- Bentley supplements its mighty 6.0-liter W12 engine with a potent new twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 in the Continental GT Coupe and GTC Convertible.
- The V8 makes 500 horsepower and 487 pound-feet of torque.
- The new twin-turbo V8 is mated with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
CREWE, England — Bentley will supplement its mighty 6.0-liter W12 engine with a potent new twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 in the Continental GT Coupe and GTC Convertible. The new V8 models will debut in early January at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show.
The direct-injection V8 delivers 500 horsepower and 487 pound-feet of torque, and is mated to a close-ratio eight-speed automatic transmission. A variable-displacement system enables the engine to run on only four cylinders under partial throttle load.
While official EPA fuel economy numbers are not yet available, the automaker said the arrival of the new V8 "fulfills Bentley's commitment to produce a new powertrain that delivers a 40-percent improvement in fuel efficiency."
The 2012 Bentley Continental GT W12 is rated by the EPA at 12 mpg in city driving and 19 mpg on the highway. The base price is $195,495, including a $2,595 shipping charge and a $3,000 federal gas-guzzler tax.
Bentley said the new Continental GT V8 will be able to sprint from zero to 60 in less than 5.0 seconds, with a top speed of more than 180 mph. It will also have a range of more than 500 miles on a tank of gas.
The new Continental V8 models feature a gloss-black grille with chrome frame and center bar, black lower front bumper with body-colored strakes, dark lower rear valance, chromed exhaust pipes and red enamel Bentley badging front and rear. Buyers can choose from 20- or 21-inch alloy wheels in Diamond Black or Diamond Silver finishes.
The cabin of the Continental V8 is trimmed in Dark Fiddleback Eucalyptus veneers with Eliade cloth headliner and optional two-tone leather.
Inside Line says: With 500 hp on tap and sub-5-second 0-60 acceleration, it doesn't sound as if Bentley V8 buyers will be sacrificing much.
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damaje says:
05:15 AM, 12/13/2011
The people who mention they should have used the 6.75 litre are missing the point, this is supposed to be a much more fuel efficient base model. Maybe the other engine can at some point be a middle of the road Conti engine, but I doubt it can match the 40% increase in fuel economy.
theotherone says:
04:16 PM, 12/12/2011
panamera4,
This is purely academic since I don't have nearly the scratch to buy a $170K car, but, if I did, I wouldn't hesitate for a second to get the V8 Bentley over a V12 Mercedes CL600 (in fact, my choice for the MB would be the V8 CL63 with performance package, not the V12 CL600). 500hp/487lbft is plenty, and the Bentley just has so much more beauty, style, luxury, presence, and the all important, specialness. And I say this as a huge MB fan who currently owns 2. Love that Continental.
coolb944 says:
03:55 PM, 12/12/2011
Looks like they went with a version of Audi's twin turbo V8 rather than a version of the 6.75 liter from the Mulsanne.
truecarfan says:
03:18 PM, 12/12/2011
lolxd - neither Bentley or Rolls Royce is really British anymore from an engineering standpoint... both are really German underneath Audi/VW and BMW respectively. The only thing really British about them is their interiors execution.
cz_75 says:
02:31 PM, 12/12/2011
Now robber barons can say: "but I'm a kinder, gentler, more enviro-friendly rapacious potentate...."
Perhaps they should've used thed 6.75L motor instead.
joe_scuba says:
01:38 PM, 12/12/2011
Sexiest car made
joe_scuba says:
01:38 PM, 12/12/2011
Sexiest car made
panamera4 says:
10:39 AM, 12/12/2011
The issue is IF it starts over $170000, would someone take a V8 Conti over the V12 CL600?
theotherone says:
07:31 AM, 12/12/2011
Great output, especially for 4 liters. But, I really want to know how much less weight will be sitting on the car's nose. That weight reduction could be as much a reason to buy the V8 as the lower price point (or, any weight reduction could make little or no difference in a 5500lb beast like this).
I will have one of these second-gen. Continental GTs (W12 or V8 remains to be seen) one day, and I should be able to get a perfect example for a fraction of its original MSRP. Depreciation is your friend when it comes to Bentleys, and there are tons of them out there. Definitely on my automotive bucket list (wouldn't mind a Mulsanne some day too).
lolxd says:
03:25 AM, 12/12/2011
The W12 engine is what made the Bentley Continental GT un-British (but I don't think anyone would botherl).
I want this thing to look a lot more of Brooklands and less of Beetle.