Bentley Motors is celebrating the production of the last manually produced high-performance W12 engine at the company’s headquarters in Crewe, UK.
The iconic engine, produced over two decades, was first introduced in 2003 with the Continental GT. Over the 20 years of the W12’s existence, Bentley has produced over 100,000 units of an engine that has been continuously improved and evolved from its initial 560 hp and 650 Nm to 740 hp and 1000 Nm in the Batur. Additionally, CO2 emissions have decreased by 25% over this period.
The end of the W12 line is marked by Bentley with the production of a limited series of 120 units, the “Speed Edition 12”, available in the Bentayga, Continental GT, Continental GT Convertible, and Flying Spur models, with unique details on the exterior and interior. Additionally, owners of these limited edition models will also receive a scaled model of the W12 engine to commemorate the end of the iconic motor.
Bentley’s decision to end the W12 aligns with the brand’s Beyond 100 strategy, which aims to position itself as a provider of sustainable luxury mobility on the journey towards electrification.
The powerful 6.0-liter W12 will be replaced by a hybrid V8, the Ultra Performance Hybrid, which the Crewe brand says will be the most dynamic, responsive, and efficient in Bentley’s history and consistent with a new generation of supercars.
The new system is based on Bentley’s existing hybrid engines, but goes even further in terms of performance and efficiency, providing 782 hp of power and a torque of 1000 Nm.
