Pheew- V12 is safe over in Munich

With the arrival of BMW's new twin-turbo V-8 in the X6, which produces more torque and only slightly less power than the V-12 in the 7 Series, you might imagine the future for BMW's 12-cylinder engine is bleak. Not so.

The V-12 will soon get a fresh lease on life, as evidenced by a new dedicated engine line at BMW's Munich plant. An improved version with high-precision direct injection will power the coming 7 Series, especially in Asian markets where there's little sign of long-term economic slowdown. Expect the V-12 to be rated at 470-plus horsepower. The HPi system gives cleaner emissions and improves power, although it does require higher fuel quality, which could delay introduction in some markets.

We can also confirm a V-12 will be fitted to the new 2010 $350,000 "small" Rolls-Royce, codenamed RR4. Rolls-Royce has been coy about the issue of propulsion so far, but it is a V-12, and a source says it's "of a unique capacity, larger than the 6.0-liter that'll be fitted to the 7 Series."

The Phantom runs a 6-3/4-liter, a traditional Rolls-Royce capacity, and this seems likely for the RR4, too. The fact that Bentley has a V-12 in its Continental Flying Spur might have had some bearing on the decision.

Further demand for BMW V-12s will come from topline versions of the production edition of the large Concept CS Sedan-GT car to be introduced about 2011. This means three cars on the 7 Series platform will be offered with the 12-cylinder engine: the RR4, the 7 Series, and the CS. The other upcoming new model line, the 2010 Progressive Activity Sedan, is based on the 5 Series platform and tops out with the V-8s.