Haven't the 1% suffered enough? First they have to endure the constant annoyance of campers clogging up their parks and city halls, and now they're being asked to give up on V12s? For shame. For shame.
Sure, this new (optional) V8 will be cheaper than the V12, lighter, more fuel efficient and, if this clip is to be believed, will sound better, too. But at what cost? Last time we tested a 2012 Bentley Continental GT it ran to 60 in 4.7 seconds and cleared the quarter-mile in 12.9 seconds at 109.8 mph with only 567 horsepower from the 6.0-liter V12. Not bad for a 5,159-pound luxury car.
For the record, Bentley doesn't admit this is the V8 sound, they cryptically say, "Welcome to the new sound of Bentley. Stirring and thunderous, it is the prelude to a potent new Bentley driving experience that begins in 2012." Right. V8. Got it.
ddark13 says:
09:25 AM, 12/ 5/11
if tuned like the V8 in the S8, im sure that itll produce a 0-60 of less than 5 seconds even in this 5000lb+ car. i dont see the need for the W12 in the bentley considering it was never a sports car. maybe its for smoothness?
stoppre75 says:
09:34 AM, 12/ 5/11
Since you said it 3 times, I'm going to have to say something...
Bentley's are equipped with twin-turbocharged 6 Liter W12's....not V's.
panamera4 says:
10:22 AM, 12/ 5/11
+1 stoppre
Huge faux pas Mike...
gsarngad says:
10:52 AM, 12/ 5/11
Last I heard, VW was still building the 6-3/4 V8 for the Mulsanne, and the Brooklands before it, and the old girl makes about the same horsepower and half-again as much torque as the W12 in the Continental.
sharpend says:
03:15 PM, 12/ 5/11
Come on Mikey, you should know better than 'V' 12.
Sheesh. Even little girls know what's under the hood of current Bentleys.
deanoflas says:
06:53 PM, 12/ 5/11
beautifully smooth sounding note....that turbo whine I hear?
deanoflas says:
07:33 AM, 12/ 6/11
something about the harmonics of 8 cylinders under internal combustion.....just something about it