The Best Cars with V12 Engines in the World

Nothing excites the senses like a supercar with a V12 engine. From the 1980s and ’90s Formula 1 cars to the 2025 Lamborghini Revuelto and Ferrari 12Cilindri, the V12 engine has always had a revered spot in the car world. This is thanks to monstrous power, exotic sound, and even high refinement.

From hypercars to super-luxury sedans, there are V12 engines of all types. The V12 motor has a history of racing and powering the most exclusive examples of automotive art, custom cars with incredible power, and even spanning different fuel types.

In this article, you will see some of the most powerful as well as most popular V12 engine cars in the world and in India.

What is a V12 Engine?

A V12 engine is one that uses 12 cylinders in a V shape. To clarify, unlike most ordinary engines with three, four or even six cylinders in line, cars with V12 engines use two rows of six cylinders called “banks”. Picture two in-line six-cylinder engines joined at the base, at an angle of between 60-120° and you will get it. This also results in the namesake “V” shape.

With 12 cylinders, displacement (cc) is usually very high. All 12 cylinders fire to power a single crankshaft which results in immensely high power and refinement. This kind of engine is seen in Rolls-Royce, Lamborghini and Ferrari models, but also used by Bentley, Mercedes, Aston Martin, BMW and Audi, among others.

The performance of an engine depends on the cylinder dimensions of bore (diameter) and stroke (piston travel length). In terms of piston travel, a wider bore and shorter stroke means more revolutions per minute (rpm) and higher power, whereas a narrower bore and longer stroke make for stronger lower-end performance and higher torque.

Best Cars with V12 Engines

Even with performance as the highlight, there are many cars with V12 engines available in different fuel types: petrol and diesel and even hybrid. There are diesel V12 engines used in the truck and marine industry, but there are cars with diesel V12 engines. We also have hybrid V12 on sale in India. Let’s take a closer look.

1. Best V12 Engine Cars: McLaren F1 – Most Iconic V12 Sports Car

Think V12 engine and an enthusiast's mind will immediately go to the iconic McLaren F1. The fruition of Gordon Murray’s dream in the mid 1990s, the McLaren F1 uses a BMW S70/2 V12 displacing 6.1 L and producing 627 bhp—Murray only asked for 550.

The V12 sits mid-rear and the engine bay is lined with gold as it is the best heat deflector. Back in the ’90s, the F1 hit a top speed of 386 kmph. That is something many supercars with 1,000+bhp cannot do today, mainly due to the onboard emission control systems. With only a manual transmission and rear-wheel drive, the McLaren F1 can hit 0-100 kmph in 3.2 seconds.

2. Best V12 Engine Cars: Lincoln Continental – Most Popular Classic American V12 Engine Car

Think classic American cars with V12 engines and immediately the 1939 Lincoln Zephyr V12, 1941 Lincoln Zephyr V12 and the iconic 1946 Lincoln Continental V12 spring to mind. The Lincoln Continental V12 took performance to the next level for Ford’s luxury brand in the 1940s.

The 1939-1941 Lincoln Zephyr V12 cars used a 4.4 L engine with all of 110 bhp.  The 1946 Lincoln V12 engine that powered the Lincoln Continental was a larger 4.8 L unit. It cost about $1,300 back in the 1940s. That’s about ₹25 lakh in today’s money.

 

3. Best V12 Engine Cars: Audi R10 TDI Le Mans – Most Race-winning Diesel V12 Car

A V12 engine winning races is common to hear, but a diesel V12? Not as much. And, no, this is not the MTU V12 diesel engine nor is it related to the MTU 2000 V12. The R10 TDI was powered by the Audi V12 TDI diesel engine making 641 bhp and a whopping 1,100 Nm of torque.

It became the first diesel car to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2006. Its efficiency over other racing petrol engines meant it made fewer fuel stops. The high peak torque enabled quick acceleration at low engine speeds. It was never sold as a road legal car, however, you can buy a second hand Audi car with a powerful diesel engine in India at a tempting price.

