Here are 12 of the greatest (and strangest) V12 engines ever made

British-engineered 3.9-litre wailer in Gordon Murray’s hypercars revs to a record 12,100rpm – beating Cosworth’s own 6.5-litre 11,100rpm effort in the Aston Valkyrie. Yet it still delivers almost three quarters of its peak torque at 2,500rpm.

The chromed trumpets, the red heads (hence Testa Rossa) – Maranello’s quintessential 1960s powerplant has pedigree, a soundtrack to die for, and is a treat to be behind when it’s at a standstill.

Bizzarini allegedly got a bonus from Lamborghini for every extra bhp he could wring out over Ferrari. Lasted from 350 GT via Miura, Countach and Diablo to 670bhp Murciélago SV, doubling in capacity.

Also known as the 627bhp Paul Rosche-designed masterpiece created specifically for the McLaren F1, after Gordon Murray’s first choice Honda failed to supply a powerplant. Breathing in via a roof scoop, it’s the induction noise king.

No, it’s not quite accurate to call Aston’s touchstone V12, dating from 1999, two Mondeo V6s glued together. But Aston was owned by Ford back then, so it did borrow valvetrains from the Blue Oval’s Duratec. And pistons. And rods.

HE stands for high efficiency. Revamped XJS motor added digitally controlled fuel injection and high compression which enhanced power delivery while reducing fuel consumption by 50 per cent... to 15–20mpg. If you were good.

Derived from the Ferrari Enzo’s ‘F140B’ madman, the F140C has served in the 599, F12, 812, LaFerrari, SP2, SP3 and now the namedropping Dodici Cilindri. Power and red lines climb, but it still passes noise and emissions laws.

The only V12 ever to win an F1 title, nestled in the McLaren MP4/6 that was driven by Ayrton Senna in 1991. Special mention to Honda’s tiny 1.5-litre RA272 V12, the first Japanese car to win an F1 race, in Mexico ‘65.

Developed in the early 1990s for the S-Class, the big whisperer grew to 7.1 then 7.3 litres for mad AMGs. Found its way into France’s Mega Track off-road supercar and the CLK GTR Le Mans car, achieved legend status in Pagani’s Zonda.

To get niggly here, Ferrari’s Tipo F102 engine isn’t strictly a flat 12 because the cylinders don’t fire in a boxer sequence, so it’s actually a 180° flat V12. Of course that didn’t stop Ferrari putting it in a car literally called ‘Boxer’.

Dangerously BMW-ish name for a 6.75-litre bi-turbo velvet- gloved fist. In the Phantom it makes 664lb ft, yet emits only 60dB at 70mph. Quiet enough to hear your nails growing.

Almost everyone has ridden behind this 79-litre monster, and it set the diesel train speed record in 1987 powering the InterCity 125. Also found in naval subs, frigates and generating electricity on oil rigs. Thanks for your service.