Bentley partnering with Audi on new 4.0 liter V8 engine

2011 Bentley Continental GT

New direct-injection 4.0 liter V8 engine will make its debut in the Bentley Continental GT late next year

Sibling brands Audi and Bentley are together developing a new direct-injection 4.0 liter V8 engine to be used in the Continental GT and future Audi performance models.

Bentley is in need of an engine to improve fuel-economy and emissions in the Continental GT, which currently features a 6.0 liter W12 engine. Bentley says the new 4.0 liter direct-injection V8 will cut CO2 emission on the Continental GT model by a substantial 40 percent. The engine will debut in that Bentley model near the end 2011.

"We are adapting it for our purposes so that it delivers Bentley driving characteristics," said Brian Gush, Bentley's head of chassis and powertrain development, to Whatcar. That means lots of low to mid-range torque for the luxury carmaker.

Specifics on the engine and its output were not provided. Gush wouldn't even confirm if the new power plant would be turbocharged or not but judging by Bentley's need for torque, and the VW Group's use of turbos, its hard to imagine it not being so.

Source: Whatcar

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Francois

Maybe it's reasonable. Hope it won't affect the smoothness of engine work and sound.

October 8, 2010 7:19 am

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vilivo

This makes it sound so profound - but isnt it a case of both brands being VW, and therefore in a situation of ALREADY cross-using everything from windscreens all the way down to chassis with just about every other VW group brand ANYWAYS? This really is earth-shattering news...

October 8, 2010 9:16 am

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Swifty

if they need low end torque and mid-range effortless push than why they are not consider a use of V12 TDI in??? it has less CO2 emissions than that 4.0 V8 in future and more power to not even speak about torque! it would be great engine for that 4WD big and heavy Bentley...and performance wise it would be under 5s to 62mph...like Audi Q7 in VAG concern, it's even heavier and SUv with worser drag coefficient and it goes like a rocket! and because of 6L displacement and V12 configuration setup it will have the smoothness and soundproofness of a 6.0 W12 as well! Did I mention a fuel consumption??? No, it's not important for Bentley buyers, but less used fuel is more enviromental and also when the buyer see how many kilometers they can get from a single tank they would be staggered by benefits of a turbodiesel :D

October 8, 2010 9:35 am

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odysseus

In fact there is not enough space to put a V12 into the Continental This is the reason why Bentley uses the shorter W12 like VW in the phaeton, which uses the same chassis. And think about that the Bentley becomes lighter with a V8. That means, that you have better weight/performance ratio compared to a bigger and a much heavier V12 diesel.

October 8, 2010 4:02 pm

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Wunderkind

Diesel-engined Bentleys do not sell as current owners and prospective buyers do not like the idea of a diesel-engined Bentley. There is just no demand for it, especially in new important markets such as China and Russia. The 4.0L V8 engine is aimed at markets such as China where there are tax advantages for cars with engine capacity under 4.0L. It will also produce less emissions than a 6.0L diesel, another important consideration. I think the Bentley twin-turbo 4.0L engine will produce around 115-120bhp per litre. So the output will be around 460-480bhp with most of the torque available from 1,300-1,500rpm. The V8 engine weighs less than the W12 engine.

October 8, 2010 9:55 pm

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