Bentley is celebrating production of the last hand-built, high performance 12-cylinder engine at the company’s UK headquarters in Crewe. It concludes a pivotal chapter in Bentley’s history, as the last W12-powered Bentayga, Continental GT and Flying Spur cars roll off the production line at the company’s Dream Factory.
More than 100,000 W12s have been produced since the engine was introduced in the original Continental GT in 2003. The milestone decision to cease production is in line with Bentley’s ground-breaking Beyond100 strategy, which will see the company become a global leader in sustainable luxury mobility.
To mark this special occasion, a
commemorative lunch for the W12 assembly and R&D teams was held at
Bentley’s Heritage Garage in Crewe. Guests then gathered to form part of
a W12 portrait photograph in the Pyms Lane Plaza. Assembly colleagues
were also presented with the gift of a commemorative W12 engine piston
to cherish the moment.
The 6.0-litre twin-turbo W12 - the most
successful 12-cylinder engine of the modern era - will be replaced with
an all-new, performance-focused powertrain to mark the start of a new
era for the company. That Ultra High Performance Hybrid will combine a
powerful V8 combustion engine with advanced battery technology.
Electrocharging uses a potent hybrid system and builds further on
Bentley’s existing petrol-electric powertrains.
Producing the
highest ever output offered in any Bentley, the engine will drive a new
generation of the most dynamic, responsive and efficient supercars the
company has ever built. Every model in the Bentley range will become
available with the new electrified powertrain. The unit develops even
more power than the retiring W12, combined with a lowly WLTP drive cycle
CO2 figure of just 50 g/km.
The arrival of Bentley’s new Ultra Performance Hybrid powertrain, with 782 PS and 1,000 Nm, heralds the end of W12 production at Crewe. To celebrate the remarkable W12, Bentley announced a limited run of 120 "Speed Edition 12" models for the Bentayga, Continental GT, Continental GT Convertible and Flying Spur. Unique features include Edition 12 badging, treadplates, seat embroidery, fascia inlays, and numbered engine plaque. Owners also received a commemorative scale model of the W12 engine block.
The W12 engine has also played a key role in establishing ‘coachbuilt by Mulliner’ at the pinnacle of individual automotive luxury. The Bacalar barchetta, the rarest two-door Bentley with just 12 examples, is powered by a 650 hp W12. Its Mulliner stablemate, the Batur, will go down in history as the ultimate W12-powered Bentley; just 18 coupe and 16 convertible examples will be built by hand to their owners’ specifications, and each will be powered by a 740 hp, 738 lb.ft Bentley W12 engine.
With over 100,000 examples still delivering exceptional service for owners worldwide, the Bentley W12 is the most successful 12-cylinder engine of the modern era. During its life, constant development saw a 34 percent increase in power and 54 percent increase in torque whilst simultaneously achieving a 25 percent decrease in CO2 emissions. The W12 played a vital role in Bentley’s evolution as the most sought-after luxury car brand in the world: whatever follows as Bentley embarks on its electric era, it will not be forgotten.
