BMW has been making use of the large V12 engines in the past and through modern technology such as turbocharging and electrification, the same amount of power can be extracted through the relatively smaller engines, which also produces a smaller carbon footprint and are fuel efficient. Which is why over the past few years BMW hasn’t had much use of the V12 engine and is now planning to completely stop developing new V12 engines.
The only car in the BMW line-up that uses the V12 is the M760i and Rolls Royce which uses the BMW V12 has developed its own Twin-Turbocharged V12 and will be using it on the Ghost after this generation as well as the Phantom and the Cullinan. So even the luxury British brand won’t have the use of the BMW V12.
The BMW V12 was also used on the iconic 850 CSi along with a 6-speed manual gearbox and the V12’s were known for their smoothness and power delivery, but as we all know saving the nature is also important and stringent new emission norms direct the use of electric motors and turbochargers on smaller more efficient engines have made the big V12’s obsolete.
The BMW M760i employs a 6.6-litre twin-turbo V12 that produces 601 Hp of power @ 5500 RPM mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox and BMW xDrive (all-wheel-drive) drivetrain.
The brand has had a long history of producing V12 engines and the demise of the big engine will make way for the smaller, smoother, better and more powerful new generation engines, but the V12 fanboys will definitely be sad as the legend dies.