Audi also briefly offered a production spec Q7 V12 TDI with the 6.0 L V12 diesel making 493 bhp and 1,000 Nm.

Featured image Q7 V12

4. Best V12 Engine Cars: Toyota Century V12 – Most Exclusive Luxury Limousine

Toyota has its own city in Japan. Its cars are everywhere and each model line has its own badging. Toyota even made a luxury car with a V12 engine—the second-generation Toyota Century—but it was only sold in Japan. It was even available as a V12 CNG. The 5.0 L 1GZ FE V12 engine made 276 bhp (restricted to comply with the Gentleman’s Agreement).

The Century was the only front-engined V12 car with rear-wheel drive in Japan. There may not be a Toyota Century V12 for sale near you (unless you are in Japan) but there are many pre owned Toyota cars available near you with petrol, diesel and hybrid options at attractive prices.

5. Best V12 Engine Cars: Mercedes-Maybach S 680 – Cheapest V12 Engine Car in India

Yes, the Maybach S 680 4MATIC is priced at ₹3.73 crore (base, ex-showroom) but of all the cars with V12 engines you can buy new, it is the most affordable. The sheer luxury elements make for opulence at its finest. Large screens, convenient controls and plush seats with multiple power adjustments make it one of the most comfortable cabins.

The 6.0 L twin-turbo V12 engine is handcrafted and assembled in an exclusive facility. It delivers a peak 603 bhp and 900 Nm of torque. With a nine-speed automatic transmission and 4MATIC all-wheel drive, it can rush from 0-100 kmph in just 4.5 seconds.

6. Best V12 Engine Cars: Lamborghini Revuelto – Most Powerful Hybrid V12 Supercar in India

When it comes to super cars with V12 engines, Lamborghini is right up there. The Revuelto is a new generation of car combining a 6.5 L V12 engine with electric power to make it even faster and more powerful. With 1,001 bhp and a lot of instant electric torque, it can rocket from 0-100 kmph in 2.5 seconds and hit a top speed of over 350 kmph.

The Revuelto is a Lamborghini in India that you can buy if you have the money. For your ₹8.9 crore plus options and taxes, you get a car that is fully customised to your taste. You have to be prepared to wait a while, though.

7. Best V12 Engine Cars: Rolls-Royce Phantom Extended Wheelbase – Most Expensive V12 Car in India

Nothing announces that you have arrived like a Rolls-Royce Phantom. And the extended wheelbase version is even more extraordinary. With an asking price exceeding ₹12 crore for this extended version, it has an equally exorbitant price as well. It is truly a super-luxury car on a different plane of existence.

The 6.75 L V12 used here is a BMW N74 twin-turbocharged petrol engine. It is tuned to deliver effortless waft-ability with 563 bhp and 900 Nm of torque. That’s enough for this 2.7-tonne luxury yacht on wheels to sprint from 0-100 kmph in 5.4 seconds and get up to 250 kmph.

8. Best V12 Engine Cars: Ferrari 250 GTO – Most Expensive Car with a V12 Engine in the World

The most expensive V12 car in the world is a Ferrari 250 GTO. It was a part of a limited production run around 1962-63 and only a few cars survive today. As part of a classic car auction, chassis number 4153GT was auctioned for $70 million (₹600 crore+) making it top the list of the most expensive Ferrari cars in the world.

The 250 GTO ran a 3.0 L V12 making 296 bhp and 294 Nm, big numbers in the early 1960s; more so when you consider the performance on tap as the car only weighed 900 kg.

Conclusion

The cream of the automotive world consists of cars with V12 engines. Whether it’s an outstanding supercar or an ultra-luxury chariot for the wealthy and influential, you will find a V12 engine doing the job. High-performance can be raucous and screaming, and it can also be silent, refined and deceptively quick. With emission regulations slowly eliminating large capacity engines, some V12s still survive. And we have to be grateful for that.