Bentley to Supply All W12 Engines for VW Group

Next year Volkswagen AG's Bentley Motors unit will become sole supplier of W12 engine for the flagship models of both companies and their Audi sister brand.

The unusual engine configuration arranges two narrow-angle V-6 engines in a compact W shape.

VW has been building the 6-liter engines for the Audi A8 and VW Phaeton luxury sedans at its factory in Salizgitter, Germany, while Bentley assembles W12s in Crewe, England, for its own Continental and Flying Spur models.

Bentley says consolidating all W12 production at Crewe will increase employment there by 100 jobs and hike output to 9,000 engine per year by 2017 from about 5,000 units currently.