The company is not going to produce both hybrids and electric cars at the same time
Bentley PR director Wayne Bruce has revealed the brand's plans to replace its unique W12 engine with a high-performance petrol-electric powertrain.
The new hybrid engine, due later this year, promises to outperform the W12, peaking at over 635 horsepower. The last Bentley with the 6.0-litre W12 will roll off the production line in Crewe at the end of April.
The existing W12 engine, which has powered more than 100,000 Bentley vehicles over the past twenty years, will no longer be available to order. All production slots are already reserved, leaving buyers with only the option of choosing from available configurations or turning to the aftermarket.
Although Bentley's electrification is progressing slowly, the share of hybrid vehicles is expected to naturally increase in the near future. By 2026, Bentley plans to release its first electric car, which will be twice as powerful as its W12-powered counterpart.
It is important to note that the next generation Bentley will not have a choice between different engine types. By the end of the decade, it is planned to completely phase out non-hybrid engines. This is a strategy due to the size of the company, which cannot afford to take risks and will therefore gradually switch to electric powertrains. Wayne Bruce stressed that Bentley does not intend to make both hybrids and electric cars at the same time.