Bentley announces four 'Speed Edition 12' variants
Range-topping 659hp and a scale model W12 ornament for end-of-an-era specials
Bentley was never going to let the W12 die quietly, and who could blame them? With more than 100,000 produced over the past 20 years or so, it’s being hailed as the most successful 12-cylinder engine of the modern era. Quite some claim to fame, that. What is undeniably true is that the firm has launched these new Speed Edition 12 cars to celebrate the W12 as the end looms (production will end in April next year) with a unique spec and more power.
Until now, it was only the Continental GT Speed (and GTC equivalent) that got the maximum 659hp available in non-Batur Bentleys; even the Spur equivalent was pegged back to a measly 635hp. Not any longer: all of these Speed Edition 12s are to Speed spec, for want of a better phrase, the Bentayga, Flying Spur, Continental GT and Convertible all churning out a nice, round 650 imperial horsepower (in case you were wondering why 659hp was important). Bentley’s self-proclaimed ‘tidal wave’ of torque - all 664lb ft of it - is there from 1,500rpm to 5,000rpm.
Marking the Editions 12s out are a few additional neat touches; a Blackline spec and 22-inch black wheels feel like par for the course, but silver calipers unavailable on any other model are nice. As is the new Opalite paint, optionally offered but again unique to the Edition 12, a light grey-green that’s a welcome break from so many predictable palettes.
Note as well Edition 12-themed badges, treadplates, welcome lights and even machined from solid ‘12’s on the organ stop air vents. Don’t worry if you also quite like the black fascia on the passenger side that shows the firing order - you’re among friends here.
That isn’t the end of the 6.0-litre celebrations in these Edition cars, either. Not only does every single one get a plaque under the bonnet, but each customer will be gifted a scale-model engine as part of their purchase. The 15 per cent size W12 is made using aluminium from an actual engine block. Bentley says this ‘commemorative artefact’ will ‘serve as a permanent memento of one of Bentley’s most significant and powerful engines’. Perfect for the desk of powerfully built company director types, you’d imagine.
There will be 120 of each Speed Edition 12 made, though it’s not confirmed yet how many will be allocated to Bentley’s home market or what they’ll cost; all four are already up on the UK configurator, however, so best move fast. And if the new shade of Opalite is too subtle for celebrating a 659hp W12, how about purple?
It's exactly this diversification that has seen those 100,000 units shift. Look back at the old RRBMC days and they wouldn't have dreamed of those volumes.
Now that is a galactic sized rabbit hole. There must be hundreds of billions of permutations of spec!Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff