Bentley Motors Asia Pacific has announced the retirement of its current-generation 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine from the Continental GT, Continental GTC, and Flying Spur model lines. This move affects regions including the UK, Europe, MEA, Southeast Asia, Taiwan, and Australasia. Although this engine will continue to be used in the Bentayga family, its phase-out in the Continental and Flying Spur models aligns with Bentley’s Beyond100 strategy, which aims for all model lines to offer a hybrid variant by 2024. This strategic shift has already begun with the introduction of hybrid models for the Bentayga and Flying Spur, which have exceeded demand expectations.
The V8 engine has been a significant part of Bentley’s legacy, first appearing in the S2 model in 1959 with an output of 180bhp. The current-generation V8, introduced in 2012, has significantly evolved, producing three times the power of its predecessor with two-thirds of the engine capacity. More than 53,000 V8-powered Continental GT, GTC, and Flying Spur models have been hand-crafted at Bentley’s Dream Factory in Crewe, England, since its introduction.
The final V8-engined models for the Continental GT, GTC, and Flying Spur are now available in Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam, with production concluding soon and final deliveries scheduled for June. Some remaining units are still available through retailer stocks and transport pipelines.
The modern V8 Bentleys are known for their robust power and torque, coupled with a distinctive engine sound, extended range between fuel stops, and reduced CO2 emissions compared to the W12 engine. The V8 engine design ensures high torque and efficiency, producing 550PS and 770Nm of torque at 2,000 rpm, maintaining this as a flat plateau up to 4,500 rpm. The engine, with an 86mm cylinder bore and stroke length, achieves an optimal balance between power and torque, enhanced by twin-scroll turbochargers delivering over 135bhp per litre.
In June, Bentley will unveil the new, fourth-generation Continental GT, which will be the first model featuring Bentley’s new Ultra Performance Hybrid powertrain. This new model promises 782PS and 1000Nm of torque, an electric-only range of 80 km, and a CO2 figure (WLTP) of under 50 g/km. This hybrid Continental GT will be the most powerful and dynamically capable Bentley road car in the company’s 105-year history and will also be the most sustainable, retaining the handcrafted luxury and exceptional materials Bentley is known for.
The latest Continental GT will feature advanced chassis technology, including active all-wheel drive with torque vectoring, four-wheel steering, an electronic Limited Slip Differential, 48V electric active anti-roll control, and new, advanced dual-valve dampers. Along with a new design and a suite of advanced technologies, this new generation Continental GT aims to set a new benchmark in modern luxury performance vehicles.