BMW wants to make sure its venerable V-12 engine doesn’t die quietly.
With a special edition, the M760i xDrive The Final V12, BMW will bid farewell to the brawny powerhouse. You’ll have to move quickly to get your hands on the imposing sedan, since just 12 copies will be made, and they’ll only be sold in the United States.
BMW, like the rest of the car industry, has embraced electrification, which means the V-12’s days are numbered. Earlier this decade, the business ceased making the engine for its European automobiles, and it will do so again this summer. So what better automobile to put the last of those mills into than the bimmer with the longest history—the 7-series?
The 5.0-liter M70 V-12 was initially installed in the luxury automaker’s majestic flagship in 1987. According to BMW, the limited-edition M760i will sport an even more powerful 6.6-liter engine with BMW M TwinPower Turbo technology and a distinctive “Final V12” plaque. The massive engine is linked to an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission that transmits power to all four wheels and has a maximum output of 601 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. The automobile is also capable of moving. Despite the lack of a peak speed, BMW claims it can go from zero to 60 mph in under 3.6 seconds.
The Final V12 has all of the high-end features you could want, both inside and out. On the outside, you’ll notice a distinctive “V12” badge in place of the “M760i” symbol, as well as a new set of grey or black 20-inch wheels. Inside, the automaker’s Piano Black Finish trim package is installed, along with “The Final V12” written on each door sill and a numbered plaque on the center console that matches the one on the engine. You’ll also be able to customize the car using BMW Individual, picking from over 80 exterior finishes and any of the vehicle’s current upholstery options.
Solely a dozen instances of the M760i V12 will be produced, and only for clients in the United States. The sedan will go into production in June and deliveries will begin in July, with a starting price of $200,995 including the destination fee.
There’s no doubting that the automobile industry’s landscape is changing dramatically. While technological advancements in autonomous driving, ubiquitous ride-sharing platforms, and even new app-driven ownership models are handy, they do not appear to be encouraging the younger generation to become car aficionados. So, perhaps this will be of assistance. As we prepare to launch into 2022, let’s take a look back at some of the most memorable supercars of the previous two decades—apex models likely to pique the interest of the next generation of collectors.
So, the first model on this list is from the previous century, specifically the 1990s, but it serves as a standard and baseline for the models that follow. A peak speed of 231 miles per hour. No other production automobile has ever gone so fast back in 1992. It was incredible. But that’s exactly what the McLaren F1 did: it blew people’s minds. It could reach 60 mph in 3.2 seconds thanks to its light carbon-fiber chassis, single-minded attention on weight loss, and a unique 6-liter, 627 horsepower BMW V-12 engine.
It was also exorbitantly priced upon debut, costing about $1 million. Today, though, expect to spend roughly $20 million for one of the 106 specimens that come to market.
The Enzo, a V-12-powered, mid-engined monster named after Ferrari’s founder, whose legacy continues to inspire the company’s current supercars, remains the company’s biggest sensation of the twenty-first century. The automobile, designed by Ken Okuyama, then-head of design at Pininfarina, wowed the crowds during the 2002 Paris Motor Show.
With manufacture spanning 2003 to 2004, all 399 units were pre-sold. A 400th production model was made and sent to the Vatican as a charitable donation. While the Enzo’s 651 horsepower and $659,330 as-new price may appear quaintly little by today’s standards, it was the benchmark of its period and remains one of the most desired supercars of this century. R.R BMW special M760i says goodbye to the V-12 engine.
It’s achingly beautiful. The super-exclusive Aston Martin ONE-77 hypercar is a work of art. Only 77 of these lethal missiles were made, with each one costing over $1.5 million. This was the fastest, most technologically advanced, and most radical Aston ever made when it debuted in 2009. And, without a doubt, the most gorgeous in BMW special M760i says goodbye to the V-12 engine.
It was also light and rigid, thanks to its carbon-fiber chassis and hand-formed aluminum body. It’s also incredibly speedy, thanks to the 7.3-liter V-12’s 750 horsepower. How quickly can you do it? Think 3.5 seconds to 60 mph and a peak speed of 200 mph. It’s the automobile Bond should have driven, but hasn’t. H.W.