Mercedes Explains Where The V12 Survives And Where It's Dead

The company's biggest engine is gone from Europe and other markets.

2022 Mercedes-Maybach S680

Adrian Padeanu

By: Adrian Padeanu

Mar 26, at 3:36am ET

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The Breakdown

Mercedes will stop selling the Maybach S-Class with a V12 engine in Europe and other regions.
The company's largest engine will continue in the United States.
South Korea and the Middle East are still getting the twelve-cylinder sedan.

The writing had been on the wall for quite some time, and now it’s official. Mercedes-Benz is discontinuing the V12 engine across European Union markets as the twin-turbo 6.0-liter unit falls victim to stricter emissions regulations. In a statement to Motor1, a company spokesperson explained that the impending arrival of the Euro 7 standard is pushing the twelve-cylinder powerhouse out of the Old Continent.

It’s not just the EU that is waving goodbye to the “M 279” engine. Countries that align with the European Certificate of Conformity (CoC) are also losing the biggest combustion engine offered by Mercedes. Non-EU countries such as Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway will do without the V12 as well. Moreover, India and other regions are bidding farewell to an engine launched more than a decade ago.

'Our clear ambition is to ensure all Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-Maybach models meet the highest demands of our customers. We are constantly evolving our models and engines, regularly reviewing our portfolio for specific markets. We also meticulously comply with all applicable standards, including EU7.'

Photo by: Mercedes-Benz

'That is why in the European and CoC markets, as well as in some other markets such as India, the updated V8 is the new top engine. It delivers an extraordinary 450 kW [603 hp]—that’s the same performance as the current V12 engine. We are convinced that this engine will deliver driving comfort and performance worthy of Maybach.'

The Mercedes V12 Will Continue In A Few Regions

The V12 will continue in Maybach’s main markets, such as China, the United States, and the Middle East. Interestingly, the S680 name will still be used globally, even though some regions are getting the V8 while others retain the V12. The logic behind this decision is that the eight-cylinder version is now just as powerful as its bigger sibling.

However, the S680 sold in the U.S. still has the edge. Its V12 makes 621 hp, or 18 hp more than the V8. Additionally, the 664 pound-feet (900 Newton-meters) of torque give it a 37 lb-ft (50 Nm) advantage over the smaller engine.

Photo by: Mercedes-Benz

V12 Sedans: Not Many Left

Of course, there’s also the prestige that comes with having a twelve-cylinder sedan, one of the few still available in 2026. The Bentley Flying Spur with a W12 is gone, while the Volkswagen Phaeton and Audi A8 with the same engine are a distant memory. BMW retired the V12 when the previous-generation 7 Series went away, though the engine continues to be used in the Rolls-Royce Ghost and Phantom.

Pricing isn’t out for the new Maybach S-Class S680 with the V12, but given the scarcity of twelve-cylinder sedans, it’s likely to be the cheapest of them all. Be that as it may, it'll likely cost over a quarter of a million dollars, considering its predecessor started at $245,750 in the U.S.

2027 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class

Source: Mercedes-Benz

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Motor1's Take: It’s no surprise that the V12 is being dropped from markets with increasingly strict legislation. The larger the engine, the more vulnerable it is to being phased out unless automakers adopt electrification. However, the Maybach S-Class is a niche product, so investing in what would have been a highly complex hybrid V12 powertrain wouldn’t have made much sense.

The “M 279” engine is not the only V12 built by Mercedes. Although its AMG performance subsidiary stopped making “65”-badged cars years ago, the Pagani Utopia uses the “M 158” unit born in Affalterbach.

The V12 Lives, For Now:

The New Armored V12 Mercedes S-Class Will Take A Bullet For You

Aston Martin Wants To Keep The V12 Engine Alive

BMW’s Big Engines Will Continue, Even The V12

Ferrari Is Cooking Up A Hotter V12 SUV With A Meaner Purosangue

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