It is the end of the road for the iconic Bentley W12 engine. Before the W12 goes into the pages of history, Bentley has announced one last hurrah for the engine format in the form of the most powerful W12 yet. Only 18 of them will be made and production will cease in April 2024. From there on, Bentley will go down the road of eco-friendly engines, before finally arriving at EVs.
Bentley is one of the most iconic automotive manufacturers in the world. Established way back in 1919, the British marque has over the last century produced some of the most exquisite cars in the world.
Today, Bentley is known for its cars which boast immense luxury and comfort, while its interiors are laden with exotic materials. However, over the decades, Bentley has also created a few mechanical masterpieces including the W12 engine.
When it comes to engine configurations, the W12 is certainly not the most popular. Inline engines are found across the world. Then there are the V6, V8, V10, and even V12 engines that are commonly found in a plethora of sports cars, supercars, hypercars, and even some SUVs. However, the W12 is something that has in most cases remained exclusive to Bentley.
It is unpopular because it is a complicated yet sophisticated piece of engineering that produces a bassy rumble for an exhaust note. The W12 engine also brings with it truckloads of low-down torque that other engine formats simply cannot match.
The W12 engine first debuted in 2001 and a few VW and Audi models too used the engine; they are a part of the VW Group along with Bentley. However, Bentley only used the Turbocharged version of the engine which was released in 2003. In fact, it is this very 6.0-litre twin-turbo W12 engine that inspired the creation of the W16 engine that powered the Bugatti Veyron and Chiron.
It is an engineering masterpiece as the W12 was created by joining two VW VR6 engines. This enabled engineers to have a large 6.0-litre engine that is 24 percent shorter than a V12 of similar size.
However, we are now in an age wherein manufacturers are ditching their large engines for smaller, more efficient, and more environment-friendly motors, and as a result, the days of the big W12 were always numbered. Now, we know that the W12 will not be produced beyond April 2024.
Before the W12 is retired though, Bentley has developed its most powerful iteration yet. It is still the same 6.0-litre W12 motor, however, it now gets redesigned turbocharger compressors, 33 percent larger ducts, a reworked intake, exhaust, and cooling systems, etc. As a result, it now produces 750bhp and 1,000Nm!
Only 18 of these engines will be made and they will power 18 exquisite Bentley Batur Coupes crafted by Mulliner. All of them have already been sold and deliveries will take place over the next few months.
Other Bentley models like the Bentayga, Continental GT, and Flying Spur can still be ordered with the standard W12 engine albeit in limited numbers. Bentley has produced over 100,000 W12 engines until now and it will be replaced by a more efficient plug-in hybrid system based on a V8 petrol engine.
The first EV from Bentley will arrive in 2025 and post that, the British marque will head down the EV road. It aims to have an all-electric model lineup by 2030. If you want to get your Bentley before the W12 goes out of production, there are just under 200 used Bentley cars in the UAE. If you’re looking at a new one, here are new Bentley cars in the UAE.
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