Bentley's New Hybrid Setup to Outmuscle the W12 - Exclusive Details Revealed

Bentley has confirmed that more details about the W12 engine's replacement, a hybrid setup, will be disclosed in the coming months. Before that happens, though, Bentley global chief communications officer Wayne Bruce has shed exciting information about the electrified powertrain, confirming that it will be more powerful than the outgoing 12-pot mill.

A Plug-In Hybrid V8 Is Expected

As confirmed last year, the last W12 will be produced in Crewe at the end of April 2024. It will be the 105,000th unit to be hand-built at the factory, concluding a 21-year run of production that started in 2003. The final W12-powered Bentleys, the Edition 12 models, are all sold out, according to Bruce. Several mules of plug-in hybrid Flying Spur and Continental GT were seen testing last year, hinting at a plug-in hybrid V8 with over 650 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque. The 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 plug-in hybrid from the new Porsche Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid serves as a likely candidate for this powertrain.

Hybrids Will Be Sold Alongside Pure EVs

Bentley is not just stopping at hybrids - they are also working on their first all-electric model set to debut in 2026. It's expected to have double the power of the W12, with four additional battery-powered models planning to hit the market by the end of the decade. Bruce believes that the demand for PHEVs will increase in the near future, aligning with the trend seen among other automakers. Despite moving towards pure EVs, Bentley will continue to offer plug-in hybrids during the transition period. The future lineup will likely include plug-in hybrid and all-electric Bentleys, presented as separate models without mixing powertrains within the same body/nameplate.