Bentley retires its beloved W12 engine

Bentley retires its beloved W12 engine

Bentley has made numerous legendary luxury vehicles over the years, with its clients expressing a keen interest in the W12. Over the course of its lifetime, over 100,000 handcrafted units were produced and with hybridisation on the horizon for this luxury brand, we are forced to mourn the demise of a legendary motor.

This W12 began its life in 2003 when Bentley added this stunning 6.0-litre twin-turbocharged W12 to its Continental GT. It offered a unique proposition with impressive performance and noise in an elegant body and traction was soon found. It made use of two narrow V6 engines that had a common crankshaft. The first edition of this motor produced 412kW and 649Nm and offered the driver exceptional torque at any engine speed. The GT Speed was the hottest choice and offered a 0-100km/h time of 3.6 seconds, which was lightning fast for the time.

The Continental proved to be unmatched in its segment, and with a top speed of around 320kmh it was immediately desirable. This motor was handcrafted in Crewe and consists of 2,600 parts, which took around seven hours to put together.

Bentley's first W12 remained unchanged until 2015, when the arrival of the Bentayga saw an opportunity to refine the now-maturing W12. Bentley added a twin-scroll turbocharger for improved response and torque and two different fuel systems to offer improved performance and emissions. It was also tested in off-road environments to ensure the engine maintained its performance even at 35 degrees of tilt.

Its new W12 also had the option to shut down one bank of the cylinders, with only six cylinders firing for improved fuel consumption on the open road. It found its way into the Bentayga, Flying Spur, Continental GT, and the Continental GT Convertible. 

So what's on the table now for the future of Bentley’s performance motors? The solution comes in the form of an ultra-high-performance hybrid V8 that produces a potent 575kW and 1,000Nm, which is sure to impress prospective clients. But the W12 is iconic, and it's disappointing to see it leave. 

To celebrate the W12 in all of its glory, Bentley is set to release 120 ‘Speed Edition 12’ models, which will come in the form of the Bentayga, Flying Spur, Continental, and Continental Convertible. This special edition will include Edition 12 badging, fascia inlays, seat embroidery, treadplates, and numbered engine plaques, along with a scale model of the W12 engine block.

The W12 is an exceptional motor and one that has pleased over 100,000 drivers around the globe. It’s a motor that developed with the times but couldn’t keep up with the changing motoring world. It is heartbreaking to say goodbye to another fantastic engine, so if you see a W12-powered Bentley on the road, roll down your windows and enjoy the last sounds of a dying breed.

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