Bentley sets an expiration date for its iconic W12 engine, but what's in store for its first electric car?

The current Bentley Continental GT could be the last one with a 12-cylinder engine.

Bentley Motors believes its long-running W12 engine will finally end production by 2026, around the same time the brand plans to launch its first battery electric vehicle (BEV).

Speaking to Australian reporters at the unveiling of the new Bentayga, Bentley Motors CEO Adrian Hallmark said the 12-cylinder engine has been integral to the brand's growth, but it's time to ditch the powertrain after tightening emissions regulations.

“I joined the company back in 1999 for my first lifetime and at that point we devised the Bentley strategy, the Continental GT was the trigger for that growth, followed by the Flying Spur, then the convertible, and we took over the company. from 800 to 10,000 sales in six years,” he said.

“And we also based this strategy on 12-cylinder engine technology.

“Since then, the 12-cylinder engine has been the backbone of Bentley history, but there is no doubt that in five years this engine will not exist.”

The W12 engine has been in production since 2001 and can be found under the hood of the Continental GT, Flying Spur and Bentayga.

The Bentley W6.0 engine with a displacement of 12 liters and two turbochargers develops an output of 522 kW/1017 Nm.

However, Mr Hallmark said the W12 engine will be phased out, hinting that there may be a few special edition vehicles with the engine to attract collectors as the brand moves towards its goal of full electrification by 2030.

“Faced with this, and with the ever-increasing knowledge of the climate impact and technologies that we now know are available, and especially with the customer trends that we collect through our research… we are fully embracing this electrified carbon-neutral future. . ," He said.

“We believe we can make Bentley environmentally and ethically transparent and neutral – or positive – and we think that gives luxury a purpose, makes the brand and segment attractive to a new generation of customers, but please don’t worry, for the next nine years we will celebrate in the highest degree everything we do with eight-cylinder, hybrid and 12-cylinder engines, and we will make the best Bentley we have ever made, and we will send the era of combustion engine technology along with the maximum fireworks.”

The ultra-premium brand will also launch its first electric car around the same time that the W12 engine is shut down, meaning Bentley's new performance flagship will likely be powered by electricity.

Bentley hasn't yet specified what form its BEV will take, whether it's an existing nameplate or something completely new, but it's clear that the current architecture for the Continental, Flying Spur and Bentayga can't deliver full electrification.

Therefore, Bentley is likely to turn to parent company Volkswagen Group for the architecture of its electric vehicle.

While Bentley may use the J1 platform underpinning the Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron GT, it is more likely to use the Premium Electric Platform (PPE), which is planned to be used in the Audi Q6 and A6 e-tron models. and is specially designed for large luxury cars.

After debuting Bentley's first electric car, it will be rolling out emission-free powertrains for the rest of its lineup in the coming years, but Mr. Hallmark said the powerplant change won't hurt the brand's foundations.

“In 2025, we will launch our first battery electric vehicle,” he said. “It will actually be at the start of 26 before you see it widespread around the world on the roads, but from 26 to 29 we are systematically moving from ICE to electric on every nameplate over that three to four year period. .

“If you look at electrification and look at Bentley, we think they are completely compatible.

“Our customers love the noise, the sound and the feel – certain moments in the driving experience – but what people really talk about is the feeling of power, control and easy progress that really makes them feel good.

“So, it’s this torque and instantaneous power that makes a Bentley a Bentley driving experience, and it pairs perfectly with electrification.”