BMW will sell its last V12 engine soon. And probably not to you. Unless you’ve owned one before.
The German automaker has announced one final run of its largest engine. The last BMW V12 will appear in an extremely limited edition 2022 M760Li xDrive known simply as “The Final V12.”
Sharp-eyed observers will be able to spot them, but it won’t be easy. From the outside, they’ll be distinguished only by small “V12” badges on the trunk lid and rear pillar. They’ll ride on unique 20-inch wheels. Inside, the door sill plates will identify the cars as “The Final V12.”
How many will BMW build? You probably guessed it. Twelve. A plaque on the center console will identify each of the 12 by its place in the series.
Invitation Only
BMW plans to sell them by invitation only, to buyers who have purchased a BMW V12-powered car in the past. They’ll be asked to pay $200,000 plus $995 shipping and handling.
For that price, they’ll get a twin-turbocharged 6.6-liter V12 engine rated at 601 hp and 627 lb-ft of torque. It sends power to all four wheels through an 8-speed automatic transmission. It surges from a standstill to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds.
An Electric Future
They’re impressive performance figures. But we can’t help but note that the Final V12 is good for almost the same 0-60 mph time as the quickest edition of the new 2022 BMW i4, BMW’s first true electric sport sedan. Once the company puts all of its engineering skill into electric cars, they’ll undoubtedly be able to build big sedans quicker than these last V12 models.
Enthusiasts of 12-cylinder engines still have a few options. They’re just exceptionally pricey, though. The 2022 Lamborghini Aventador still carries 12 cylinders, though even Lamborghini says its future models will use smaller engines and electrification to get their legendary speed.
The 2022 Rolls-Royce Ghost retains its 6.7-liter V12 as well, and Bentley models like the Bentayga, Continental, and Flying Spur use W12 engines. Also still available with a mighty V12 are the Aston Martin DB11 and DBS sports cars.
