Bentley will end production of its flagship 12-cylinder engine in a switch to electrification, becoming the first luxury car brand to call time on a technology considered the pinnacle of engineering in the combustion era.
The 12-cylinder engine, larger than the standard three or four in most gasoline cars and larger than the V8 engines common in high-performance cars, gives Bentley models effortless power.
The last batch of the current machine, first released in 2003 with more than 100,000 produced, will roll off the production line in April 2024, underlining the pace of gathering in the switch to electricity.
Bentley’s rivals including Rolls-Royce and Ferrari are still planning to offer the technology for years to come as they plan to launch electric models, as the top industry points the way to decarbonisation.
Luxury car brands are generally slower to introduce battery models because customers can often buy multiple cars and don’t want to compromise on range.
But Bentley is aiming to become a leader among established luxury names in offering more eco-friendly alternatives, although well-heeled customers can still buy models using larger engines.
“The time has come to retire this iconic electric powertrain as we move towards electrification,” said Bentley chief executive Adrian Hallmark.
The shift to electrification “means making changes in every area of Bentley Motors”, he added.
Although it is preparing to sell its first electric model this year, Rolls-Royce only offers a 12-cylinder petrol engine in its lineup.
Ferrari has a number of smaller V8 and V6 engines but still fits larger engines into flagship models such as the Purosangue.
Bentley says it will make its first battery-electric model in 2026, a year after promises of battery models from Ferrari and Aston Martin. Rolls-Royce has one electric model, the Spectre, which will be delivered later this year.
Bentley plans to electrify the entire line-up at the beginning of the next decade, with the aim of reducing average emissions to zero.
Around 30 staff who hand-build and test the W12 engine, named after its shape, will be retrained and redeployed across the business.
The British group plans to unveil a limited model of the Batur, which will accommodate the engine. It will also offer some current models with engines before the phase-out date as well.
The brand, which is owned by Volkswagen, will still sell cars with V8 and V6 engines and will offer hybrid models for all its upcoming cars from next year.
Bentley said demand for hybrid versions of the Bentayga and Flying Spur models “has exceeded expectations”.
It added that continuous improvements in the W12 mean that power is 37 percent higher than two decades ago, while emissions are 25 percent lower.