Aston Martin earlier this month took the wraps off the DB11, its all-new grand touring coupe. Like any top-spec Aston, a 12-cylinder beast of a motor lives under the hood—although it’s not the same 6.0-liter mill derived from Ford that the company has produced since 1999. In keeping with the times, the engine is smaller at 5.2 liters and it packs a pair of turbochargers rather than being naturally aspirated. As a result, it cranks out 600 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, helping make the DB11 significantly quicker than the 540-hp DB9 it replaced. (There was a DB10, but just 10 models were built, all for Spectre, the 2015 James Bond movie).
Does news of the DB11 whet your appetite for 12 cylinders? What can you do if you have a real and palpable need for a V-12 at the very core of your being—but your bank account lacks the commensurate $215,000 allowing you to bring home a new Aston? Fear not. There are other ways to make an exotic vehicle with 12 cylinders your very own.
1973 Jaguar XK V-12 Roadster
The British have been particularly keen on the V-12 for decades, with sports cars like the iconic E-Type epitomizing English style dating back to the 1960s and ‘70s. Examples like this 1973 Jaguar XK V-12 Roadster has a sultry 5.3-liter placed into the engine bay of its curvaceous body. The V-12 would continue on as a staple of Jaguar style in subsequent coupes and convertibles, as evidenced by an ongoing portfolio of 12-cylinder Jags for sale on eBay.
2002 Aston Martin DB7 V-12 Coupe
What if you’re particularly keen on the Aston brand? This well-maintained 2002 DB7 sports the outgoing naturally aspirated V-12 mentioned earlier, and you can probably get in the driver’s seat for less than the price of a well-equipped Hyundai Genesis.
2003 Mercedes-Benz CL-Class CL600 AMG with a turbo V-12
The Germans also have a thing for the V-12. You’ll find 12-cylinder Teutonic motors most often in luxury models like the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and the BMW 7-Series, although a few of the sportier AMG-tuned models like this CL600 scored a twin-turbocharged V-12 as well.
A 6.2-liter 580-hp V-12 engine from the Lamborghini Murcelago
Maybe you’ve already got a project car in the works and you’re looking add some supercar mojo? With a little bit of ingenuity and a whole lot of elbow grease your ride could put this 580-horsepower heart of a Lamborghini Murcielago or the 5.7-liter DOHC V-12 that powered the Ferrari 575M Maranello to good use.
The 2014 Ferrari F12 Rosso Berlinetta, with a peek at its V-12 engine.
If you’re a horsepower-crazed sultan who finds that the DB11’s 600 horsepower on tap just isn’t enough, there’s always the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta, which is powered by a monstrous 6.3-liter V-12 that generates a face-melting 731 horsepower and stands as one of the company’s most seductive models currently on offer.
Even if you don’t have the deep pockets to purchase a Berlinetta, as you can see from all the examples above, a sporty and powerful V-12 can be within reach.
