Bentley Continental GT - Pieces of Eight

Trying to take the engine out of a Bentley Continental GT is a tricky job, because 12 cylinders leave just millimeters of clearance. Not that an owner would worry about such a thing, but there’s a new Continental in town and it only has eight cylinders. Bentley has gone down the turbo road to get more out of less, bringing two blowers to a 4.0-liter V8 to produce 500 hp and 487 lb-ft of torque. This compares well with the twin-turbo W12’s 552 hp and 479 lb-ft. Connected to an eight-speed auto transmission, a V8 Conti could see off the zero-to-60 mph in under five seconds, much like its bigger cousin. The difference in top speed is academic: 180 mph for the V8, 197.6 for the W12. The new unit can also shut off half its cylinders under light loads. Bentley claims a 40-percent improvement in fuel efficiency and emissions. Although both the coupe and GTC convertible will be offered with the new V8, the old W12 versions will still be available.