The production of Bentley’s legendary W12 block is officially over with more than 100,000 units delivered since 2023. Despite being praised by the manufacturer as the most successful engine of its kind worldwide, it is now on its way to being forever replaced with an even more powerful and fuel-efficient hybrid system.
The first generation of the British automaker’s iconic W12 essentially represented a pair of V6 blocks welded together at a rather modest camber angle. It produced 552 PS (544 hp / 406 kW). Throughout the years, the company had managed to raise its output by 34% and improve the peak torque by 54% while cutting harmful emissions by roughly 25%.
Bentley has hit several records with this engine. Back in 2007, Finnish rally driver Juha Kankkunen earned the Continental GT the title of the world’s fastest vehicle on ice. In 2018, Rhys Millen won the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in the Production SUV category, driving a Bentayga.
The company built each motor manually at its factory in Crewe, spending seven hours on average putting together roughly 2,600 parts.