The ONLY WAY to FLY

A week in the rolling hills of Virginia with the Flying Spur Speed, perhaps Bentley's last ever 12-cylinder sedan, proves a fitting sendoff for the ultimate sporting gentleman's ride

- JARED PAUL STERN

The 12-cylinder engine is something of an endangered species; by 2025 it may even be extinct. This is nothing short of a tragedy for performance-oriented automotive enthusiasts, as 12-cylinders have long represented the pinnacle of sports and luxury motoring. This dates back to 1913 when they first helped set several world speed records, a legacy that eventually led to dominance in Formula One amongst other motorsports milestones; while the 12-cylinder engine came to be associated with the top marques worldwide including Rolls-Royce, Ferrari, and Lamborghini.

In the modern era perhaps no one has done more for the big 12 than Bentley, which debuted its W12 version in 2003 with the grand return of the Bentley Continental GT, declaring it the most advanced 12-cylinder engine in history. And an era has truly come to a close with the brand’s announcement in February that it will cease all production of 12-cylinder petrol engines by April of next year as the marque transitions to all hybrid and electric powertrains.