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Contemporary, Sporting Design Character
The new Continental V8 models have all the sculpted, muscular elegance of their
W12 stablemates, with their distinctive wide rear track, super formed aluminum
wings, powerful haunches and low, poised stance. But a number of key differences
distinguish these branches of the Continental family.
One of the most significant differences is also one of the smallest. When it
appears on the Mulsanne and the 6.0 W12 Continental models the winged 'B' emblem
above the radiator grille has a black enamel background.
On the Continental V8, the enamel is red. It's a distinction that dates right
back to the 1920s, where the 'red label' badge appeared upon the company's
smaller cars, such as the short-chassis 3 Litre, while black badges were usually
reserved for larger-engined models.
Other external distinguishing features are more striking. The radiator grille of
the V8 models features gloss black mesh, bordered by a fine chrome surround, in
place of the W12 Continental GT's brightwork.
Underneath the grille the lower bumper also features black mesh and is divided
by strakes into three distinct segments. The effect, both literally and
figuratively, is a Bentley with a darker side to its character; potent, muscular
and challenging.
At the rear two eye-catching 'figure eight' exhaust pipes, one each side of a
dark lower rear valance, tell those in the know that this Bentley is powered by
the advanced, exhilarating and efficient new 4.0 liter V8.
Both the coupe and convertible will be launched with 20-inch wheels as standard
and customers will also be able to select from two 21-inch wheel designs
especially created for the Continental V8 models. Both these options feature a
six-spoke alloy with a strong, sporting theme and are finished in either Diamond
Black (exclusive to the Continental V8) or Diamond Silver. Each Bentley 'B'
emblem featured on the wheel center caps is also finished in red.
Interior Design
The cockpit of the two Continental V8 models has a correspondingly sporty
ambience, featuring a new veneer, Dark Fiddleback Eucalyptus, for the fascia and
trim. Both the coupe and convertible feature a technical finish Eliade cloth
headlining, rather than the leather that is standard in their W12-engined
counterparts.
Unlike the full through-console of the W12, the center console simply separates
driver and front passenger seats, underscoring the sporting, lean and
weight-conscious ethos of the V8 models.
Both the coupe and convertible will be offered with a choice of four single-tone
interior hide colors, seven exterior finishes and (in the case of the GTC) three
hood colors.
However, owners wishing to access the full palette of 17 exterior finishes, 17
hide colors, up to seven interior duotone color 'splits' and eight hood colors
available on the Continental W12, can take this option. This also brings access
to the full Bentley range of veneers and a new sporty duotone seat design.
Other optional packages include the Driving Specification, Mulliner Styling
Specification, Touring Specification and Convenience Specification. Many,
however, will prefer the sporting, focused simplicity of the single-color
interior with its contemporary, clean Fiddleback Eucalyptus trim and Eliade
cloth headlining.
V8 Engine
The red winged 'B' and black gloss grille provide a strong indicator that a
different Bentley powerplant nestles in the engine bay of the Continental GT V8
and its convertible stablemate.
Settle into the supportive cobra-style seats, press the start button, and all is
revealed. The new 4.0 liter Bentley engine comes to life with an unmistakable V8
burble: deep, sporty and ready for action.
To achieve the 40 per cent efficiency improvement targeted by Bentley's Board of
Directors back in 2008, Bentley's engineering team left no detail unexamined.
The reduction in displacement from 6.0 liter W12 to 4.0 liter V8 was the first
starting point - but a smaller capacity engine in itself would not have
delivered anything close to the ambitious power and emissions targets.
Variable displacement - deactivating cylinders when at a gentle cruising speed
or light throttle - was already an area of Bentley expertise. The Bentley
Mulsanne's 6.75 liter V8, though similar in format to the original Bentley V8 of
1959, features variable displacement as part of its technologically-advanced
specification.
Similar technology now features on the Bentley 4.0 V8: when the engine's control
microprocessor detects a light throttle opening as the driver maintains a steady
cruising speed or gentle acceleration or deceleration it closes the valves in
four of the eight cylinders so that they simply act as air springs.
This has two immediate benefits; the remaining four cylinders operate at a
higher level of efficiency, and the engine's frictional and gas transfer losses
are reduced. As soon as the driver presses the throttle harder the engine
instantly switches back to full eight-cylinder operation.
Another key component of the innovative V8 powertrain is the new close-ratio
8-speed automatic transmission. Not only does it deliver faster, smoother
gearshifts, it also accounts for 6 per cent of the total 40 per cent efficiency
gain achieved by the new V8. Having a greater number of ratios ensures that the
engine is always working at its most efficient gearing, while drag torque losses
have been minimized within the transmission.
Bentley Continental GTC V8: Photo Gallery, Review (1/2) and Specifications