Bentley has developed a new V8 engine, which is capable of running as a V4 when appropriate in order to reduce fuel consumption.
The new V8 engine for the Bentley Continental GT and GTC has been co-developed by the company in conjunction with Audi. Bentley's Chief Engineer Dr Rolf Frech says that despite this the new engine still has the distinctive Bentley characteristic of high torque across a wide rev range, thanks to a range of modifications. These modifications mean that the Bentley version delivers less power than the Audi equivalent, but has greater torque from low speed - 488lb-ft from 1,700rpm to 6,000rpm to be precise.
Frech explains that this means the new V8 Continental has a different character compared to the existing version powered by a W12 engine. "It's more sporty than the W12," he says, "with a different sound." The gearshifts are also quicker in the new V8, thanks to the 8-speed ZF automatic gearbox.
The new engine is a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 that is capable of delivering 500bhp. It also features something that Bentley calls 'cylinder de-activation', which means that when the car is cruising on light throttle it can switch from operating as a V8 to operating as a V4 to save fuel. The maximum speed is 188mph, with acceleration from 0-62mph in 4.6 seconds.
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