Isbark.com

The V12 is one of the most legendary engine designs on the road. It’s as much at home being under the hood of a thoroughbred performance car like the Aston Martin Vanquish or the iconic McLaren F1, or a smooth luxury car such as a Rolls-Royce or Bentley. Examples have even found their way into SUVs, like the diesel V12-powered Audi Q7, although that naturally didn’t find a home in the USA.

Sadly, owing to ever-tightening emissions regulations and improving forced induction technology, the engine is becoming a rarer sight in new cars. Just two flavors of luxury cars continue to run an engine that was once dominant in the sector, though its continued use in these models is also in question.

The Mercedes Maybach S-Class Is One Of The Plushest Mercs On The Road

While the standard Mercedes-Benz S-Class is one of the most luxurious vehicles around in its own right, the Maybach version turns this up to 11. The model is available with two different engines currently, with the base model coming with a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8. This model also comes with a mild hybrid system, with power being a not inconsiderable 496 hp.

For power-hungry customers, the twin-turbo V12 S 680 model is the one to have. The 6.0-liter V12 brings a supercar-threatening 621 hp to the party, grunt that can carry it to 60 mph in only 4.5 seconds despite its heavyweight 5,346-pound frame. The powerhouse engine is combined with a nine-speed automatic transmission, which helps to produce a smooth driving experience whether you’re at the wheel or riding in the back.

Aside from the 621 hp power figure, the V12 also produces 664 lb-ft of torque. To ensure the Maybach S remains composed in all conditions, this power is shared between all four wheels courtesy of Mercedes’ 4MATIC AWD system. There is even a badass Brabus version available.

Unsurprisingly, the Maybach comes as standard with an almost endless list of luxury options. These include multi-contour seats with a massage function, chairs that also have heating and ventilating capability. There is also an elaborate 64-color LED ambient lighting system to keep things relaxed, while a complex air suspension setup ensures the Maybach S rides like it’s cruising over a cloud. The Maybach V12 doesn’t come cheap at a starting price of $240,500, but it’s difficult to find a more soothing experience on the road.

The Rolls-Royce Phantom Brings 12-Cylinders The Luxury Party

Rolls-Royce is the quintessential name in the full-size luxury car sector, the British brand having offered crafted luxury beasts since 1904. The Phantom is its current range-topper, a job it has carried out since it was released back in 2003. The current version comes with a 6.75-liter twin-turbo V12 unit tucked under its stretching hood, which brings 563 hp to the equation.

While not having quite as much power as the Maybach S, the Roller’s V12 produces the same 664 lb-ft of torque. It can hit 60 mph in 5.3 seconds, not that off-the-line speed is what it’s designed for. The Phantom comes with an insane level of customization, allowing buyers to design a car that suits their personality all the way down to the smallest detail. From the color you’d like the Spirit of Ecstasy on the hood to which one of the many dash materials is best suited, it’s unlikely many Phantoms are identical.

Aside from the usual toys you’d expect from a high-end car, the Phantom also has a few extra features that push the luxury dial to breaking point: There are elevating footrests in the rear, so that passengers of all sizes and builds can chill out. There are even multiple options for the traditional analog clock, while rear theater systems and veneered picnic tables can be chosen to ensure the Phantom can deliver whatever the assignment. For luxury buyers on a relatively, small budget, the Maybach S may be the smarter choice, given the Phantom starts from $493,000 before any options are selected.

The V12 Is Being Superseded By Smaller And More Efficient Power Plants

For any gearheads that have the luxury of being able to purchase one of these endangered species (we’re speaking about the V12 engine, not the exquisite luxury barges above), the time is now. The V12 is slowly falling out of favor with luxury carmakers, mainly as smaller engines can be made to be nearly as powerful and smooth as the more established V12s. Power plants like turbocharged V8s also throw out way less in the way of emissions than V12s, which need to be modified extensively to fit tightening regulations.

Not only would this be ultra-expensive for the manufacturers, but they would also likely need to produce significantly less power to hit targets, defeating the point of having a larger engine. V8s are also more compact than V12s, meaning designers can take advantage of extra space for the cabin. Their smaller nature also makes them lighter, improving fuel efficiency and driving dynamics further.

BMW has already begun to tread down this path, as it ditched the 6.6-liter V12 that featured in its 760 LI when the seventh generation model was unleashed in 2022. The range-topping 760 now comes with a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 instead, which offers up 544 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. While not quite as torquey as the Maybach S-Class and Rolls-Royce Phantom, it’s still more than enough to get the car shifting at a spirited pace. While smaller V8s are positioning themselves as natural successors to V12s, they aren’t the only powertrains threatening to kill them off for good.

Electric Propulsion Is Arguably The Best Suited Method For Luxury Cars

Case Study: 2025 BMW i7 M70

To build a good luxury car, aspects such as performance and agility are generally thrown to the side. The two most important aspects are that it remains quiet, as there are only so many layers of glass and sound deadening that can be included before the car starts to sink through the ground, and smoothness.

Pure power isn’t the biggest priority, as torque is the force that can effortlessly carry a car from standing to cruising speed. The more torque there is, the less a driver needs to rev the nuts of an engine to build up pace. Electric powertrains tick both boxes emphatically.

They are pretty much completely silent, ensuring the cabin remains quiet, while they produce an amazing amount of torque from the moment the driver touches the accelerator. This makes them ideal for luxury limos like the these mentioned above, and as a result, they are beginning to spring up all over the place.

BMW offers a full EV version of the 7-Series called the i7, while Korean brand Genesis has the Electrified G80. Even Rolls-Royce has got in on the action, with it introducing the Spectre EV in 2023. While available in the coupe model for now, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a similar dual-motor powertrain setup find its way into the Phantom in the future. While the impending doom of the V12 is a tragic tale for traditional automotive enthusiasts, they will at least live on as used bargains. For those looking for the most luxurious experience possible, though, it’s difficult to argue against the merits of electric technology for this particular job.

Sources
:
BMW, Mercedes Maybach, Rolls-Royce,
Bring a Trailer