DAIMLER’S DOZEN

Some would argue that Jaguar’s V12 engine was well overdue by its launch in 1971. A silky smooth, durable engine, it launched in the Series 3 E-Type and the Series 1 XJ received the engine in 1972. After two reskins, the Series XJ would have a stay of execution and last into the XJ40 era as a V12 until the later car was developed to accept a V12. Indeed, you could still buy a Series 3 XJ12 until 1992.

The long-awaited V12 XJ40 would last just two years, with the V12-powered variant of its X300 successor launched in 1995. The new car sported the same 6.0-litre V12, but it developed a mighty 317bhp, the most powerful variant of Jaguar’s V12. This would prove to be the engine’s swansong, as the X308 XJ would bring the V8 which, particularly in supercharged