Today, the British carmaker has just released the first official photos and details of the upcoming Bentley GT and GTC powered by a new V8 unit, both being scheduled to make world debut at the 2012 edition of the Detroit International Auto Show in January. According to Bentley, the new engine offers power and torque, plus a significant improvement in fuel economy and CO2 emissions.
Bentley’s boss, Wolfgang Dürheimer, said: “With the new 4.0 litre V8 engine we are widening the appeal of the latest generation of Continentals, introducing a completely new driving experience. The new engine will have all the exhilarating power, drama and performance you would expect from a V8 engine sporting the famous Bentley wings, effortlessly delivered with our characteristic ‘wave of torque’. This is complemented by innovative powertrain technology that delivers exceptional fuel efficiency and emissions.”
The new V8 engine Bentley is so proud of is a 4.0-liter unit that delivers 500 hp (373 kW) at 6,000 rpm and maximum torque of 660 Nm (487 lb.-ft.) available between 1,700 and 5,000 rpm. Sounds impressive? Well, it is! Mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission that has been specially optimized to offer close ratio, the new Bentley Continental V8 accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in under 5 seconds (the exact figure hasn’t been released) and will be able to reach a top speed of 290 km/h (180 mph).
The press release also praises the car’s “green” character, Bentley engineers putting a lot of work into improving fuel economy and lowering the CO2 emissions level as much as possible. According to the carmaker, the new Continental features a 40 percent improvement in both fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions, the car being able to travel for more than 800 km (500 miles) on one tank of gasoline. Bentley managed to do that by optimizing the engine and fitting it with an advanced management system, high pressure direct injection, thermal management, brake energy regeneration, low friction bearing and a new turbocharger system. To improve road behavior, the new Continental V8 comes with Bentley’s all wheel drive system featuring a Torsen differential and 40:60 power division.
In order to set the two new models apart from the rest of the range, they will feature a black gloss matrix grille with a chromed frame, a new front bumper, a red Bentley badge and new tailpipes for the exhaust system shaped like the figure “8”. To complete the exterior package, Bentley offers a set of 20-inch alloy wheels as standard, while an impressive Diamond Black or Diamond Silver finished 21-inch wheels are also available as an option.