The V12 engines left on South Africa’s new vehicle market (for now)…

By: CAR magazine

BMW will reportedly put the V12-powered M760Li out to pasture later in 2020. And that had us thinking: how many V12 engines are left on South Africa’s new vehicle market?

Well, there are a handful of V12 examples left on the market here in SA (along with even fewer W12 derivatives), as automakers continue to turn to downsizing in a bid to meet increasingly stringent emissions regulations in some parts of the world.

Let’s have a look at the remaining V12s offered locally…

1. Aston Martin’s 5,9-litre and 5,2-litre V12s

The Gaydon-based brand still offers its naturally aspirated 5,9-litre unit in the ageing Rapide S, where it generates 410 kW and 620 N.m at a starting price of R3 499 000. These outputs are directed to the rear axle via a six-speed automatic transmission, translating to a claimed 4,9-second sprint to three figures. Aston Martin also makes a smaller-displacement V12, turbocharged to produce 470 kW and 700 N.m in the DB11 V12 AMR (R4 199 000). The burly powerplant is also employed by the DBS Superleggera, where it churns out an even more impressive 534 kW and 900 N.m in both the coupé (R5 649 000) and Volante (R5 949 000).

2. BMW and Roll-Royce’s 6,6-litre and 6,8-litre V12s

For now, BMW SA will still sell you an M760Li xDrive (in three flavours, priced from R2 917 876), complete with a 430 kW/850 N.m V12. With drive directed to all four corners courtesy of an eight-speed automatic gearbox, the flagship 7 Series will hit 100 km/h from standstill in a claimed 3,8 seconds. With Rolls-Royce falling under the BMW Group banner, it’s no surprise the British marque’s V12 is closely related to the one used in the M760Li. Indeed, the automaker employs a V12 of the same displacement in the Dawn, Ghost and Wraith, along with a 6,8-litre version in the Cullinan and Phantom.

3. Ferrari’s 6,3-litre and 6,5-litre V12s

The flagship V12-powered version of the GTC4Lusso (R6 531 900) uses a naturally aspirated 6,3-litre mill that churns out 507 kW and 697 N.m, directed to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The result is a claimed 0-100 km/h time of 3,4 seconds and a top speed of 335 km/h. The 812 Superfast (R7 410 800) and 812 GTS (R8 174 500), meanwhile, employ the F140 GA unit, which is a little larger in displacement at 6,5 litres. Peak outputs climb to 588 kW and 718 N.m, allowing these rear-wheel-drive monsters to hit three figures in a claimed 2,9 seconds before topping out at around 340 km/h.

4. Lamborghini’s 6,5-litre V12

Used in both the coupé and roadster versions of Lamborghini’s Aventador S, this free-breathing twelve-cylinder engine sends 544 kW and 690 N.m to all four corners. While the coupé completes the obligatory dash to 100 km/h in a claimed 2,9 seconds, the roadster takes one-tenth longer.

5. Mercedes-Benz’s 6,0-litre V12

The Stuttgart-based automaker still offers its turbocharged 6,0-litre V12 in two derivatives. The first is the S600 L, where it offers 390 kW and 830 N.m to the rear axle. And the second? Well, the version of this engine in the Mercedes-Maybach S650 generates 463 kW and 1 000 N.m. In July 2019, all three Mercedes-AMG S65 variants were pulled from the local range.

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