BMW X5 V12 Le Mans: The Ultimate Spassmobil

The BMW X5 V12 Le Mans is one of those rare, wonderful moments when a carmaker momentarily forgets about accountants, regulations, and common sense, and instead asks a far more entertaining question: “What if we shoved a Le Mans–winning racing engine into an SUV?” When I saw the X5 Le Mans during my last visit to the Pace Museum by JP Performance in Dortmund, it felt almost unreal to be standing in front of something so unapologetically absurd.

Built around the turn of the millennium, the E53 X5 V12 Le Mans, was never intended as a production model. It was a one-off experiment, a celebratory engineering flex created after BMW’s 1999 victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the V12 LMR prototype. To mark the occasion, a handful of BMW’s most mischievous engineers decided to repurpose the heart of the race-winner: a 6.0-litre naturally aspirated V12. But unlike the race car, which had to breathe through air restrictors, this engine was allowed to inhale freely. The result was more than 700 horsepower in an era when supercars were still struggling to reach that number.

That colossal engine sat inside the shell of the first-generation X5, but this was no ordinary family hauler. The suspension was heavily reworked, the interior stripped down and fitted with a roll cage, and the hood reshaped in carbon fibre to clear the V12’s intake system. It retained a six-speed manual gearbox and rear-wheel-drive, making it perhaps the most spectacularly overpowered manual SUV ever created.

Revworks Retrospective: Ode to Petrol Fumes

Starting a new car event isn’t exactly like assembling IKEA furniture. It’s not for the faint-hearted, the indecisive, or anyone who thinks a torque wrench is a cocktail. But thank the petrol gods, there are still brave souls out there who dare to stir the pot in an already overcrowded Dutch automotive landscape. Enter Retrospective by Revworks, a celebration of cars that have been around for at least 25 years and still have more character than most modern hatchbacks.

The masterminds behind this glorious chaos? My friends from Revworks. For years, they’ve been laying the groundwork, brick by oily brick, and this event is their pièce de résistance.

Last year’s debut was a roaring success. But pulling off the same trick twice? That’s like asking a Ferrari F40 to behave in traffic. And yet, somehow, they did it. Again. With a storm looming on the horizon, literally, enthusiasts still flocked to Brielle, braving the elements to bask in the glory of chrome, carburetors, and cars that actually have a soul.

Turbo Zwoelf – A Mercedes SLC Like No Other

At the JP Performance stand at the Essen Motor Show, the Volto 850 wasn’t the only project turning heads. Sharing the spotlight was this Mercedes-Benz SLC 450 Turbo Zwoelf, a machine so outrageous that even its name hints at the lunacy beneath its bonnet.

This isn’t just any SLC 450—it’s powered by a V12 engine, essentially the same one that roars in the heart of a Pagani Zonda. If that weren’t enough, it’s been fitted with not one, but two turbochargers, transforming this vintage coupe into a snarling, fire-breathing beast.

The car reminds me of the legendary Mercedes-Benz 450 SLC AMG ‘Mampe’ Touring Car, a racing icon sponsored by the German liqueur producer Mampe. The original car was famous for its wide arches and aggressive stance. JP Performance took that concept and dialed it up to 11, pushing the wheel arches to exaggerated proportions.

BMW V12 LMR: The 24 hours of Le Mans Victory

Can BMW repeat their monumental win like they did in 1999? We will have to wait and see.

The #15 on their M Hybrid V8 in this years race was given this racing number as a tribute to the 1999 winner seen above.

When the BMW V12 LMR arrived at the Circuit de la Sarthe in June 1999, it faced fierce competition. BMW entered two V12 LMRs in the race, with one driven by the formidable trio of Yannick Dalmas, Pierluigi Martini, and Joachim Winkelhock. The second car, driven by Jörg Müller, Tom Kristensen, and JJ Lehto, was equally strong but would face challenges.

As the race unfolded, the V12 LMR demonstrated not just speed but remarkable reliability. The car driven by Dalmas, Martini, and Winkelhock maintained a relentless pace, handling the rigors of Le Mans with impressive consistency. Meanwhile, the second car encountered mechanical issues, highlighting the unpredictable nature of endurance racing.

After 24 hours of intense racing, the BMW V12 LMR piloted by Dalmas, Martini, and Winkelhock emerged victorious, completing 366 laps. This triumph marked BMW’s first overall victory at Le Mans, a monumental achievement that underscored the V12 LMR’s exceptional design and performance.

BMW E36 V12 Turbo: Ultimate Showstopper

At Bimmerfest 2024, there was one car that genuinely took my breath away. While there were plenty of stunning vehicles on display, nothing quite like this BMW E36 had ever crossed my path. This car is the perfect showcase of what can be achieved when passion meets craftsmanship. Built by Unlimited Auto in Weiden, Germany, it’s a marvel that demonstrates their unparalleled expertise.

Under the hood lies an M70 engine that definitely didn’t came as standard on the E36. The M70 was BMW’s first production V12, which was produced from 1987 to 1996 and could be found in the E32 750iL for example. As if that weren’t impressive enough, they’ve added not one, but two turbochargers. The result is a mechanical masterpiece that blends power and precision.

I had a brief chat with the owner, who proudly shared that a recent test saw the car producing a staggering 1012 horsepower and 1182 Nm of torque. The challenge now is getting these insane figures onto the road, as even in third gear, it creates white smoke from the 305 wide rear tires. The next step, he mentioned, is to equip the car with slick tires to better harness its immense power.