Electrification Claims Another Victim as Bentley Drops W-12

Only 16 lucky individuals will have the pleasure of sending off Bentley's iconic W-12 era before the company drops to eight cylinders. After production of the Batur convertible and its 740 hp W-12 comes to an end, Bentley will be replacing its flagship powerplant with an electrified V-8.

Bentley said Wednesday morning that the new hybrid-powered, cross-plane crank V-8 benefits from "electrocharging," claiming it will be the most powerful powertrain in Bentley’s 105-year history. With 739 hp and 50 miles of all-electric range, Bentley said this powertrain produces at least 89 hp more than the outgoing W-12.

Displacement details, torque figures, and battery size have yet to be disclosed. Bentley says that the new hybrid powerplant will have a WLTP drive cycle CO2 figure of under 109 mpg, though it's worth noting that WLTP cycles are often more generous than EPA figures. The powertrain will lead Bentley’s Beyond 100 journey, the English company's forward-looking sustainability program.

This is not the first hybrid powertrain that Bentley has offered. Currently, Bentley offers a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-6 and a 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V-6 augmented by an 18.0-kWh lithium-ion battery.

Aston Martin, on the other hand, is pushing forward with its 12-cylinder engines, though Aston's cylinders are arranged in a V. With 823 hp and 738 lb-ft of torque on tap, Aston also has yet to announce the displacement of its newest flagship powerplant.

We'll mourn the loss of the iconic W-12, certainly, but the partnership between electrification and turbochargers typically yields torque-rich, linear power delivery. Bentley's incoming V-8 should be no different.

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