Bentley to Stop 6.0-Liter W12 Engine, Introduce New V8 Plug-in Hybrid System
TapTechNews May 29th. Bentley Motors has announced that it will soon stop production of its legendary 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged W12 engine and has chosen a powerful replacement - the new V8 plug-in hybrid system, named 'Speed'.
Bentley says the powertrain will integrate existing hybrid technology and become 'the most powerful, responsive and efficient powertrain in Bentley's history'.
The V8 plug-in hybrid system combines a 4.0-liter engine and an electric motor, with a total power of 771 horsepower and 546 pound-feet (738 Nm), and can travel more than 50 miles (about 80 kilometers) in all-electric mode (188 horsepower). The powertrain drives all four wheels through an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, with the rear wheels biased over the front wheels.
The automotive media autocar shared the hands-on experience of the Bentley Continental GTV8 PHEV prototype. The engine can output 591 horsepower (600 metric horsepower) at 6000 rpm alone, so the output of 148 horsepower per liter is quite strong.
The media drove four laps on a wet track, one of which was a cooling lap, so most of the situations remain to be confirmed in the future. But two things are the most obvious: the steering is lighter and more direct, which makes the car feel more energetic and alert directly; the redistributed weight means that the cornering and balance are greatly improved. TapTechNews attaches relevant pictures as follows:
