Aston Martin wants to keep its V12 running, but global emissions rules may force it into extinction.
Aston Martin’s V12 engine is living on borrowed time. Despite its best efforts to keep it alive, emissions regulations are making it increasingly difficult to justify, and by 2030, it will be gone for good.
CEO Adrian Hallmark recently confirmed that large-scale production of the 5.2-liter twin-turbo V12 will stop by 2028, with limited production continuing for a couple of years after that. However, even with some exemptions for low-volume manufacturers, the writing is on the wall. The big engine, which has been the heart of some of Aston Martin’s most exciting cars, will soon be a thing of the past.
The new Vanquish has made it clear that there’s still a huge appetite for V12 power. With 820 horsepower under the hood, it’s one of the most powerful Aston Martins ever made. Customers love it, and the carmaker could probably extract even more power if it weren’t for increasingly strict emissions rules. But as much as enthusiasts might want the V12 to stick around, regulations are making that impossible.
Aston Martin isn’t alone in this struggle. The number of automakers still producing twelve-cylinder engines is shrinking fast. Ferrari continues to use its naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12 in the 12Cilindri and Purosangue, while Lamborghini’s Revuelto carries on the tradition. Meanwhile, Mercedes-Maybach still offers a twin-turbo 6.0-liter V12 in its ultra-luxurious S-Class, and Pagani uses an AMG-derived version in the Utopia. Rolls-Royce is one of the last holdouts as well, keeping the V12 alive in the Ghost, Cullinan, and Phantom.
However, other brands have already moved on. BMW dropped its V12 from the 7 Series years ago, and Aston Martin’s own Valkyrie, powered by a Cosworth-built V12, is long sold out. Niche manufacturers like Gordon Murray Automotive have developed incredible V12-powered hypercars like the T.33 and T.50, but these are limited-run models that won’t be around for long.
Despite the inevitable end of the V12, Aston Martin isn’t giving up on internal combustion just yet. The British marque is still planning to use its V-8 for as long as regulations allow, and plug-in hybrid technology will play a big role in extending the life of traditional engines. At the same time, Aston Martin is scaling back its electric vehicle plans. While the manufacturer still plans to release its first EV within the next five years, it won’t be rushing to electrify its lineup. Hallmark believes that internal combustion and hybrids will still make up the majority of Aston Martin’s sales in 2030.
For now, it seems the V12 is making a final stand. Enthusiasts are snapping up the last of these high-powered models, knowing that this could be their last chance to own a piece of automotive history. As Hallmark put it, this is the “final push” for twelve-cylinder engines, and once they’re gone, they won’t be coming back.
