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The best V12 cars in history


The best V12 cars in history

The engine is the heart of a car. It determines whether a vehicle drives powerfully or not. There is an endless list of automakers in the world, and each of them has a wide variety of engine configurations, from inline-four and flat-six to the monstrous V12.

Related: Ranking of the cheapest V12 sports cars on the used market

Although many of the best V12 cars are modern supercars, the V12 was introduced a long time ago – almost a century and a half. It was used to power cars that were believed to be symbols of wealth and luxury. The V12 was also used to drive racing trucks. That being said, here are some of the best V12s Sports car any times.

10
Ferrari 250

Ferrari 250Via wikipedia.org

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 GT SWB.

Ferrari 250Via supercars.net

The 250 featured a powerful 3.0 liter V12 engine that could produce more than 296 horsepower and 217 lb-ft of torque. In addition, the car’s sleek design and lightweight body helped the street and racing cars to be faster in races. Eventually one of his models – the GTO won Le Mans and was nicknamed “Colombo” – was created by its engine designer Gioacchino Colombo.

9
Toyota Century

Toyota CenturyVia secret-classics.com

While many V12 cars on this list were built for performance, the Toyota Century was made for a different reason. It was one of the best classic luxury cars – a more than worthy alternative to the BMW 5 Series. The Century was sold in Japan between 1967 and 2017 and carried royalties, top managers and senior Japanese government officials.

Toyota CenturyVia auto-data.net

Under the hood of the upscale Toyota Century was a 5.0-liter V12 engine that developed 308 horsepower and 355 lb-ft of torque. Inside, it featured a luxurious interior characterized by seats trimmed with wool to avoid the inappropriately squeaky leather. It is the only Japanese road car ever to have a V12 engine.

8th
BMW 8 Series E31

BMW 8 Series E31Via youtube.com

BMW introduced the 8 Series, popularly known as the E31, in 1989. Offered in four models, namely the 840Ci, 850i, 850Ci and the 850CSi, the first-generation luxury grand tourers were offered with either V8 or V12 engine options. The E31 850 models were powered by a V12 engine coupled with a 6-speed manual transmission.

Related: 5 Sickest Cars That Came With a V12 Engine (5 Best Avoided)

BMW 8 Series E31Via wikipedia.org

It was one of the first cars to feature a multi-link rear axle with an electronic drive-by-wire throttle. Although it was a heavy car, it would win the hearts of its supporters thanks to its 5.0-liter M70B50 V12 engine that produced 296 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque.

7th
Jaguar XJ13

Jaguar XJ13Via wikipedia.org

The Jaguar XJ13 was built from the ground up with the hallmarks of the successful racing cars of the 1960s. This happened after its predecessor, the XJ12, failed to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The XJ13 was powered by a 5.0 liter V12 that produced 503 horsepower. In addition, it had a beautiful body, striking aesthetics, and the functionality of a Le Man racing car.

Jaguar XJ13Via supercars.net

However, since the XJ13 was a test bench for Jaguar’s V12 engine, it was set up indoors until it was launched in 1971 with the Series III E-Type. The XJ13 is currently in Jaguar’s Heritage Collection and is occasionally exhibited at major auto shows.

6th
Rolls-Royce Phantom

Rolls-Royce PhantomVia wikipedia.org

The Rolls-Royce Phantom III was the first Rolls-Royce with a V12 engine until the introduction of the Silver Seraph. While many may argue that this was an inevitable development since the company made aero engines in this configuration, Rolls-Royce made it possible with the 1939 Phantom III.

Rolls-Royce PhantomVia autoblog.com

Under its huge bonnet was a 7.3 liter aluminum alloy V12 powered by a single camshaft in the valley between the cylinder banks. It also had 24 spark plugs, two distributors and two coils. As for the types, customers ordered their bespoke Phantom based on their specific needs and desires. A total of 727 Phantom III units were built.

5
Ferrari GTC4Lusso

Ferrari-GTC4Lusso-2Via autoblog.com

The Ferrari GTC4Lusso is a unique mid-engine four-seater designed to serve as an everyday driver. In addition, it has four-wheel drive called 4RM that uses two gearboxes and a lot of electronics. The GTC4Lussso is powered by a potent 6.3 liter F140 V12 with an output of 681 hp and a torque of 541 lb-ft.

Related: 4 photos of the nicest V12s (and 4 V8s that look even cooler)

Ferrari GTC4LussoVia autoblog.com

Although the Italian brand has switched production of the GTC4Lusso to a pure rear-wheel drive variant, the GTC4Lusso equipped with the giant V12 still stands out as one of the most powerful four-seater vehicles in the industry.

4th
Lamborghini Miura

Lamborghini MiuraVia wikimedia.org

The Miura helped the Lamborghini brand become the icon it is today. It could even be considered the most important supercar of all time. The Miura built the bridge and set the bar for supercars. The legendary life of the Miura lives on in the V12-powered Aventador.

Lamborghini MiuraVia wikipedia.org

In contrast to many of its racing rivals, the Miura was equipped with a transversely installed 3.9-liter V12 mid-engine and a gearbox behind it. Its engine developed an impressive 350 hp and reached a top speed of 270 km / h, which made it the fastest car in the world at the time.

3
Aston Martin V12 Vantage

aston martin v12 advantageVia carpixel.net

Aston Martin can clearly trace its roots back to the 1950s when it built its first model, the DB2. Since then, the automaker has put on a brilliant run, marked by incredible models like the Vantage. V8 engines powered early Vantage models until 2007 when Aston Martin unveiled a new V12 powered version in concept form.

Aston Martin v12 advantageVia moneyinc.com

Two years later, the V12 Vantage debuted with an 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 output of the 5.9-liter to 565 hp in the V12 S equipment and soon to 592 hp in the V600 equipment.

2
McLaren F1

McLaren F1Via carscoops.com

This list couldn’t be complete without the exciting McLaren F1. With its proven racetrack capabilities, the McLaren F1 can challenge any high-performance car on the road – be it a Ferrari or a Porsche. The F1 is considered to be one of the best supercars ever built.

McLaren F1Via piston heads.com

A 6.1-liter V12 engine from BMW with a naturally aspirated engine was used under its hood, generating an impressive 627 hp, the highest output for its size at the time. Thanks to its flywheels and incredible engine, the McLaren F1 sprints from 0 to 100 km / h in 3.2 seconds, making it one of the fastest cars in the world with a blurring top speed of 150 km / h.

1
Jaguar E-Type

Jaguar E-Typehagerty.co.uk

Introduced in 1961 ten years after the original Jaguar Series I E-Type, the E-Type Series III was an evolution of the original classic car, but with desirable changes including the introduction of a V12 engine.

Jaguar E-TypeVia hagerty.co.uk

In this way, Jaguar created a beautiful sports car that performed better and possessed raw strength that growled like the big cat it is 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.

Aston Martin DB7

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About the author

Nzilili Sam
(365 articles published)

Sam is a professional internet researcher and writer. He is mainly interested in cars and motorcycles. He’s been writing about the same thing in recent years. Sam currently works full-time for Valnet Inc.’s Hot Cars. He is also a professional graphic designer, digital marketer, and sexual health consultant.

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