De Tomaso Reveals Magnificent V-12 That'll Power Its New P900 Hypercar

• De Tomaso Automobili has revealed new photos and information about its exotic V-12 engine.
• The naturally aspirated 7.0-liter mill makes 900 horsepower and redlines at 10,200 rpm.
• The magnificent V-12, which was developed with direction from ItalTecnica, will power the track-focused De Tomaso P900 hypercar.

Nowadays, many of the mightiest and most exotic hypercars are fitted with turbochargers or hybrid systems, but that's not the case for the De Tomaso P900. The new track-focused hypercar from the recently revived automaker will be powered by a 12-cylinder engine that eschews forced induction and shuns electrification to do things the old-fashioned way. Not only is its naturally aspirated V-12 a technical masterpiece, but it's also a work of art.

De Tomaso's magnificent engine was developed under the direction of ItalTecnica, an Italian powertrain specialist, as part of the P900 project that began back in 2022. While De Tomaso has since released details about the hypercar that's only intended to be driven on a racetrack, as well as shown photos teasing its engine with an alien-like 12-into-1 exhaust manifold, it has now revealed the final specifications for the production powerplant. Along with producing 900 peak horsepower, the V-12 redlines at 10,200.

The ItalTecnica x De Tomaso V-12 features 65-degree banks; each bank houses two dual overhead camshafts, and every cylinder has four titanium valves. The engine's crankcase is milled from solid billet aluminum, with billet also supporting the carbon intake system. Naturally, the connecting rods are forged pieces, and the pistons are ultralightweight. Unlike most engines that use belts or chains for their distribution systems, De Tomaso takes inspiration from Formula 1, with its V-12 boasting a full gear-driven cascade. An eight-stage dry-sump system further ensures that everything stays lubricated during at-the-limit track sessions. It all culminates in an engine unit that's claimed to weigh less than 400 pounds

For now, we can only enjoy this old-school, albeit cutting-edge, V-12 from afar. The next thing to look forward to is hearing it roar. Hopefully, that opportunity will come sometime later this year, when De Tomaso says the P900 will introduce new visual and aerodynamic changes. While the upcoming hypercar is currently only intended for track use, its maker has strongly hinted at a future road-going version.

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Eric Stafford

Managing Editor, News

Eric Stafford’s automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a journalism degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual '97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a '90 Honda CRX Si.