Bentley: big engines to stay

Bentley makes more 12-cylinder engines than anyone, and will continue to do so

Bentley has vowed not to abandon the W12 engine concept following the launch of the new Continental GT V8 - with the firm's Product Marketing chief Marcus Abbott hinting that technical developments could arrive before the end of the year.

The 6.0 W12 currently produces 575hp and 516lb ft of torque. This is 75hp more than the V8, but torque is only 29lb ft greater. Monster torque is a Bentley trademark so it is likely any refreshed W12 will seek to reassert its advantage here.

V8 is engine downsizing, Bentley fashion

Abbott revealed developments may follow the path of the old Continental GT.

"We had a Speed version of the old model [which produced 600hp, 40hp more than the standard GT MkI]. But we also had the Supersports, which produced 630hp [and 590lb ft of torque].

"The W12 must always remain the pinnacle of the Continental GT range. There will be more to come before the year is out."

Bentley is currently the world's largest producer of 12 cylinder engines: last year, all but 800 of its 7,000-car sales total used W12 engines. Indeed, engineering boss Brian Gush has said Bentley 12-cylinder production may even outnumber all other 12-cylinder engine producers put together.

Crewe will thus become a Volkswagen Group centre of excellence for the W12 powerplant. This will see it lead developments for the engine, independent of other Volkswagen Group companies.

V8 more efficient but Bentley buyers like W12s

The W12 engine was first used by Audi in 2001, with Bentley starting to use it in 2003. Engines are constructed in Crewe, on a parallel production line to the Bentley-designed V8 used by the Mulsanne.

The commitment to the W12 engine comes as Bentley introduces its new 4.0-litre V8 co-developed with Audi. This is 40 per cent more fuel efficient than the W12 - but only 16 per cent of this is due to engine downsizing.

Other efficiency gains come through the use of the new ZF eight-speed gearbox, plus BMW-style efficiency housekeeping such as selective alternator charging and variable-energy power steering.

Such features will likely be introduced on the W12, too: the eight-speed gearbox alone improves efficiency by 6 per cent.

If Abbott's timescale is right, expect to see more from the Continental GT W12 at the Paris Motor Show in September.