The BMW V16 was an engineering marvel that never reached production. See why this luxury sedan required a radical rethink.

In 1990, the 7 Series prototype pushed the limits of what a car could be. To fit the massive sixteen-cylinder engine, the team had to move the entire cooling system to the trunk, forcing air through massive intakes on the rear fenders.

The result was a machine capable of hitting 155 mph, though it remained restricted by its own complex architecture. This look at the BMW V16 shows exactly how far carmakers were willing to go to chase performance. It serves as a reminder of the raw ambition defining automotive engineering during that era.

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