As the conversation on climate change continues to dominate the global headlines, one of the first things governments and environmental regulatory authorities are targeting is international combustion engines. There's growing emphasis on the need to get rid of high-displacement engines in favor of smaller engines assisted by forced induction or electric motors. As one of the largest engines still in production, the V12 is a huge target for eco-warriors, and it seems they are winning as it's slowly going extinct.
The V12 used to be the engine of choice, particularly in sports cars and luxury cars, but now we're seeing a lot less of it. Take Lamborghini, for example. The Italian giant has made its name using powerful V12 engines in its flagship supercars, but it recently announced that the Aventador will be its last V12-powered model. Before all the other automakers follow suit, let's explore some of the coolest V12-powered cars available for purchase today.
10 Aston Martin Valkyrie - $3 Million
Let's kick off with one of the highest anticipated supercars of the year – the Aston Martin Valkyrie. The Valkyrie is a limited edition hybrid supercar Aston Martin built in collaboration with Red Bull Racing intending to break the production car speed record.
The Valkyrie comes with a 6.5-liter Aston Martin-Cosworth V12 engine mated to one electric motor. With a combined output of 1,160 hp, the Valkyrie is one of the most powerful hybrids ever.
9 Rolls-Royce Phantom - $460,000
When asked to name the most iconic luxury car brand, most gearheads would say Rolls-Royce. The British brand has made a name for itself over the years thanks to its lineup of elegant hand-crafted luxury cars that the rich and powerful love.
Of all the awesome models Rolls-Royce has built, the Phantom is the longest-running and the one that symbolizes everything the automaker is about. The latest Phantom generation offers an elegant design featuring its iconic suicide doors, tons of luxury features especially for the rear passengers, and a mighty twin-turbo V12 under the hood.
8 Pagani Utopia - $2.19 Million
Since Pagani started building cars about two decades ago, the company has established itself as a manufacturer of multi-million dollar supercars that most gearheads never get to see in real life. It all started with the Zonda in the late '90s, then the Huayra came in 2011. With the Huayra's run coming to an end, Pagani has already started producing its successor – the Utopia.
Unveiled in 2022, the Utopia will also use a Mercedes-Benz-sourced twin-turbo V12 engine but has more power than any other Pagani built before it – 852 hp. With only 99 examples planned, the Utopia is one of the rarest Italian sports cars.
7 Aston Martin DBS - $333,686
The aforementioned Aston Martin Valkyrie is out of this world, but since it's a special limited edition model, it's not available to everyone who desires it. The best Aston Martin model anyone with the funds can buy is the DBS – formerly known as the DBS Superleggera before 2022.
The DBS offers the best when it comes to Astons. For one, its 5.2-liter AM31 twin-turbo V12 sends 715 ponies to the rear wheels via an eight-speed manual, resulting in a 211-mph top speed. Other cool features include an F1-inspired double diffuser, a mechanical limited-slip differential for peak track performance, and a titanium quad-pipe exhaust system for the ultimate exhaust note.
6 Mercedes-Maybach S680 - $230,050
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is already one of the top three greatest luxury sedans ever made. However, gearheads who feel the S-Class isn't luxurious enough can opt for something a bit more exclusive – the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class.
Maybach takes an ordinary S-Class and adds unique styling features like a two-tone paint job and special badging, higher luxury features, and more power. The most powerful version of the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class – the S650 – comes with a monstrous V12 engine, giving it great performance.
5 Rolls-Royce Dawn - $356,500
After a warm reception to the Phantom Drophead Coupe, Rolls-Royce decided to build a new convertible luxury grand tourer model, resulting in the Dawn. The Dawn debuted in 2015 and was such a hit that it's been in production since.
Everyone loves the Dawn's elegant design, unique suicide doors, ultra-luxurious cabin, and hearty BMW-sourced twin-turbo V12. It's no surprise why everyone includes the Dawn on the list of the best convertibles in the market.
4 Ferrari 812 GTS - $429,815
Over the years, Ferrari has been one of the biggest proponents of the V12 engine. Ferrari's list of V12-powered models includes icons like the Enzo, the 250 GTO, and the LaFerrari. At the moment, the only V12-powered Ferrari you can buy is the 812 Superfast and its open-top version – the 812 GTS.
We particularly love the 812 GTS as it's the first front-engined V12-powered series production convertible Ferrari in over 50 years. Like the 812 Superfast, the 812 GTS uses a 6.5-liter V12 with 789 hp on tap, making it one of the most powerful naturally aspirated cars ever.
3 BMW M760Li xDrive - $160,495
Since 1977 when BMW introduced the 7-Series, the automaker has been doing everything in its power to defeat its fierce rival – the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. The latest M760Li xDrive is the closest BMW has ever come to defeating the S-Class.
As the first M Performance 7-Series model, the M760Li comes with BMW's 6.6-liter twin-turbo V12 engine developing 602 hp, allowing it to hit a top speed of 190 mph. Other upgrades include 19-inch M Sport brakes, high-performance tires, an M Sport exhaust system, a unique tailpipe design, and a more luxurious interior. Sadly, the M760Li xDrive is the last V12-powered series production vehicle BMW will ever produce.
2 Aston Martin V12 Vantage - $301,286
Aston Martin has used the 'Vantage' nameplate multiple times over the last few decades, and one thing that gearheads can be sure of is that any vehicle bearing that name will be breathtakingly beautiful and incredibly fast. The latest Vantage debuted in 2018 and received a lot of praise largely thanks to its design – Aston Martin used the track-only Vulcan as the inspiration for the Vantage's design.
In 2021, Aston Martin confirmed that a V12 Vantage was in the works. Limited to just 333 units, the V12 Vantage debuted in March 2022 and impressed with its 690-hp twin-turbo V12. Unfortunately, the V12 Vantage is the last V12-powered Aston Martin model.
1 Rolls-Royce Cullinan - $355,000
Over the last decade, almost every automaker has joined the fast-growing SUV market. Even Ferrari, who had claimed publicly it would never join the SUV segment, recently caved and built the Purosangue. Rolls-Royce is another automaker that isn't typically known for building SUVs, but the Cullinan shows it can.
The Cullinan debuted in 2018 and impressed gearheads with its Phantom-inspired design and sheer luxury. Like the Phantom, the Cullinan comes with a humongous twin-turbo V12 cranking out 563 hp, making it one of the most powerful SUVs.