British carmaker Bentley announced on Wednesday that it will end production of its 12-cylinder petrol engines in April 2024.
By then the company had hand-built over 100,000 W12 engines at their "dream factory" in Crewe, England.
This step is part of Bentley's acceleration towards a sustainable future based on its strategy called Beyond100, according to which all of the company's models will be fully electric from the next decade, helping to reduce the rate of carbon dioxide emissions. 0 g / km.
Bentley said in a statement that this exceptional journey began with the launch of the Bentayga and Flying Spur hybrid models, whose demand levels exceeded their expectations. The engine that debuted in the first Continental GT and that has powered Bentley cars for the past 20 years will go down in history.
The company added that it would not abandon the W12 engine without clear steps. The development of the most powerful version of the W12 engine has just been completed. “We can now confirm that the perfect version of this powerful engine – used in just 18 of Mulliner's handcrafted Bentley Bator cars – will deliver 750hp and 1,000Nm of torque.”
Adrian Hallmark, Bentley President and CEO, said, “Our continued journey towards sustainable luxury transportation means transforming every aspect of Bentley Motors. When we first introduced the W12 engine in 2003, we knew we had a powerful engine to power our cars and brands. High Speed After nearly 20 years, over 100,000 W12 engines have been built, but while we're making strides with electric powertrains, the field has come a long way and it's time to stop for that bumbling engine - but don't forget that you don't forget to leave Best seal your farewell with the most powerful version since the launch of this exceptional engine.
With this in mind, the company claims that the updated engine has always demonstrated such a high level of reliability that it would be installed in every Bentley ever on the road.
Although all Baturs are now sold out, a limited number of versions of the 659-hp W12 engine – available in the Continental GT, Bentayga and Speed of the Flying Spur, as well as the Continental GT Mulliner and Flying Spur Mulliner – are still available to access. . Available to purchase customer requests.
These newer W12- and Mulliner models are likely to have a lot of prestige, so customers who want to get their hands on one of the latest W12- (Bentley) cars should contact a dealer quickly, especially since they are models with W12 engines in demand. The price is high and production will end in December. from next year.
Bentley plans to expand the product line by reallocating the W12 production facility at its carbon-free Crewe plant to complement other Bentley engines used in its plug-in hybrid models.
Since the supercharged 6.0-liter twin-cylinder W12 engine was first introduced in 2003, the Crewe engineering team has continuously worked to improve engine performance in terms of power, torque, emissions and optimization.
For the Bentayga introduced in 2015, the W12 engine has been completely redesigned, starting with the oil pan. This version of the engine is still in production today.
Each W12 engine is handcrafted by a team of craftsmen over 6.5 hours before undergoing a highly complex testing process lasting more than an hour on three specialized diagnostic machines. Each week the engine undergoes an extensive testing cycle before it is completely stripped for inspection.
The dedicated W12 engine plant will supply more than 105,000 W12 engines before celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.
Mulliner's engineering team has developed the latest, most powerful version of the W12 engine, including the intake, exhaust and cooling systems to unleash more power and torque than ever before. Under the direct and close supervision of Mulliner's technical director, Paul Williams (who led the development of the second generation W12), the engine was now capable of producing 750 hp and 1,000 Nm of torque - a world record for the engine.
As a result, the turbocharger's compressor has been redesigned for greater efficiency, while the ducts that supply air to it are 33% larger - the new engine pumps more than a ton (1,050 kg) of air per hour in the maximum power range. . The larger intercooler significantly lowers intake air temperatures, allowing for greater supercharged capacity to produce more power.
Introduced in 2022, the 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged Bentley W12 engine has evolved significantly and is the latest version of the W12 currently used in the current model range. The unique W-shape design means the engine is 24% shorter than a comparable V12, providing significant advantages in terms of installation and increased usable cabin space.
The W12 engine combines the advantages of high-pressure direct injection (injection pressure 200 bar) and low-pressure injection (6 bar). The combination of these two systems improves accuracy, reduces particulate emissions, and increases fuel economy and torque.