Bentley begins its long farewell to W12 power with these special editions

As we know Bentley will stop making its 6.0-litre W12 next year, and to mark more than two decades of service the company is to build 120 ‘Speed Edition 12’ examples of the Continental GT coupe and Convertible, Flying Spur and Bentayga SUV.

What is a Speed Edition 12, exactly? Well it’s based on Bentley’s Speed spec, only you get lots of parts - badges, treadplates, seats, fascias etcetera - with the number 12 on them. Oh and an engine plaque. And that’s essentially it.

Except it isn’t, of course: this being Bentley, attention has been paid to the details. The 22in black wheels are coupled with silver brake calipers that you won’t find on any other model, and the Opalite green paint you see above has been mixed specially. It’s still optional though if you don’t like it.

Inside Bentley has gone to town on the embroidery and seat stitching, and if you look closely you’ll notice the firing sequence of the W12 etched into the dashboard. Nice touch.

The 6.0-litre W12 powered the first new model under VW Group ownership back in 2003, and since then more than 100,000 units have been sold, which Bentley claims makes it the ‘most successful 12-cylinder engine of the modern era’.

Since then power has risen by 37 per cent to 650bhp, with torque climbing by 54 per cent to 664lb ft from 1,500rpm. Impressive.

Oh and before we forget, you’ll also be handed a 15 per cent scale, aluminium-cast model of the W12 if you buy a Speed Edition 12. Anyone else getting breakfast cereal freebie vibes?