A staff member checks a Bentayga SUV on the Bentley production line at their factory in Crewe, Britain, December 7, 2022.
Phil Noble | Reuters
Bentley Motors plans to finish production of its 12-cylinder engine next April because the famed luxury carmaker transitions to electric vehicles.
The British automaker of ultra-luxury performance cars said the milestone can be celebrated with probably 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 utilized in 18 Bentley Baturs — handcrafted two-seat performance cars that start at about $2 million. The vehicles are already sold, the distinguished 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 top of the W12 is the newest example of automakers pivoting to all-electric vehicles. Bentley last yr said it will spend 2.5 billion kilos (about $3 billion) over the subsequent decade to grow to be a completely electric luxury brand by 2030.
The corporate, which is owned by Volkswagen, said a limited variety of W12 engines with 649 horsepower can be found for versions of the Continental GT, Bentayga and Flying Spur.
Production of the W12 engine will probably be replaced with expanded assembly of V8 and V6 hybrid engines, in keeping with the corporate. Bentley says it has produced greater than 100,000 of the W12 engines because the assembly began in 2003.
The corporate said it plans to transition the 30 employees who manufacture the engine at its famed Crewe, England, plant to other operations.
Bentley’s all-electric vision is in step with other automakers, however it differs greatly from its famed rival, Ferrari. The Italian sports automobile manufacturer, which currently produces V6, V8 and V12 engines, has said it would proceed to accomplish that so long as there’s sufficient demand for them.