The engine is the heart of a car. It determines whether a vehicle drives powerfully or otherwise. There's an endless list of automakers in the world, and each of them has a variety of engine configurations, ranging from inline-four and flat-six, all the way to the monstrous V12.
Although many of the best V12-powered cars are modern supercars, the V12 was introduced a long time ago — almost a century and a half. It was used to power cars believed to have been symbols of wealth and luxury. The V12 was also used to power racing trucks. That being said, here are some of the best V12 sports cars of all time.
10 Ferrari 250
The Ferrari 250 is one of the most important cars in Ferrari's rich history. Since 1953, the 250 series has been offered in a handful of models, including the GTO, Monza, LM, Millie Miglia, California Spyder, and the GT SWB.
The 250 featured a powerful 3.0-liter V12 engine capable of pushing more than 296 horsepower and 217 lb-ft of torque. Furthermore, the car's sleek design and lightweight body helped the road-and-race cars run faster at races. Eventually, one of its models — the GTO won the Le Mans and earned itself the nickname 'Colombo' — from its engine designer Gioacchino Colombo.
9 Toyota Century
While many V12 cars on this list were designed for performance, the Toyota Century was made for another reason altogether. It was among the best classic executive cars — a more than worthy alternative to BMW's 5 Series. The century was sold in Japan between 1967 and 2017 and carried royalties, top executives, and Senior Japanese Government officials.
Under the hood of the upscale Toyota Century was a 5.0-liter V12 engine that produced 308 horsepower and 355 lb-ft of torque. Inside, it featured a luxurious interior characterized by wool-trimmed seats to avoid the unseemly squeaking of leather. It is the only road-going Japanese car ever to feature a V12 engine.
8 BMW 8-Series E31
BMW introduced the 8-Series, popularly known as E31, in 1989. Offered in four models, namely 840Ci, 850i, 850Ci, and the 850CSi, the first generation luxury grand tourers were offered in either V8 and V12 engine options. The E31 850 models were powered by a V12 engine mated to a 6-speed manual transmission.
It was one of the first cars equipped with an electronic drive-by-wire throttle alongside a multi-link rear axle. Although it was a heavy car, it would win the hearts of its proponents, thanks to its 5.0-liter M70B50 V12 engine that produced 296 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque.
7 Jaguar XJ13
The Jaguar XJ13 was built up from the ground using the hallmarks of the 1960's successful race cars. This was after its predecessor, the XJ12, failed to compete in the 24-hour race at Le Mans. The XJ13 came powered by a 5.0-liter V12 that produced a potent 503 horsepower. Moreover, it came with a gorgeous body, striking aesthetics, and the functionality of a Le Man's racer.
But since the XJ13 was a testbed for Jaguar's V12 engine, it was put indoors until it was launched with the Series III E-type in 1971. Currently, the XJ13 sits in Jaguar's Heritage Collection and is occasionally displayed at major auto shows.
6 Rolls-Royce Phantom
The Rolls-Royce Phantom III was the first Rolls-Royce to feature a V12 engine until the introduction of the Silver Seraph. Though many may claim this was an inevitable development since the company was manufacturing aero engines in this configuration, Rolls-Royce made it possible with the 1939 Phantom III.
Under its enormous bonnet was a 7.3-liter V12 made of aluminum alloy, operated by a single camshaft in the valley between the cylinder banks. Moreover, it had 24 spark plugs, two distributors, and two coils. As for the types, customers ordered their customized Phantom depending on their specific needed and desires. A total of 727 Phantom III units were built.
5 Ferrari GTC4Lusso
The Ferrari GTC4Lusso is a one-of-a-kind, mid-engine four-seater intended to function as a daily driver. Moreover, it comes with a four-wheel-drive called the 4RM, utilizing two gearboxes and many electronics. Powering the GTC4Lussso is a potent 6.3-liter F140 V12 capable of producing 681 horsepower and 541 lb-ft of torque.
Although the Italian marque has switched production of the GTC4Lusso to a rear-wheel-drive only variant — the GTC4Lusso equipped with the behemoth V12 still stands out as one of the most powerful four-seater vehicles in the industry.
4 Lamborghini Miura
The Miura has helped the Lamborghini brand to become the icon it is today. It might even be considered the most important supercar ever made. The Miura built the bridge and set the bar for supercars to follow. The Miura's legendary life lives on in the V12-powered Aventador.
Unlike many of its racing rivals, the Miura came with a mid-mounted, 3.9-liter V12 engine mounted transversally, and a gearbox located behind it. Its engine produced an impressive 350 horsepower and had a top speed of 170mph, making it the fastest car in the world at that time.
3 Aston Martin V12 Vantage
Aston Martin can vividly trace its roots from the 1950s, when it built its first model, the DB2. Since then, the automaker has had a brilliant run, characterized by incredible models like the Vantage. V8 engines powered early Vantage models until 2007 when Aston Martin introduced a new V12-powered version in concept form.
Two years later, the V12 Vantage debuted with impeccable stunning looks, a more compact footprint, a balanced chassis, and a 5.9-liter V12 that produced 510 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque. Aston Martin later increased the 5.9-liter's power to 565 horsepower in the V12 S trim and soon up to 592 horsepower in the V600 spec.
2 McLaren F1
This list couldn't be complete without the thrilling McLaren F1. With its proven racetrack prowess, the McLaren F1 can challenge any powerful car on the road — whether a Ferrari or Porsche. The F1 is considered one of the finest supercars ever built.
Under its hood came a naturally aspirated 6.1-liter V12 BMW powerplant that generated the highest power output for its size at that time, with a stunning 627 horsepower. Thanks to its flywheels and incredible engine, the McLaren F1 sprints from 0-60mph in 3.2 seconds, making it one of the world's fastest cars with a blurring top speed of 240.1mph.
1 Jaguar E-Type
Introduced ten years after the original Series I Jaguar E-Type in 1961, the E-Type Series III was a development of the original classic car but with desirable changes, including the introduction of a V12 engine.
In doing so, Jaguar created a beautiful sports car that performed better and possessed raw power that growled like the big cat it's named after. The E-Type Series III was equipped with a healthy 5.3-liter V12 engine that produced a decent 241 horsepower and 386 lb-ft of torque.