Bentley’s remarkable W12 engine has powered their performance flagships and the brand since 2003. The Speed Edition 12, uses the most successful 12-cylinder engine of the modern era, a fitting farewell to an extraordinary engineering achievement.
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, petrol heads of all ages, gather round as Bentley unveils the Bentley Speed Edition 12, a machine that’s more exclusive than an invitation to attend the MET Gala. Only 120 of these majestic beasts will grace roads around the world and each one is a rolling tribute to two decades of Bentley’s W12 engine – the heart that has powered not just cars, but the very fortunes of this illustrious marque.
In 2003, Bentley’s W12 engine burst onto the scene like a rockstar, compact and punchy, 24% shorter than your garden-variety V12, yet sacrificing nothing. Power, efficiency, refinement, all there. We are talking about a 37% increase in power, a 54% surge in torque, and a 25% drop in emissions. The numbers are equally staggering: 659PS (650bhp) at a roaring 5000-6000 rpm, and a tidal wave of torque peaking at 900Nm at a mere 1500rpm. All of that power is also translated into distinctive noise, coming through specialized triangular exhaust at the back.
But beyond what is under the hood, the Speed Edition 12 models are a masterclass in subtlety and style. Red brake calipers, each hugging ceramic brake discs that are unavailable on any other Bentley, and specialized badging here and there. Pop the bonnet, and you are greeted by a numbered plaque that reminds you that there are only 120 of these beauties throughout the world. The paint job is something never done before. Called Opalite, it is a light grey-green with a coppery sheen that comes alive in the sunlight.
Inside, you find a symphony of handcrafted luxury. The main act is Beluga black leather, but for the adventurous, there is a splash of Brunel blue, Cricket ball red, Linen, or Orange. And the veneer – oh, the veneer – it is Grand Black, glossy and deep as the night sky. Mulliner Silver piping, quilted seats with a smooth three-colour fade, and air vents with the number 12 machined into them.
And the pièce de résistance? A 15% scale model of the W12 engine block, cast from real aluminium, to display and remind yourself that yes, you are part of an elite club – the Bentley Speed Edition 12 owners. The Bentley Speed Edition 12 is not just a car, but a parting gift, a rolling piece of art, a slice of history, and a nod to the future. It is the grand finale of the W12 saga, and you had better believe that it is going out with a bang.
