2011 Bentley Continental GT Preview: No More Gas Hog?

Just the Facts:

• 2011 Bentley Continental GT will officially debut on September 7.
• The new Continental GT will be launched live online, a first for Bentley.
• A 2008 Bentley white paper said that the automaker was planning "a new powertrain set for introduction by 2012 that will deliver a 40 percent reduction in fuel consumption."

CREWE, England — Bentley on Wednesday launched the new Bentley Continental GT preview microsite, which provides fleeting glimpses of the redesigned luxury car ahead of a September 7 debut. But better clues about the car can probably be unearthed courtesy of a March 2008 Bentley white paper entitled "Bentley and CO2" that the automaker distributed at the 2008 Geneva Auto Show. In short, this may be the new "socially responsible" Bentley.

When asked for further details to flesh out the video on the microsite, Bentley's U.S. spokesperson Valentine O'Connor e-mailed in reply: "All we're able to confirm is that it's coming."

O'Connor would not confirm the model year for the new Continental GT, either. Presumably it will be a 2011, since there is no 2010 model year Bentley Continental GT.

Bentley said in a statement on Wednesday that the new Continental GT will be launched live online, a first for the British marque. It characterized the redesign as "sharp and muscular" and noted, "there's a stunning new interior."

The 2008 Bentley white paper, however, emphasized that the automaker was planning "a new powertrain set for introduction by 2012 that will deliver a 40 percent reduction in fuel consumption while maintaining current levels of performance." It also said it would offer biofuel-compatible powertrains across "100 percent (of our) product range by 2012."

The 2009 Bentley Continental GT with a 552-horsepower 6.0-liter W12 engine and a six-speed automatic transmission delivers 10 mpg in city driving and 17 mpg on the highway, according to the EPA. A 40 percent reduction in fuel consumption should yield 16 mpg or better in city driving and 28 mpg or better on the highway — presuming that the engine is identical in size to the one in the 2009 model.

"As a socially responsible manufacturer, Bentley will increase powertrain efficiency across the board," said Dr. Franz-Josef Paefgen, the Bentley chairman and CEO who delivered the white paper.

In the meantime, the microsite offers a rather detailed look at the new Continental GT's headlights, center console and seat design. Brief peeks at the car zipping along a road show a sleek silhouette. No word yet on launch timing, volume predictions or pricing. The 2009 Bentley Continental GT starts at $179,200.

Inside Line says: The countdown begins to some major news from Bentley on the redesigned Co