One of the foundational sectors of the world economy is the automotive sector. Its annual budgets for innovation and research top hundreds of billions of dollars. Over 15 million people work in the sector, which has assets worth more than $ 2 trillion.
Despite these encouraging signs, the industry is constantly facing challenges and is under pressure to improve. Environmental protection-related changes and additions necessitate an upgrade of current models during the design phase. A modern car should be built on entirely innovations that adhere to all technological advancement standards. Manufacturers are being influenced to create highly intelligent machines by the ongoing development of technologies in all facets of life and the computerization of many processes.
The changes also affected the global auto giant Bentley, which will say goodbye to the legendary W12 engine in 2024. The company has already warned potential customers to decide on the purchase as soon as possible since there will be no return to the past.
It is worth saying that Bentley is the epitome of luxury, elegance, and all the best that is in the automotive industry. Of course, such cars cost a lot, but thanks to the availability of car rental services and car rental companies, which are now extremely common all over the world, it is not difficult to try a little luxury on your own. In any part of the world, this will be possible, no matter if you would like to take Bentley rent a car Dubai, or hire an exclusive vehicle in Abu Dhabi, for instance.
So what is Bentley’s W12?
The world’s only production engine W12 6.0 was developed at the dawn of the 2000s by Volkswagen engineers and, in addition to Audi A8, VW Phaeton, and Touareg, registered under the hoods of Bentayga, Continental GT and Flying Spur, and other older Bentley models. Over the past years, the engine has been regularly upgraded, acquired a reinforced crankcase, an improved cooling system, more productive turbochargers, and a cylinder shutdown system if necessary.
As a result, the peak power of the current W12 increased by 37% compared to the 450-horsepower source 20 years ago, torque increased by 54%, and harmful emissions decreased by a quarter. With the 710-horsepower version of the engine, the Continental GT coupe accelerated to 60 mph (96.5 km/h) in 3.4 seconds, reaching a top speed of 336 km/h, making it one of the most high-tech vehicles. It is a record for Bentley cars.
What will happen to W12?
Already next year, the W12 will fall victim to the electrification strategy followed by Volkswagen and its constituent brands.
Unfortunately, further development and maintenance of the production of the 12-cylinder monster become impossible due to the constant tightening of environmental regulations. In April 2024, its production will be completed, reaching a total circulation of approximately 105,000 pieces. In the future, Bentley cars will be produced in a hybrid version, and from 2030 only in electric.
Thus, the latest novelty of the brand, which received the family W12, was the Bentley Mulliner Batur coupe. With a limited edition of 18 copies, the Batur is recognized as the most powerful production Bentley in history, since its modified W12 develops 730 hp and 1000 Nm in the range from 1750 to 5000 rpm.
The W12 6.0 engine will be removed from the assembly line of the factory in Crewe, UK, in April 2024. The last released model with such a motor (and with its most powerful version) The Bentley Batyr grand tourer from Mulliner, which debuted in the summer of 2022, will become. The coupe, we recall, received a modified W12 with a new intake system, upgraded turbochargers, new intercoolers, and a reprogrammed control unit, which made it possible to remove 740 horsepower from six liters of working volume.
However, it will not be possible to buy the last car with the W12: the entire edition of the Bentley Batur, consisting of only 18 copies, has already been sold out. And the rest of the machines, on which a 12-cylinder unit is still installed, for example, the Flying Spur, are rapidly running out. The W12 will be replaced with V6 and V8 engines as part of hybrid powerplants.
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