In 2021, after more than 80 years of innovation, Mercury Marine set its sights on something bigger. That year, the company revolutionized outboard performance and technology with the introduction of the V12 Verado outboard.
This powerhouse engine is a sophisticated fusion of muscle, sportiness and refinement. It’s simultaneously the smoothest, quietest high-horsepower outboard in its class and the most powerful production outboard in the world.
Achieving this level of innovation meant pushing boundaries and rethinking how power is delivered. The process began five years earlier, with market research that revealed a clear trend: Boaters and builders were shifting away from diesel inboards toward high-horsepower outboards, but no option existed that offered both the massive horsepower and exceptional experience needed to satisfy elite boaters.
Mercury engineers, drawing on thousands of hours of expertise, went to work to create a solution. Through several years of development and validation, they introduced groundbreaking technologies never seen before in an outboard. At the heart is a 7.6L V12 naturally aspirated powerhead capable of producing an astounding 600hp. The outboard segment’s first two-speed automatic transmission seamlessly delivers power and low-end torque to easily plane out heavy boats, then shifts for maximum top-end speed and peak cruise-speed efficiency. Meanwhile, a steerable gearcase turns independently of the engine, maintaining balance and control while allowing boat builders to fit ample power on the transom.
Ultimately, the vision behind the V12 Verado was to deliver an unmatched boating experience for those who demand the best. Boat builders, looking to leverage the new 600hp powerplant, have created new boat designs around the engine, introducing a new class of premium outboard-powered super yachts. Some of these boats tape more than 50 feet long and propel boaters on the most incredible adventures, from remote island excursions to weekend overnight getaways and offshore trips for the biggest trophy game fish.
The V12 Verado has redefined what’s possible in marine engineering, establishing the new pinnacle of outboard technology.