Bentley’s W12 Engine Ends Production After Two Decades

The 12-cylinder engine is being replaced by a plug-in hybrid V8, offering more power and reduced emissions.

The final Bentley W12 engine has rolled off the production line in Crewe, signaling the end of the brand’s 12-cylinder era.

This W12 engine is being succeeded by the new “Ultra High Performance Hybrid” powertrain, which made its debut in the new Continental GT Speed. This powertrain will soon be featured in the updated Flying Spur and the rest of the Bentley lineup, offering more power and reduced emissions.

According to the company, more than 100,000 W12 engines have been hand-built at the Dream Factory since the first-generation Bentley Continental GT debuted in 2003. This achievement makes it “the most successful 12-cylinder engine of the modern era” in terms of production numbers.

The engine was essentially two narrow-angle V6s sharing a common crankshaft. Consequently, the W12 is 24 percent shorter than a conventional V12, allowing for better packaging.

In its two decades of existence, the engine saw a 34 percent increase in power and a 54 percent increase in torque, while reducing CO2 emissions by 25 percent. The output grew from 552 hp (412 kW / 560 PS) and 479 lb-ft (650 Nm) in the original Continental GT to as much as 740 hp (552 kW / 750 PS) and 738 lb-ft (1,000 Nm) in the limited-production Mulliner Batur.

For comparison, the new V8-based PHEV system produces 771 hp (575 kW / 782 PS) and 738 lb-ft (1,000 Nm) of torque.

The final W12 was celebrated by the R&D teams at a commemorative lunch event at Bentley’s Heritage Garage in Crewe. Those involved in the powertrain assembly received a W12 engine piston as a gift. The Batur is likely the last model to feature the W12, following the limited run of 120 “Speed Edition 12” models for the Bentayga, Continental GT/GTC, and Flying Spur.

Over the years, Bentley broke records with W12-powered models, including two World Ice Speed Records: 199.98 mph with the Continental GT in 2007 and 205.48 mph with the Continental GTC in 2011, both driven by WRC champion Juha Kankkunen. Highlights also include the Pikes Peak records of the Bentayga Speed (production SUV) in 2018 and the Continental GT Speed (production car) in 2019.

Andreas Lehe, Member of the Board for Manufacturing at Bentley Motors, said: “The W12 has played such an important role in the history of Bentley that it was only right for us to celebrate the engine’s retirement with those linked to this powerplant. The engine’s introduction helped change the face of the company almost overnight and so will go down in history as a true game changer. We should feel very proud to have designed, developed, and manufactured such an icon in Britain for such a long period of time.”

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  • Growing up with a father who was a mechanic I had an appreciation for cars and motorcycles from an early age. I shared my first bike with my brother that had little more than a 40cc engine but it opened up a world of excitement for me, I was hooked. As I grew older I progressed onto bigger bikes and...

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