Bentley introduced its iconic W12 engine back in 2003, with the first Continental GT and it was used in subsequent versions of the car in the years afterwards. Shortly afterwards, Volkswagen used the same W12 engine in the Phaeton.

Bentley has said that order books for all W12 powered cars will close this December, but just before that happens – a brand new car, the Bentley Batur will arrive and use the most powerful incarnation of the engine yet, with 739bhp and 1000Nm of torque.

Bentley will only make 18 of the Batur and all of them have been sold already. The car sits on the same platform as the Continental GT and costs £1.65 million.

Over the 20 years Bentley produced the W12 engine, the company produced over 100,000 units. The Continental GT will be available has a plug-in-hybrid for the first time later this year, as part of a new facelift for the model and will be available with a 3.0-litre V6 or 4.0-litre V8, sourced from the wider Volkswagen Group.

Bentley will also launch its first electric car ever in 2025. By 2030, the brand will be all electric.

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