It might be hard to believe, but in all of Japan's automotive history, there's been exactly one production-spec V12 engine. Toyota, keen to flex its technical mastery over legacy V12 engine builders in the 1990s, created the 1GZ-FE for its second-generation Toyota Century sedan. It was, in a word, incredible.
So, if rumors surface about another Toyota V12 being considered, we notice. By we, mean the motoring enthusiast community in general, and that's exactly what's happening right now thanks to a report from Mag X, a Japanese-market publication. It's just a rumor, so take it all with a grain of salt. But if Toyota were to ever bring back its epic V12, now would be a good time.
A Special Engine For A Special Vehicle
According to the report, Toyota is planning a new V12 for its upcoming Century brand, namely for the coupe that was shown as a concept in October 2025. The engine is allegedly a twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter V12 that, once paired with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, would generate approximately 800 combined horsepower. As for the engine's origins, the report suggests it could utilize two existing 3.0-liter inline-six engines as the foundation for the V12's development.
The report emphasizes the Century Coupe being the vehicle using this new engine. When the concept was revealed, Toyota Chairman and all-around car guy Akio Toyoda spoke about Century being "the pride of Japan." The concept is massive for a coupe, sitting high like a crossover and aimed squarely at the ultra-luxury segment where Rolls-Royce lives. Adding more fuel to the V12 fire, you can still get a Rolls-Royce with a V12. But again, this is just a rumor and for now, Toyota isn't talking.
It's Not About Raw Power
If a new Toyota V12 does emerge, don't expect it to be something designed to set speed records. The original 1GZ-FE was designed not to be a high-revving rival to Ferrari or Lamborghini, but an ultra-smooth mill with prodigious torque oozing at low engine speeds. Per the Japanese "gentlemen's agreement" in the 1990s, it was rated at 276 horsepower but produced 355 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 revs. More importantly, the vast majority of available torque came on at a mere 1,200 rpm – barely above idle speed.
The engine was insanely over-engineered, too. Its dual intake and throttle bodies were electronically controlled for both smoother power delivery and fuel efficiency. It was one of Toyota's earlier efforts with variable valve timing, though the focus was on smoothing out the idle instead of adding top-end power. The engine itself was an all-aluminum design with a strengthened bottom end designed to minimize vibration. Anyone who's been in a V12 Century can attest to how incredibly smooth and quiet it is, even under full trot.
H/T Carscoops
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This article originally appeared on CarBuzz and is republished here with permission.
