After a wild 20-year ride, Bentley’s iconic W12 engine has finally chugged its last. That’s right, folks, the era of the twelve-cylinder behemoth is over at the British luxury carmaker. But don’t worry, Bentley’s not slowing down. They’re swapping the old gas-guzzler for a new, supercharged hybrid powertrain that promises more power and less guilt.
Since its introduction in the first-generation Bentley Continental GT in 2003, more than 100,000 W12 engines have been hand-built at Bentley’s Dream Factory. This achievement makes the W12 the “most successful 12-cylinder engine of the modern era” in terms of production numbers. The engine's design essentially combines two narrow-angle V6 engines on a shared crankshaft, making it 24 percent shorter than a traditional V12, which enhances its packaging efficiency.
Over its 20-year production run, the W12 engine saw significant improvements. Power increased by 34 percent and torque by 54 percent, while CO2 emissions were reduced by 25 percent. The engine's output grew from 552 horsepower and 650 Nm of torque in the original Continental GT to an impressive 740 horsepower and 1,000 Nm of torque in the limited-production Mulliner Batur. In comparison, the new V8-based plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) system generates 771 horsepower and 1,000 Nm of torque.
Bentley celebrated the production of the final W12 engine with a special commemorative event for the R&D teams at Bentley’s Heritage Garage in Crewe. Those who worked on assembling the powertrains were honored with a W12 engine piston as a keepsake. The Mulliner Batur is likely to be the last model to feature the W12 engine, following the production of 120 “Speed Edition 12” models for the Bentayga, Continental GT/GTC, and Flying Spur.
Throughout its history, Bentley achieved numerous records with W12-powered models. Notable accomplishments include two World Ice Speed Records: 199.98 mph with the Continental GT in 2007 and 205.48 mph with the Continental GTC in 2011, both driven by WRC champion Juha Kankkunen. Other highlights include the Pikes Peak records set by the Bentayga Speed in 2018 and the Continental GT Speed in 2019.
Andreas Lehe, Member of the Board for Manufacturing at Bentley Motors, reflected on the significance of the W12 engine: “The W12 has played such an important role in the history of Bentley that it was only right for us to celebrate the engine’s retirement with those linked to this powerplant. The engine’s introduction helped change the face of the company almost overnight and so will go down in history as a true game changer. We should feel very proud to have designed, developed, and manufactured such an icon in Britain for such a long period of time.”
In conclusion, the retirement of the W12 engine marks the end of an era for Bentley. The company's transition to hybrid powertrains underscores its commitment to innovation and sustainability while celebrating the legacy of an engine that has significantly shaped its identity and success.