Bentley to end production of ultra-performance 12-cylinder engine as it transitions to EVs

CNBC ^ | February 21, 2023 | Michael Wayland

[Twotone]

Bentley Motors plans to end production of its 12-cylinder engine next April as the famed luxury carmaker transitions to electric vehicles.

The British automaker of ultra-luxury performance cars said the milestone would be celebrated with the most powerful version of the W12 engine ever created, with 740 horsepower and 737 pound-feet of torque.

Bentley said the upgraded engine will only be used in 18 Bentley Baturs — handcrafted two-seat performance cars that start at about $2 million. The vehicles are already sold, the prestigious automaker said.

“The time has come to retire this now-iconic powertrain as we take strides toward electrification,” Bentley Chairman and CEO Adrian Hallmark said in a release.

The end of the W12 is the latest example of automakers pivoting to all-electric vehicles. Bentley last year said it would spend 2.5 billion pounds (about $3 billion) over the next decade to become a fully electric luxury brand by 2030.

The company, which is owned by Volkswagen

, said a limited number of W12 engines with 649 horsepower are available for versions of the Continental GT, Bentayga and Flying Spur.

Production of the W12 engine will be replaced with expanded assembly of V8 and V6 hybrid engines, according to the company. Bentley says it has produced more than 100,000 of the W12 engines since the assembly began in 2003.

Christophe Georges, CEO of Bentley Americas, declined to comment on when the company plans to phase out the V8 and V6 engine, beyond reiterating the previously announced plan of 2030.

[Boogieman]

RIP Bentley.

[MtnClimber]

I am NOT going EV! I just bought a 2023 Cadilac CT5 Blackwing...Same color as ths:

2023 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing - Car and Driver Review

From the badge on the steering wheel mine is number 104 of the 2023 10-speed automatics. It is not the car I have been on the waiting list for 1-1/2 years for, but someone ahead of me bought one used and passed on their order. I still have my order in place, but may not ever get it.

My car has a hand built GM LT4 engine, Supercharged 6.2L V8 with 668 hp @ 6,400 rpm and 659 lb-ft @ 3,600 rpm torque.

The Bentley has about 10% more HP and torque, but is about 25% heavier. My car was expensive, but I am sure it is faster and costs less. With the GM Mag-Ride suspension (also licensed to Ferrari) I am sure my car would be faster on a track.

[central_va]

Gas taxes are a problem. If they get too high I see wood alcohol as a solution. Having said that, the oil lobby is on our side in this. The long standing close and mutual relationship between the auto industry and the oil industry is over.

[Carriage Hill]

Huge mistake, as many other mfgrs are making.
It’s a *fad*, just as it was from `1895-1915, when reliable steam and ICE vehicles drove them out of business.
In under 10yrs, the EV market will collapse on itself, and mfgrs will have idled plants, fields full of unsold product, and inventory in the Trillions.

[Kenny500c]

Vehicles already sold - so cancel this model and V-12 ICE engines.

[SuperLuminal]

It will be the end of the Bentley...

No one who is spending $175,000 for a car will want to spend all their time traveling from volt station to volt station...

All the while, hoping the volt station they pulled into actually works...

So, we can now add Bentley to the list of items that the communist bastards who rule us have identified for extinction:
- Christians
- Jews
- White folk
- Free speech
- Free individual thought
- Non-LGBT throw-backs
- Honest & open elections
- Personal money/financial privacy & management
- Non-government-supported jobs
- The planet’s strongest military
- Patriotism and love of country
- Petroleum products
- High quality, reasonable cost, & accessible healthcare
- Etc...Etc...Etc...

[libertylover]

I wonder where they will get the electricity to power all these batteries from?

Dunno. North Sea oil and coal from Wales?

[cgbg]

can bribe government electricity providers to allow them all the juice they need.”

That is exactly how it works in the turd world.

The rich have reliable power—everybody else gets to play electricity roulette.

[Captain Peter Blood]

Well, I guess that will be the end of the Bentley car company

[Cobra64]

I know a guy who has two, and he drives the convertible on nice days and the sedan when it’s raining.

[Dave911]

Idiots!

[mabarker1]

And turn an 8000+# car into 12,000# with the batteries.

[mabarker1]

Blowhard politician powered wind farms.

[Chode]

*

[logitech]

This is our future.

Nothing new under the sun.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0IcIxhd8ks

[ontap]

Well that does it....I called and canceled my order!!!!

[OKSooner]

I want a Toyota 3/4 ton pickup.

[Jotmo]

First, good luck holding on to anything for much more than 20 years in a state that salt’s it’s roads.

Second, we have not yet begun to see the results of masses of electric cars driven on salted winter roads for a couple of decades or more.

Imagine the hilarity that will ensue.