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Crewe, 23 July 2024 – Bentley Motors is celebrating the production of the final hand-built, high-performance 12-cylinder engine at its UK headquarters in Crewe. This marks the end of a significant chapter in Bentley’s history, as the last W12-powered Bentayga, Continental GT, and Flying Spur vehicles roll off the production line at the company’s Dream Factory.
Since its introduction in the original Continental GT in 2003, over 100,000 W12 engines have been produced. The decision to cease production aligns with Bentley’s pioneering Beyond100 strategy, which aims to position the company as a global leader in sustainable luxury mobility.
To commemorate this milestone, a special lunch was held for the W12 assembly and R&D teams at Bentley’s Heritage Garage in Crewe. Guests then gathered for a W12 portrait photograph in the Pyms Lane Plaza. Assembly colleagues were also presented with a commemorative W12 engine piston as a keepsake.
Andreas Lehe, Member of the Board for Manufacturing at Bentley Motors, stated: “The W12 has played such an important role in Bentley’s history that it was only fitting to celebrate its retirement with those who have been connected to this powerplant. The engine’s introduction transformed the company almost overnight, and it will be remembered as a true game changer. We are proud to have designed, developed, and manufactured such an iconic engine in Britain for so long.”
The 6.0-litre twin-turbo W12, the most successful 12-cylinder engine of the modern era, will be replaced by an all-new, performance-focused powertrain. This Ultra High Performance Hybrid will combine a powerful V8 combustion engine with advanced battery technology. The hybrid system, known as ‘Electrocharging,’ builds on Bentley’s existing petrol-electric powertrains.
Producing the highest output ever offered in any Bentley, the new engine will power a new generation of the most dynamic, responsive, and efficient supercars the company has ever built. Every model in the Bentley range will be available with the new electrified powertrain, which delivers even more power than the retiring W12, along with a low WLTP drive cycle CO2 figure of just 50 g/km.
Dr. Matthias Rabe, Member of the Board for R&D at Bentley Motors, added: “The W12 has propelled our cars and business forward at an exceptional speed and will be remembered as one of the most important innovations in our illustrious history. Today marks the end of a development journey that our R&D and manufacturing colleagues should be extremely proud of. Their work on power and performance optimization, while improving emissions and refinement, has been remarkable.”
20 Years of Engineering Excellence
The W12 was created to provide the refinement and power of a twelve-cylinder engine without excessive size. Essentially, it consists of two narrow-angle V6 engines sharing a common crankshaft, making it 24% shorter than a conventional V12. This compact design was ideal for the Continental GT, launched in 2003.
With new intake, exhaust, turbocharging, and intercooling systems developed in-house by Bentley’s engineers, the 2003 Continental GT developed 552bhp. Peak torque of 479 lb.ft plateaued from 1,600 to 6,100 rpm, providing the model with the signature Bentley tidal wave of torque at any engine speed.
The combination of 12-cylinder power, all-wheel drive, and near-200mph top speed, along with the Continental GT’s sensuous and fluid form, proved to be a global sensation. The Continental GT created and dominated a new market sector, a success that has continued through four generations of the model over 20 years.
Each W12 engine is hand-built in Crewe, a process that takes around seven hours and involves the meticulous assembly of 2,600 separate components. Pistons and conrods are paired in balanced sets to fractions of a gram, ensuring the finished engine spins smoothly enough to pass the famed ‘coin test’ and deliver optimal power and reliability. The finished W12, after leak testing, cold testing, and hot testing, is capable of powering a Continental GT Speed from 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds (0-100 km/h in 3.6 seconds) and reaching 208mph, while also delivering hushed refinement and reliability throughout its lifetime.
Second Generation W12
The introduction of the Bentayga in 2015 saw a complete redesign of the Bentley W12, the result of three years of design, development, and testing. Twin-scroll turbochargers delivered faster response and immediate torque; two different fuel systems ensured no compromise between performance and emissions; and the engine was tested to perform at tilt angles of up to 35 degrees in any direction, crucial for Bentayga’s off-road performance. Under part or trailing throttle, cylinder deactivation completely shut down one bank of six cylinders for greater fuel efficiency. The new W12 replaced its predecessor across the model range, including Bentayga, Continental GT, Continental GT Convertible, and Flying Spur.
Records and Benchmarks
Though never intended as a competition unit, the Bentley W12 has claimed significant records during its twenty years of production. In 2007, four-time World Rally Champion Juha Kankkunen set the outright World Ice Speed Record in a Continental GT, reaching 199.98mph on a cleared stretch of frozen sea in the Bay of Bothnia. He returned in 2011 in a 621bhp Continental Supersports Convertible and raised the bar to 205.48mph. In 2015, actor Idris Elba set a new ‘flying mile’ UK Land Speed Record at Pendine Sands, recording 180.361mph in a Continental GT Speed.
In 2018, two-time winner Rhys Millen set a new Production SUV record at the Race to the Clouds in Pikes Peak, Colorado. Driving a W12 Bentayga, he completed the 12.42-mile course in just 10.49.9, averaging 66.5mph and taking almost two minutes off the previous benchmark. Millen returned in 2019 with a W12-powered Continental GT Speed and set a new Pikes Peak Production Car record, completing the course in 10 minutes and 18.488 seconds, averaging 70 mph and beating the previous record by 8.4 seconds.
Swansong for the W12
The arrival of Bentley’s new Ultra Performance Hybrid powertrain, with 782 PS and 1,000 Nm, marks the end of W12 production at Crewe. To celebrate the remarkable W12, Bentley announced a limited run of 120 ‘Speed Edition 12’ models for Bentayga, Continental GT, Continental GT Convertible, and Flying Spur. Unique features include Edition 12 badging, treadplates, seat embroidery, fascia inlays, and numbered engine plaques. Owners also received a commemorative scale model of the W12 engine block.
The W12 engine has also played a key role in establishing ‘coachbuilt by Mulliner’ at the pinnacle of individual automotive luxury. The Bacalar barchetta, the rarest two-door Bentley with just 12 examples, is powered by a 650bhp W12. Its Mulliner stablemate, the Batur, will go down in history as the ultimate W12-powered Bentley; just 18 coupe and 16 convertible examples will be built by hand to their owners’ specifications, each powered by a 740 bhp, 738 lb.ft Bentley W12 engine.
With over 100,000 examples still delivering exceptional service for owners worldwide, the Bentley W12 is the most successful 12-cylinder engine of the modern era. Throughout its life, constant development saw a 34% increase in power and a 54% increase in torque, while simultaneously achieving a 25% decrease in CO2 emissions. The W12 played a vital role in Bentley’s evolution as the most sought-after luxury car brand in the world. As Bentley embarks on its electric future, the legacy of the W12 will continue to be celebrated.
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