Bentley retires iconic W12 engine, marking the end of an era

A beautiful story officially ends. A significantly smaller unit will replace the iconic W12 engine.

It all began in 2001 with the Audi A8. This limousine from Ingolstadt was the first model powered by Volkswagen's new W12 engine. Two years later, the engine, in modified form and enriched with two turbochargers, found its way into the now-legendary Bentley Continental GT. This marked the start of a beautiful story that continues to this day.

Over two decades of development have resulted in a significant increase in power—from the original 552 HP to over 740 HP—and a noticeable reduction in emissions. Unfortunately, these improvements weren't sufficient to ensure the engine's survival. A smaller, four-litre V8 will replace the W12.

Not everyone realizes that Bentley's W12 was the most popular twelve-cylinder engine in modern history. Over the course of 21 years, more than 100,000 units of this engine were produced.