Wednesday 19th January 2022

BMW confirms end of V12 with limited M760i

A special edition 7 Series will be the final production BMW with a V12 in it - sob

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BMW probably won't be best pleased that in a story ostensibly about a 7 Series, the images feature an 8 Series that was never made. But with the end of its V12 engines in sight, it's hard not to wistfully remember those icons of the past. The M8 prototype was powered by a 6.1-litre, 600hp S70/1 V12, itself an extensive Paul Rosche-led overhaul of the M70 - BMW's first V12, launched in 1987. Depending on where you read it, some bits of the S70/1 aided development of the S70/2 V12, also known as the McLaren F1's 6.1-litre engine - perhaps the greatest combustion engine ever made. So, when BMW calls a day on V12s, it's pretty momentous news. In part thanks to an M8 it never made and an era-defining supercar from McLaren...

But that's doing BMW V12s a disservice, because other 12-cylinder engines have provided power for some truly serene 7 Series flagships for 30 years - and some Rolls-Royces, let's not forget. Therefore, however inevitable the demise of the V12 BMW may be (there hasn't been a 7 Series with more than eight cylinders for a little while in the UK, and you don't need telling what comes next), it's no less sad for its predictability.

The final V12 BMWs will be sold in the USA; appropriately enough there will be just a dozen, all based on the mighty M760i xDrive, and they'll be set apart by "unique badging, wheels, and a choice from the vast collection of exterior colours and upholstery offered by BMW Individual." (No full images have been released yet, so it's a standard M760i in the pics.)

Nobody inside or out is going to be in any doubt about the significance of this 7 Series, that's for sure: a '1 OF 12' plaque will feature, 'THE FINAL V12' is going on the sills, a "bold 'V12' icon" will sit on the rump and - get this - each customer will also get "a custom-built desk trophy to commemorate their specific vehicle." Which will probably sit next to their golf trophies and 'Powerfully Built Company Director of the Year' awards. A 7 Series is typically quite subtle, but there's no way this sort of occasion was going to pass without some embellishment.

Those expecting a wild, 800hp send-off for the BMW V12 will be disappointed, as these last-of-the-line 7 Series are mechanically identical to the normal M760s. Still, that means more than 600hp from a twin-turbo 6.6 (or twice that of the first E32-era 750iL V12 from the late 80s), and the ability to reach 60mph in just 3.6 seconds. Nobody is going to feel short changed.

That said, securing a Final V12 won't come cheap - it's $200k, or about £147,000 at the current exchange rate. BMW says production will begin in June ahead of July deliveries. Customers will have to hope, however, that the special edition doesn't depreciate in the way V12 7 Series are notorious for. If confirmation of no more V12s is just the nudge to the classifieds you need, this M760i xDrive is £54,000 after just 30,000 miles of use. The RRP in 2017, before options, was £132,310...

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• BMW M760i xDrive | PH Review
• 243-mile McLaren F1 fetches £14.8m at auction

[pSyCoSiS]

End of an era. They did make some glorious V12 engines - McLaren having the ultimate incarnation of the naturally aspirated version.

[Triumph Man]

Having binge watched a load of M539's videos a little while ago, I feel reasonably confident that I could fix a BMW V12! (well, M70/73 anyway)

Shame it's come to this, but I suppose inevitable.

Let's also not forget Desmond Llewelyn mispronouncing "750il"

[hertfordshire1]

Loved my M760li.

Best car i've ever owned.

Depreciation was a killer mind!

[Dave Hedgehog]

didn't know they still made a v12 ...

i bet it comes with stty fake engine speaker sound

[virgilio]

interesting that they say it’s an m760i and not an m760li. does it mean it will be based on a swb 7-series body rather than a lwb? that would make it special.

[Shiv_P]

virgilio said:

interesting that they say it’s an m760i and not an m760li. does it mean it will be based on a swb 7-series body rather than a lwb? that would make it special.

It looks LWB from the rear door

[PistonTim]

Shiv_P said:

virgilio said:

interesting that they say it’s an m760i and not an m760li. does it mean it will be based on a swb 7-series body rather than a lwb? that would make it special.

It looks LWB from the rear door

Article says "(No full images have been released yet, so it's a standard M760i in the pics.)"

[smilo996]

Definitely a car worth sending to a custom shop for an extensive injection of soul as well as shredding and then burning that truly terrible engine blanket cover thing.
Perhaps even better would be to put it in an M6 Gran Coupe. A body with character.

