Holy Crap: Look At This V12

The V12 is a dying breed. While some companies endeavor to keep their biggest and best engines alive for a little while longer, global downsizing has all but killed the beloved 12-cylinder engine as we know it. May it rest in peace.

But don’t tell that to De Tomaso. The niche Italian carmaker has just revealed the first details of its new 12-cylinder engine and exhaust system for the upcoming P900 hypercar—and the thing looks straight-up demonic.

According to De Tomaso, this engine took four years to develop, and it’s easy to see why. It features beautifully interwoven steel pipes, an elaborate carbon-fiber intake setup, and plenty of heat-reflective tape for good measure.

Weighing just 485 pounds (220 kilograms), this is reportedly the lightest V12 ever developed. The 6.2-liter engine is also said to rev to 12,300 rpm—more than the Cosworth V12 found in the Gordon Murray T.50—and produces 900 horsepower on synthetic fuel.

Photo by: De Tomaso

Photo by: De Tomaso

When it finally reaches production, which should be sometime soon, the De Tomaso P900 will likely boast a power-to-weight ratio of 1:1, akin to the Koenigsegg One:1. The P900 tips the scales at just 1,984 pounds (900 kg), with all that power sent to the rear axle via an Xtrac sequential gearbox.

Buyers eager to get their hands on De Tomaso’s bonkers V12 and the P900 hypercar will have to dish out at least $3 million—no small sum. But with companies like Ferrari downsizing to hybrid V8s and only a handful of V12 alternatives still out there, it’s a relatively small price to pay.

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Motor1’s Take: Look at that engine—it’s absolutely stunning. If it performs even halfway as well as it looks, De Tomaso could have a real winner on its hands.