The End of an Era: Bentley Bids Farewell to its Iconic W12 Engine
While we, too, dislike being the bearer of bad news, we knew the day when Bentley would announce the demise of its potent W12 powerplant was upon us.
That said, 2024 will mark the end of the road for the W12 powerplant as the Crewe-based marque shifts towards a sustainable future as part of its Beyond100 strategy to electrify its entire lineup of Bentleys.
So far, the brand has already introduced its Bentayga and Flying Spur hybrid models. As of next year, when the production of the W12 ceases, all Bentleys will be available with the option of a hybrid powertrain.
The good thing is that the brand is giving the W12 a fitting send-off in the form of the Mulliner Bantur, which wields a 6.0-litre W12 engine with 558 kW and a tarmac-lifting 1,000 Nm. The Batur will be handcrafted by Mulliner, and only 18 units will be made, all of which are already spoken for.
Bentley says those who still wish to own the W12-powered models can still purchase the 484 kW version that powers the Speed versions of Continental GT, Bentayga, Flying Spur, Continental GT Mulliner and Flying Spur Mulliner.
As for the W12 engine production line, it will make way for an expanded line for the completion of other engines used for the plug-in hybrid variants. Bentley has manufactured over 100,000 units of the iconic W12 engine since 2002 at the brand’s Dream Factory in Crewe, England.
While the news of the demise of the W12 engine was unexpected, electrification is taking a toll on ICE engines, with the only option of future brand sustainability resting on the shoulders of electric power.
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