The W12 . engine is one of the most unique engines in recent automotive history. Essentially, the two narrow-angle V6s are fused together at the crankcase, making it possible to fit 12-cylinder power in a space that’s not much larger than your needs for a V6. The W-configuration engine is a signature innovation of the Volkswagen Group, which has appeared in 8, 12 and 16-cylinder forms across many VW Group brands. Now, Bentley is announcing that it W12 production will end in April 2024ending an era that started in 2003 with The brand’s first 6.0-liter twin-turbo W12 engine.
Bentley said in a press release that, when the final W12 hits the assembly line next year, the company will build more than 100,000 examples of this compact 12-cylinder engine. The British automaker also claims that, in the nearly 20 years since the start of production of the W12 engine, it has improved the engine’s horsepower by 37%, torque by 54%, and by 25%. emissions.
But there’s no place in Bentley’s “Beyond100” sustainability strategy for 12-cylinder engines, with the company hoping to have its entire product line “fully electrified by the beginning of the next decade”, the company said. Today’s press release says, reducing fleet average emissions to zero grams of CO2 per mile “Electrification,” in this case, means starting with a hybrid, the W12 engine. replaced by a V8, a V6 plug-in hybrid and eventually an all-electric vehicle. Bentley is the last automaker in the VW Group portfolio to use this engine. W12, so this is the real and good end of this motor line.
Of course, the beefy W12 won’t go without a celebration. Bentley previously announced Batur super limited edition, a super expensive machine powered by the company’s most powerful W12 engine, producing 740 horsepower and 737 lb-ft of torque. Only 18 examples of the Batur will be built, and as usual with cars like this, all of them have been sold out – which certainly contributed to the Bentley has its best year ever in 2022.
“Our progressive journey towards sustainable luxury means making changes to every area of Bentley Motors,” said Adrian Hallmark, President and CEO of Automotive. . “When we first launched the W12 in 2003, we knew we had a powerful engine that would propel both our car and our brand forward at high speed. Twenty years and more than 100,000 W12s later, it’s time to ditch this iconic powertrain as we move towards electrification — but not without giving it performance. best possible, with the most powerful version of the engine ever made.”
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While it’s probably too late for you to get your hands on a Batur, W12 fans fear not: Bentley will still offer a limited number of 649-hp W12 engines in the Speed variants of Continental GT, Bentayga and Flying Spur. “Demand for these final W12-powered Speed and Mulliner models is expected to be very high,” Bentley boldly stated in a press release, “and customers looking to own one of the last 12 cylinder Bentleys should contact their retailer at about the same rate. “
