Bentley has announced that it will end the production of its famed W12 engine. The brand has developed the most powerful version of the engine for the limited-run Bentley Batur. Production of the twin-turbocharged unit will stop in April 2024, with the British firm now planning to focus on its 'Beyond100' strategy, under which all of its models will be electrified by 2030.
- Bentley to focus on hybrid V8 and V6 engines
- Twin-turbo W12 engine was first introduced in 2003
- Over 1 lakh units of the engine have been produced
Most powerful iteration of the Bentley W12 engine
Bentley has concluded the development of its final 6.0-litre W12 engine, which will be the most powerful version yet. This unit will power 18 Mulliner-crafted Batur coupés, with updated intake, exhaust and cooling systems. The engine also gains a redesigned turbocharger compressor, new ducts that are 33 percent larger than before, in addition to a new transmission calibration. Courtesy of these updates, the engine develops 750hp and 1,000Nm of torque.
All units of the Batur are already sold out, but Speed versions of the Continental GT coupe and convertible, Bentayga SUV, and Flying Spur limousine can still be ordered with the W12 engine. The firm expects orders for W12-powered Continental and Flying Spur to end in December this year. However, it didn't disclose how many units remained.
History of the Bentley W12 engine
Bentley chairman Adrian Hallmark said, “When we first launched the W12 back in 2003, we knew we had a mighty engine that would propel both our cars and brand forwards at speed.” He also added, "Twenty years and more than 1,00,000 W12s later, the time has come to retire this now-iconic powertrain as we take strides towards electrification.”
The first production car to be fitted with a W12 was the Audi A8 in 2001, and in 2003, Bentley introduced a twin-turbocharged version. It first drove the Continental GT and the Flying Spur, before being completely overhauled for the arrival of the Bentley Bentayga in 2015.
Bentley’s future plans
Bentley has confirmed that it will retain 30 engineers who worked on the W12 to focus on its hybrid powertrains, including the potential arrival of a more powerful plug-in hybrid system. Test mules for a ramped-up PHEV have already been confirmed to sister publication Autocar UK by Bentley to be in an early stage of testing back in October 2022.
The firm’s engineering boss Matthias Rabe hinted that this new PHEV would be based around a V8, and will be positioned above the current 2.9-litre and a 3.0-litre V6 plug-in hybrids, which power the Flying Spur and Bentayga, respectively. Additionally, every model in the Bentley range will be offered with a PHEV option by 2025, by which time it will also launch its first all-electric model.
What do you think of Bentley ending production of its W12 engine? Let us know in the comments below.
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