A employees member checks a Bentayga SUV on the Bentley output line at their factory in Crewe, Britain, December 7, 2022.
Phil Noble | Reuters
Bentley Motors ideas to end manufacturing of its 12-cylinder engine up coming April as the famed luxury carmaker transitions to electric autos.
The British automaker of extremely-luxurious functionality cars stated the milestone would be celebrated with the most impressive variation of the W12 motor ever made, with 740 horsepower and 737 pound-ft of torque.
Bentley mentioned the upgraded engine will only be employed in 18 Bentley Baturs — handcrafted two-seat effectiveness autos that get started at about $2 million. The vehicles are already offered, the prestigious automaker explained.
“The time has come to retire this now-iconic powertrain as we just take strides towards electrification,” Bentley Chairman and CEO Adrian Hallmark claimed in a release.
The finish of the W12 is the most up-to-date illustration of automakers pivoting to all-electric powered autos. Bentley final calendar year claimed it would commit 2.5 billion lbs . (about $3 billion) above the upcoming ten years to develop into a fully electrical luxury brand by 2030.
The business, which is owned by Volkswagen, stated a limited quantity of W12 engines with 649 horsepower are available for versions of the Continental GT, Bentayga and Flying Spur.
Creation of the W12 motor will be changed with expanded assembly of V8 and V6 hybrid engines, in accordance to the business. Bentley suggests it has developed much more than 100,000 of the W12 engines considering that the assembly commenced in 2003.
The firm reported it designs to changeover the 30 workforce who manufacture the motor at its famed Crewe, England, plant to other functions.
Bentley’s all-electric eyesight is in line with other automakers, but it differs significantly from its famed rival, Ferrari. The Italian sports vehicle company, which at present produces V6, V8 and V12 engines, has mentioned it will carry on to do so as lengthy as there is sufficient desire for them.