Bentley Honors 20 Years Of Its W12 Engine At The Goodwood Festival Of Speed

When the W12 powertrain was unveiled twenty years ago, it was lauded as a marvel of engineering prowess – compact yet immensely powerful, a behemoth of an engine discreetly hidden beneath Bentley’s polished veneer of luxury. It’s been two decades since the W12 made its thunderous debut, and now, at the iconic Goodwood Festival of Speed, Bentley is set to celebrate this engineering landmark alongside a showcase of the finest coachbuilt models from their bespoke division, Mulliner.

Goodwood, a fabled arena of speed and spectacle, will be the stage for the dynamic UK debut of Bentley’s latest masterwork, the Batur, and the unveiling of the Mulliner Speed Six Continuation Series. Driven by the strongest variant of the W12 ever created, the Batur is an astonishing blend of power and opulence, crafted by Mulliner, Bentley’s bespoke division, in a limited run of only 18 units – all of which have already been sold. The Batur making its debut at Goodwood is Car Zero-Zero, a meticulously engineered prototype finished in an eye-catching Marina Teal, a testament to the pinnacle of Bentley’s craftsmanship.

To further honor the W12’s legacy, Bentley has assembled an exciting line-up of W12 models, including the Le Mans edition of the Continental GT, the Bentley’s fastest convertible, Continental GTC Speed, and a Flying Spur Speed Edition 12. Each vehicle in the line-up carries a unique essence of the W12’s two-decade-long legacy, embodying Bentley’s unwavering commitment to engineering excellence and luxurious refinement.

Adding to the spectacle, the Continental GT Pikes Peak – the very vehicle that set a record at Pikes Peak in 2019 – will be making daily appearances on the hillclimb, paying homage to its record-breaking success with a spectacular show of speed and agility. Accompanying this prestigious line-up, Bentley’s original supercar, a 4½ Litre Supercharged ‘Blower’, will be adding a dash of historic charisma to the proceedings. The Blower on display will be Car Zero from the Blower Continuation Series, a tribute to Bentley’s pre-war marvel, created from scratch by Mulliner.

The Speed Six Continuation Series, Mulliner’s second continuation project, will debut at Goodwood. All 12 units have been sold, each a faithful reincarnation of the 1930 Le Mans racing Speed Six specification, and handcrafted in Mulliner’s workshop in Crewe. Speed Six Car Zero will be unveiled at the event, making its global debut, stirring up anticipation for what lies ahead.

The festivities will culminate in a grand parade, marking the 20th anniversary of the W12. A cavalcade of 12 W12-powered cars will parade through the event, including the five vehicles on the hillclimb, along with seven additional models from Bentley’s revitalized Heritage Collection. Each car in the parade, from the first-generation Continental GT W12 to the Continental Supersports ISR and the Pikes Peak Bentayga, tells a unique story, celebrating the rich history and heritage of the W12 engine.

Bentley’s celebration of the W12 engine at Goodwood is not just a tribute to an iconic powertrain, but an ode to two decades of Bentley’s commitment to engineering excellence, innovation, and luxury. As the W12 enters the final phase of production, Bentley looks to a future of electrification, promising to carry forward the legacy of innovation, elegance, and performance that has been synonymous with the brand for over a century.