Bentley Motors plans to finish manufacturing of its 12-cylinder engine subsequent April because the famed luxurious carmaker transitions to electrical autos.
The British automaker of ultra-luxury efficiency vehicles mentioned the milestone could be celebrated with essentially the most highly effective model of the W12 engine ever created, with 740 horsepower and 737 pound-feet of torque.
Bentley mentioned the upgraded engine will solely be utilized in 18 Bentley Baturs — handcrafted two-seat efficiency vehicles that begin at about $2 million. The autos are already bought, the celebrated automaker mentioned.
“The time has come to retire this now-iconic powertrain as we take strides towards electrification,” Bentley Chairman and CEO Adrian Hallmark mentioned in a launch.
The tip of the W12 is the newest instance of automakers pivoting to all-electric autos. Bentley final yr mentioned it might spend 2.5 billion kilos (about $3 billion) over the subsequent decade to grow to be a totally electrical luxurious model by 2030.
The corporate, which is owned by Volkswagen, mentioned a restricted variety of W12 engines with 649 horsepower can be found for variations of the Continental GT, Bentayga and Flying Spur.
Manufacturing of the W12 engine might be changed with expanded meeting of V8 and V6 hybrid engines, in line with the corporate. Bentley says it has produced greater than 100,000 of the W12 engines because the meeting started in 2003.
The corporate mentioned it plans to transition the 30 staff who manufacture the engine at its famed Crewe, England, plant to different operations.
Bentley’s all-electric imaginative and prescient is in keeping with different automakers, however it differs significantly from its famed rival, Ferrari. The Italian sports activities automobile producer, which presently produces V6, V8 and V12 engines, has mentioned it would proceed to take action so long as there’s adequate demand for them.