The phrase "the best or nothing" is more than just a slogan for Mercedes-Benz; it reflects the brand’s commitment to performance. Despite growing regulations and rising outputs from smaller engines, the iconic V12 will remain part of the Mercedes-Benz lineup for the foreseeable future, according to Ola Kallenius, a member of the Mercedes-Benz Cars divisional board.
During a recent roundtable discussion in Germany with media outlets, including The Drive, Kallenius stated, “The V12 is around for the foreseeable future. I don’t see that going away quickly."
You might wonder why this is the case, particularly at a time when AMG has successfully extracted over 600 horsepower from a 4-liter V8 engine. The answer lies in a select group of affluent customers who demand nothing less than a 12-cylinder engine. Kallenius recounted the story of a distinguished AMG customer who outright refused to even ride in a vehicle equipped with the latest V8, insisting, “I only ride in V12s.” This loyal Mercedes enthusiast owns an impressive collection of 35 different V12 models, all in various colors.
“It is a small clientele of connoisseurs that love V12s,” Kallenius explained. “In certain markets, for some customers, the V12 remains the ultimate choice, and that’s what they want…so we will cater to that clientele with a very capable V12 for the foreseeable future.”
As long as there is demand, Kallenius assured that Mercedes will ensure the V12 engine—currently featured in the S-Class, S-Class Coupe and Cabriolet, SL-Class, and G-Class—will comply with all relevant governmental regulations.
“Whatever the regulation is, we will meet the regulation,” he confirmed. “How long that segment has legs, I don’t know, but we have no plans to give up on it.”
.
