Bentley, on Tuesday, marked the completion of the final W-12 engine at its facility in Crewe, U.K., concluding a two-decade era.
The ultimate engine is also the most potent. With a power output of 740 hp, it’s set for one of Bentley’s exclusive Baturs models, a custom-built special commemorating the W-12 and previewing design concepts for Bentley’s inaugural electric vehicle scheduled for 2026. Last year, Bentley also introduced Speed 12 limited editions to commemorate the engine’s tenure.
The twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter engine made its debut in the original Continental GT and has experienced updates over the years, in addition to being utilized by other brands under the Volkswagen Group on occasions.
Over 100,000 units have been produced, making the W-12 the most successful 12-cylinder power plant of the contemporary era, according to Bentley. Due to its W layout, essentially comprising two V-6s on a shared crankshaft, the engine is approximately 25% shorter than a conventional V-12, thus enhancing packaging characteristics. Bugatti, a fellow VW Group marque, adopted the same layout for the W-16 engine employed in the Veyron and Chiron hypercars.
Already a year ago, Bentley unveiled plans for the engine’s discontinuation. Alongside the V-6 and V-8 power plants that Bentley employs, the days were always numbered for the W-12. Bentley has committed to transitioning to fully electric models by the end of the decade.
Bentley had a dedicated team of 30 personnel handling the engine’s assembly, with each unit requiring approximately 6.5 hours to complete. With each new advancement, which saw a 34% increase in output from the initial version to the final one over the years, Bentley would subject an engine to full-throttle operations for 100 hours, repeating the process three more times for durability evaluation. This simulation equates to driving 20,000 miles at speeds of 200 mph, as stated by the automaker. Another test involved running the engine at redline 100 times within 30 seconds of activation at an ambient temperature of merely 14 degrees F.
The replacement powertrain is a V-8 plug-in hybrid unit that was introduced in June in an updated Continental GT Speed. Boasting a power output of 771 hp, the powertrain is also intended for an enhanced Flying Spur Speed. Although not yet officially confirmed, lower-powered versions will likely be featured in other models within the Bentley range in due course.
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