V12 engines are not a very common sight in the automotive world. Their sheer size, poor efficiency, high manufacturing costs, and high need for maintenance make them poor candidates for anything but the most performance-oriented, wildly expensive sports cars. BMW previously produced V12 passenger‑car engines but phased them out of mainstream production; General Motors has experimented with or produced V12s in limited/racing contexts, but was never a major, long‑term V12 passenger‑car manufacturer like BMW. Today, only a handful of brands are keeping this engine layout alive.
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