedes-Maybach is the luxury arm of the German automaker, so it’s not surprising their range-topper features a V12, an engine synonymous with luxury and refinement. Though it doesn’t bear an AMG badge, the Mercedes-Maybach S650 utilizes the same bi-turbo 6.0-liter V12 as the AMG models listed above, with outputs matching the 621 horsepower of those three.

Pagani

In theory, Mercedes-AMG produces 5 of the engines found in this article, although one of them is found mid-mounted in a car they don’t produce. The Pagani Huayra – named after Huayra-tata, an Andean wind goddess – makes use of an AMG-built V12 to propel one of the world’s most attractive hypercars. Though the bi-turbo V12 may be 6.0-liters in displacement, it’s a different engine to the one found in the four Mercedes models listed above (M158 used in the Huayra, M279 in the Mercedes). In its most powerful Huayra application – the Huayra BC – the biturbo-12 generates 745 horsepower, with a howling soundtrack provided by a unique titanium exhaust system.

Rolls-Royce

Last on this list, Rolls-Royce produces 5 models making use of V12 engines, utilizing two different engines in the process. Three of these models make use of the same V12 that power BMW’s M760i xDrive, with the Ghost, its coupe version, the Wraith, and the convertible Dawn all utilizing the 6.6-liter twin-turbo 12-pot. In the Ghost and Dawn, the mill puts out 563hp, but in the Wraith, it offers 623hp to elevate the levels of performance the coupe offers by a substantial amount.

The last two models to make use of V12 engines are the range-toppers for Rolls-Royce. The Phantom and Cullinan epitomize luxury and opulence in their respective segments and do so by using a 6.75-liter twin-turbo V12 engine. Though both match the 563hp outputs of the Ghost and Dawn above, they offer substantially more torque, outputting up to 664 lb-ft of the stuff.

V12-Powered BMW 7 Series Recalled In US

The owners of which are in a very exclusive club.

It’s not every day you see a BMW 7 Series on the road, let alone one with a big V12 engine. That’s because V12 models are built in relatively low numbers because, well, they’re very expensive and most 7 Series buyers have no need for so many cylinders. But like any vehicle, problems can occur. BMW has just issued a recall in coordination with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration for certain 2013-2015 760Li sedans.

The 760Li is the predecessor (F01 generation) to the current M760i xDrive, which launched for 2017. To give you an idea just how rare this particular 7 Series trim and engine combo are, only three examples are affected by the recall.

That’s right. Three. What’s the problem, exactly? The engine’s ECU was not programmed properly when the three sedans in question were brought in for a previous service. This faulty programming could potentially cause the car to stall, potentially increasing the risk of a crash. The engine itself is the 6.6-liter twin-turbo V12 with 536 hp and 550 lb-ft of torque. It also happens to be BMW’s first turbocharged V12.

Fortunately, nothing was mentioned in the recall about other BMW Group vehicles that utilized other versions of the same engine (N74), such as the Rolls-Royce Ghost, Dawn, and Wraith that come powered by the B66 variant.

For the three affected BMW 760Li owners living in the US, the automaker will presumably notify them right away because, well, it won’t take long to do so. The reprogrammable fix is probably simple enough and can be done in only a few hours’ time.

But if you are a 760Li owner and you want to be safe rather than sorry, you can contact the NHTSA safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 to confirm the VIN. After all, you wouldn’t want to be seen struggling to start your big, expensive Bimmer.