Automotive

New Bentley V-8 debuts in Detroit

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The Bentley V-8 will be available this spring
The Bentley V-8 will be available this spring
V-8 engine options will be offered on the Continental GT coupe and Continental GTC convertible
Engine cylinder deactivation allows the V-8 to operate like a four-cylinder
V-8 engine options will be offered on the Continental GT coupe and Continental GTC convertible
Bentley executives are confident the V-8 will not only boost fuel economy but also boost sales by way of new customers
Bentley used the 2010 North American Auto Show in Detroit to debut the long-awaited V-8 engine
The Bentley V-8 will be available this spring
Bentley/Bugatti CEO Wolfgang Duerheimer addressed show goers
V-8 engine options will be offered on the Continental GT coupe and Continental GTC convertible
The Bentley V-8 will be available this spring
Bentley delivers both luxury and sportiness
The Bentley V-8 will be available this spring
V-8 engine options will be offered on the Continental GT coupe and Continental GTC convertible
The Bentley V-8 will be available this spring
The Bentley V-8 will be available this spring
The Bentley V-8 will be available this spring
V-8 engine options will be offered on the Continental GT coupe and Continental GTC convertible
The Bentley V-8 will be available this spring
V-8 engine options will be offered on the Continental GT coupe and Continental GTC convertible
The Bentley V-8 will be available this spring
The Bentley V-8 will be available this spring
The Bentley V-8 will be available this spring
The Bentley V-8 will be available this spring
The Bentley V-8 will be available this spring
Bentley/Bugatti CEO Wolfgang Duerheimer addressed show goers
The Bentley V-8 will be available this spring
The Bentley V-8 will be available this spring
The Bentley V-8 will be available this spring
V-8 engine options will be offered on the Continental GT coupe and Continental GTC convertible
V-8 engine options will be offered on the Continental GT coupe and Continental GTC convertible
Pricing of the V-8 models will be below the W-12 versions
Pricing of the V-8 models will be below the W-12 versions
V-8 engine options will be offered on the Continental GT coupe and Continental GTC convertible
Bentley says the V-8 delivers comparable performance to the W-12 while increasing fuel economy by 40 percent
Bentley says the V-8 delivers comparable performance to the W-12 while increasing fuel economy by 40 percent
Pricing of the V-8 models will be below the W-12 versions
Bentley says the V-8 delivers comparable performance to the W-12 while increasing fuel economy by 40 percent
Bentley says the V-8 delivers comparable performance to the W-12 while increasing fuel economy by 40 percent
Bentley foresees potential Ferrari and Porsche buyers being attracted by the lower price of the V-8 engine
Bentley/Bugatti CEO Wolfgang Duerheimer addressed show goers
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Way back when Bentley unveiled the 2011 Continental GT in September 2010, it mentioned that a V-8 version was on the way. The version was originally slated for a late-2011 debut but got bumped back to this month's 2012 North American International Auto Show.

For years, Bentley vehicles have been defined by the 12-cylinder engine, an engine that Bentley is still committed to even with the rise of more fuel-efficient paradigms. While the 6.0-liter twin-turbo W-12-powered Continental GT is one of the least efficient cars on the road, Bentley did make some baby steps by equipping the latest iteration of the engine with flex-fuel capabilities. The current-generation W-12 puts out 567-hp and is able to run on traditional gas or E85 bioethanol.

The 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 engine option provides the next step in Bentley's environmental strategy. According to the automaker's numbers, the engine increases fuel economy by 40 percent while offering 500-bhp and 487 lb-ft (660 Nm) of torque. Performance numbers dip slightly from the W-12 model, but a 4.6-second sprint to 60 mph (97 km/h) and a top speed of 188 mph (303 km/h) shouldn't disappoint too many drivers. For reference, the W-12 model hits 60 mph in 4.4 seconds and tops out at 198 mph (319 km/h).

The new V-8 engine doesn't gain efficiency solely from less cylinders and lower displacement numbers, but also from its greater design. Bentley starts by cutting weight and maximizing engine efficiency to deliver better mileage. The automaker also uses cylinder deactivation technology, which cuts out the number of cylinders used when drivers are decelerating or driving at a steady speed. The system calculates up to 180 million instructions per second and can quickly cut the number of active cylinders in half during low-demand situations. When the driver accelerates, the engine quickly restores all eight cylinders to active duty and puts the full power of the V-8 at his toe-tips. According to Bentley, the cylinder deactivation process is seamless and undetectable by drivers.

The Bentley V-8 will be available this spring

Bentley will begin offering the V-8 option on both the Continental GT and Continental GTC this spring. The models will distinguish themselves from the W-12 variants with a few design elements, including a chrome-rimmed black grille, black mesh lower grill with distinctive "sharks' teeth" appearance, figure eight tailpipes and a new red Bentley B emblem. Bentley hasn't released prices, but has indicated that the models will be slightly less expensive than the W-12 versions.

The automaker is confident that having a V-8 engine option will attract new buyers to its vehicles, helping to further increase global sales, which were up by 37 percent last year. Specifically, it sees the type of buyer that would typically go for high-performance sports cars and supercars from marques like Ferrari being swayed into Bentley showrooms by the less expensive but plenty sporty V-8 option.

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2 comments
JohnEbbinghaus
Let\'s see.. Runs on gasoline, LOTS of gasoline, capable of exceeding every speed limit, designed with the 1% in mind. Wow, that\'s news! C\'mon, Gizmag, how much did they pay you to feature this amazing example of innovation?
mrhuckfin
I\'m not sure who there marketing at? If you can afford one of these cars why would you want an 8 cylinder version when you could have a 12? The whole point of one of these is to have the biggest engine you can? It\'s the only reason I would? :-)