Bentley to End W12 Engine Production Next Year
A large chapter in the history of Bentley will come to an end in April of 2024 when the British automaker ceases production of its iconic 12-cylinder engine after more than 105,000 units, all of which are handcrafted in Crewe, England.
This announcement is not a surprise as Bentley accelerates towards a sustainable future through its Beyond100 strategy. The plan is to sell only plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles by 2026 (the first all-electric Bentley is due in 2025) and completely get rid of combustion engines by 2030.
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Right now, the Bentayga SUV and Flying Spur sedan both offer a PHEV variant with around 30 km of zero-emission range.
Going Out With a Bang
Bentley’s 6.0-litre W12 initially made its debut in the Continental GT coupe some 20 years ago, but the company won’t let it bow out without a dramatic send-off. Development work has concluded recently on the most powerful version of the W12 ever created, producing 740 hp at 5,500 rpm and 738 lb-ft. of torque from 1,750-5,000 rpm. The turbocharger compressors feature a new design to improve efficiency, while the ducts that feed air to them are 33 percent larger.
This ultimate iteration of the mighty engine is destined for just 18 examples of the new Bentley Batur to be handcrafted by Mulliner. All of them are already sold despite a price set at £1.65 million (approx. $2.7 million CAD at the time of writing).
The standard W12, the one that delivers up to 650 hp, can still be ordered in the Speed version of the Continental GT, Bentayga and Flying Spur, though Bentley advises potential customers not to waste time given the expected high demand.
By the way, the W12 engine production facility will make way for an expanded line for the completion of other Bentley engines used for the plug-in hybrid models.