Episode Details

Where Have All the V12s Gone?

Back in the day, nearly every luxury automaker had a V12 engine to put under the hood of its flagship vehicles. Today, most have been replaced by downsized turbo engines, electric motors, or hybrid powertrains. There are still a few holdouts, but that number is dwindling by the day.

One automaker that has given up on 12 cylinders is BMW. For 35 years, a V12 stood atop the 7 Series' engine options list, but that all changed with the current-generation model. Now, the most powerful options available are with a twin-turbo V8, an electric version, or a six-cylinder plug-in hybrid.

Of V12s and the 7 Series

In a bid to outdo Mercedes-Benz, BMW rolled out the E32 7 Series in 1986 with a V12 option in the form of the 750i. It had a 5.0-liter engine that was essentially two 2.5-liter inline-sixes joined at the crank. It produced 296 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque, which were strong figures for 1986. The much-loved E38 7 Series then got a new V12, now at 5.4 liters with 326 hp and 361 lb-ft of torque.

That V12 grew to 6.0 liters for the E65/E66, breaching 400 horsepower with 449 hp and 443 lb-ft. For the F01/F02 era, it received BMW's first production turbocharged V12. Still at 6.0 liters, the boost gave it 536 hp and 553 lb-ft.

The last 7 Series to have a V12 under the hood was the M760Li xDrive (G11/G12). It was introduced in 2016 and was sold until 2022. It had a 6.6-liter twin-turbocharged V12 that doled out 610 hp and 590 lb⋅ft of torque.

Continuing the Legacy

Now, it's highly unlikely that BMW will ever put a 12-cylinder under the hood of its 7 Series, or any other car for that matter. Granted, BMW still produces them, but only for Rolls-Royce vehicles. With that, it's now up to the aftermarket industry to keep the BMW V12's legacy alive.

That brings us neatly to Manhart. If the name's familiar, it's a German tuning firm that's responsible for turning fast cars into absolute rockets. Thankfully, its latest creation is subtle by the company's standards. Dubbed the MH7 700, it's based on the M760Li, but gets a healthy dose of extra power, among other things.

The Power

As it is, the M760Li made an impressive amount of power. After all, 610 hp was nothing to sneeze at, and was more than enough to propel the 5,100 lbs sedan to 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds. With its speed limiter unleashed, the luxury limo could hit 190 mph.