[virgilio]

PistonTim said:

Shiv_P said:

virgilio said:

interesting that they say it’s an m760i and not an m760li. does it mean it will be based on a swb 7-series body rather than a lwb? that would make it special.

It looks LWB from the rear door

Article says "(No full images have been released yet, so it's a standard M760i in the pics.)"

I had a look at the bmw us website and there the m760li is sold as a m760i (the pictures are all lwb, but i guess there is no swb 7series available independently of the engine…). So very likely the final version will not be an swb. The difference may not be huge, but I think it’s a pity.

[virgilio]

smilo996 said:

Definitely a car worth sending to a custom shop for an extensive injection of soul as well as shredding and then burning that truly terrible engine blanket cover thing.
Perhaps even better would be to put it in an M6 Gran Coupe. A body with character.

nice idea! With all the niches invented so far I amsurprised they haven’t built yet a hyper-saloon for drivers rather than chauffeured passengers: all top of the range cars (7series, s-class, ghost, flying spur) are too long. A car with the RR ghost’s sophistication but with 5 series dimensions (and a v12) would be something amazing and unique. The Derby Bentleys of the 1930s were exactly that (as the bugatti 57 saloons), but in the last 50 years all manufacturers have equated luxury with size, which is just wrong.

[NMNeil]

virgilio said:

The Derby Bentleys of the 1930s were exactly that (as the bugatti 57 saloons), but in the last 50 years all manufacturers have equated luxury with size, which is just wrong.

Not all of them. Some luxury car makers have tried introducing smaller versions of their full size cars, and it's sometimes been a total disaster, and the whole 'luxury brand' concept is questioned
A luxury car should be easily identified as something special, but the reality is, many are almost identical in being nondescript.
https://www.cadillac.com/sedans
https://www.lincoln.com/luxury-cars/mkz/

[virgilio]

NMNeil said:

Not all of them. Some luxury car makers have tried introducing smaller versions of their full size cars, and it's sometimes been a total disaster, and the whole 'luxury brand' concept is questioned
A luxury car should be easily identified as something special, but the reality is, many are almost identical in being nondescript.
https://www.cadillac.com/sedans
https://www.lincoln.com/luxury-cars/mkz/

well, yes, all luxury/premium manufacturers have made smaller cars, but i am not talking about 5-series/e-class (let alone post 1960 cadillacs and lincolns, which i wouldn’t associate with luxury even when full-size). I am talking about a 5-series sized car with the quality and comfort of a 7-series, or, better of a RR Ghost. Or an A6, even an A4 with the quality, comfort and engines of a flying spur. That would be special and that has not been tried in modern times (one could argue that the w124 mb500e was something like that, but it didn’t really offer the quality and comfort of a w140 600se).

[NMNeil]

virgilio said:

NMNeil said:

Not all of them. Some luxury car makers have tried introducing smaller versions of their full size cars, and it's sometimes been a total disaster, and the whole 'luxury brand' concept is questioned
A luxury car should be easily identified as something special, but the reality is, many are almost identical in being nondescript.
https://www.cadillac.com/sedans
https://www.lincoln.com/luxury-cars/mkz/

well, yes, all luxury/premium manufacturers have made smaller cars,

Not only smaller, but cheaper in an attempt to bolster their sales.
A true luxury car used to be unusual, and when parked it would stand out.
I just got back from WalMart and the parking lot had plenty of BMW's, Cadillac's and Mercedes. There as commonplace as Chevy's these days, and don't warrant a second glance.

[anonymous-user]

Auf wiedersehen, and end of an era indeed. A good V12 is a glorious thing. The BMW V12s have all been special. Mad to think of all that engineering know-how being replaced by a ... battery ... I'm praying for a hydrogen combustion conversion kit

[GTRene]

hm...


or


Alpina also had a 6.0 V12, but also some plastic on it, but that new V12 biturbo, yes nice power, but its not something you put the hood up by a car meet.

[Leon R]

You see many M760i's at car meets?

[danp]

Looks like pictures of an old 7 series, the grille in particular is too tasteful - they’re like this now?

[Jon_S_Rally]

My FIL has an M760Li. Beautiful things in black. Really great looking car.

It's sad that so many car stories at the moment are about the "last" or "final" iteration of something. The future looks rather depressing currently.

[Sandpit Steve]

I’ll take the one with the engine in the middle, thanks!

End of an era, not many V12s still around now so I guess we all need to buy one while we still can.

[AndyTheGeo]

"there hasn't been a 7 Series with more than eight cylinders for a little while in the UK..."

Does the M760Li not count?