There are some key differences between the M70 and M20, however, and they include a block constructed of Alusil, more advanced mass-air-flow sensors instead of air-flow meters, and a timing chain rather than a belt. BMW’s first V12 employee a rather simple-in retrospect, at least-single-overhead-camshaft cylinder design, with a total of 24 valves between the cylinder banks, which are split at a 60-degree angle. Although the M70 came to be as its own unique design, the fundamentals can perhaps best be imagined as a pair of 2.5-liter M20 sixes joined at the crank. The BMW V12 passenger-car lineage begins with the M70, production of which commenced in 1987. One potential silver lining is that ultra-premium segment competitors, like Ferrari and Lamborghini seem to be committed to V12, at least for near future-and BMW’s own upper echelon, Rolls-Royce, is a chief factor in why the N74 will be sticking around longer than the Mercedes V12 and Audi W12. On the other hand, while Mercedes has been using the same M279 SOHC twin-turbo, three-valve unit since 2003, BMW’s current direct-injected N74 is also growing rather long in the tooth, having been in production since 2008. While V12 development hasn’t advanced much over the past ten to twenty years, the limits of the V8 continue to be pushed, with BMW’s own 4.4-liter N63 and S63 units, along with similar four-liter, hot-vee counterparts from AMG and Audi, seeming to reach new output levels with every generation or model year. Although emissions regulations the world over are contributing to the end of such an excellent engine architecture, at least in terms of non-supercar availability, the stalwart V8 is also to blame. The BMW V12 story isn’t as compelling as that of the V8 or vaunted inline-six, but a lot has changed since the M70 V12 was initially unveiled, and when it comes to the vast range of engine experiences, V12 designs from the world over remain among the most specialized and coveted. With the end of the horizon potentially in sight for the BMW V12 engine-perhaps shortly after the model year 2023-we thought it might be both useful and interesting to recall the history of the V12, which first came to market just over 30 years ago, during the late 1980s.
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