BMW Waves Goodbye to the V-12 With a Final Edition M760Li

It was only a matter of time. With constricting emissions regulations and the onslaught of EV adoption rampant throughout the automotive industry, the V-12 engine was always going to go the way of the Dodo bird. The time has finally come for BMW’s V-12, which is set to bow out of existence forever following a tiny production run of a new limited edition 7-Series.

Shown above, the 2017 BMW M760Li xDrive.

BMW announced today a new limited edition M760Li xDrive simply called “The Final V12.” As the name suggests, it will be the last BMW series production vehicle to be fitted with a V-12 engine. Built exclusively for the United States, just 12 examples will be sold to the public.

BMW’s first V-12, the 5.0-liter M70, debuted in the 1987 BMW 7-Series. Also available in the unforgettable 8-Series, it was the first V-12 to be mated to a six-speed manual gearbox in a production vehicle. The engine would eventually grow to 5.3 liters, then 5.4 liters, then to 6.0 liters in the Bangle-era 7-Series. Now, in 2022, the engine rests at a commanding 6.6 liters, assisted by two turbochargers, making a total of 601 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. An eight-speed ZF automatic sends power to all four wheels, resulting in a 0-60 time of 3.6 seconds.

BMW

Keen-eyed enthusiasts will be able to spot this limited-edition M760Li through a selection of exclusive exterior and interior changes, including 20-inch wheels and a “V12” badge on the trunklid where the “M760Li” badge would normally sit. Inside you’ll find sill plates and a center console-mounted plaque that read “The Final V12.” The 12 lucky buyers will have the option to choose the car to be painted in any of BMW’s individual paint options and any of the company’s individual leather choices.

BMW says it plans to approach previous buyers with a history of V-12 BMW ownership with an invitation to purchase the The Final V12. So not just anyone will be able to get their hands on the company’s last 12-cylinder hurrah. Production is expected to start in June 2022, with deliveries starting in early July. Pricing has yet to be revealed, though considering just how exclusive this car is, we’re sure it’ll be a good deal more expensive than your average, run-of-the-mill $157,800 M760Li xDrive.

Brian Silvestro

Road & Track staff writer with a taste for high-mileage, rusted-out projects and amateur endurance racing.