Bentley, the British luxury car maker, has announced that it will cease production of its iconic W12 engine after producing the most powerful version yet for the ultra-limited Bentley Batur. This decision is part of the company’s Beyond100 strategy, which aims to have all Bentley models electrified by 2030. The twin-turbocharged W12 engine production will come to an end in April 2024, and the company will shift its focus to the V8 and V6 hybrid line-up.
The final 6.0-litre W12 engine will power 18 Mulliner-crafted Batur coupés, featuring updated intake, exhaust, and cooling systems. With a peak output of 739bhp and 737 lb-ft, it will be the most powerful internal combustion engine (ICE) ever fitted to a production Bentley. The engine’s redesigned turbocharger compressor and new ducts that are 33% larger than before, as well as a new transmission calibration, make it a fitting send-off for the iconic engine.
Although the Batur has already sold out, the Bentley Continental GT Mulliner and Bentley Flying Spur Mulliner Speed variants can still be ordered with the W12. Bentley expects orders for these models to close in December this year, but it did not disclose how many units are still available.
Adrian Hallmark, Bentley’s chairman, 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. Twenty years and more than 100,000 W12s later, the time has come to retire this now-iconic powertrain as we take strides towards electrification – but not without giving it the best send-off possible with the most powerful version of the engine ever created.”
Bentley will retrain 22 of its engineers who worked on the W12 to focus on hybrid powertrains, including the development of a more powerful plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) system. The company has confirmed that it is in the early stages of testing for a ramped-up PHEV based around the V8. This system is expected to have a peak output of 730bhp, positioning it above the current three 3.0-litre V6 PHEVs that are on sale.
Bentley’s goal is to have every model in its range offer a PHEV option by 2025, and the company’s shift towards electrification is a crucial step in achieving this goal. While we will miss the W12 engine, it’s exciting to see what the future holds for Bentley as it embraces new technology and continues to push the boundaries of luxury automotive engineering.
Photos: https://www.bentleymedia.com/en/newsitem/1428-bentley-announces-end-to-12-cylinder-engine-production-with-the-most-powerful-version-ever
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