Bentley's iconic W12 engine bows out after 21 remarkable years
A beautiful story officially comes to an end. A much smaller unit will replace the iconic W12.
It all started in 2001 with the Audi A8. This limousine from Ingolstadt was the first model powered by Volkswagen's new W12 engine. Two years later, in a modified form enriched with two turbochargers, the unit found its way into the now-iconic Bentley Continental GT. This was the beginning of a beautiful story that has lasted until today.
Two decades of development resulted in a significant power increase from the original 552 HP to over 740 and a noticeable reduction in emissions. Unfortunately, it was not enough for the engine to survive the coming years. Therefore, it will be replaced by a smaller four-litre V8.
Not everyone realises that Bentley's W12 was modern history's most popular twelve-cylinder engine. Over 21 years, more than 100,000 units of this engine were produced.
"The W12 has propelled our cars and business forward at an exceptional speed and will go down as one of the most important innovations in our illustrious history," said Dr Matthias Rabe, Member of the Board for Research and Development at Bentley. It's hard to disagree with him.
