Last month, Bentley announced it would reveal its third coachbuilt Mulliner model of the modern era early next month. Although the company has kept details about the vehicle, which follows the Bacalar Barchetta and Batur coupé, under wraps, they did reveal one exciting detail: it will feature the most powerful version of their signature 12-cylinder engine yet.
Bentley seems reluctant to bid farewell to the W-12, which debuted in 2003 and has powered some of its most potent vehicles, including the Continental GT, Flying Spur, and Bentayga. In early 2023, Bentley announced the limited-run, Continental GT-based Batur would be the W-12’s swan song. However, it appears circumstances have changed. Bentley refrains from calling the upcoming coachbuilt model the final W-12, instead stating it will be “among the last ever Bentleys” to use the engine.
Regardless of how many more W-12s Bentley produces, the next Mulliner promises to be exceptional. It will be more powerful than the engine in the Batur, meaning it will exceed 740 horsepower and 737 ft-lbs of torque. The grand tourer can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.3 seconds and reach a top speed of 209 mph, suggesting its successor will be a true powerhouse.
Besides confirming the W-12 engine, Bentley has disclosed that only 16 examples of the next Mulliner will be built, and it will be unveiled on May 7. The price is expected to be high, with the Bacalar starting at $1.9 million and the Batur at $2.1 million.
While Bentley is preparing to finally say goodbye to the W-12, it’s not finished with internal combustion engines just yet. The automaker is working on an EV, set to debut in 2025 or 2026, but will focus on electrified models moving forward, according to Autocar. The engines in those future cars and SUVs will feature eight cylinders instead of 12.
