Bentley’s famous W12 is no more, replaced by a hybrid V8. But… it does kick out 770 horsepower and 1,000Nm as standard! And it has a lower BIK value than a Ford pick-up!
Bentley Motors is a name synonymous with luxury and high-performance vehicles. And their famous 6.0-litre W12 epitomises just that, with plenty of power and a silky smooth delivery. But as the automotive world moves away from traditional internal combustion engines, like all car manufacturers, Bentley has been forced to adopt modern hybrid technologies. That means the much-loved W12 engine, a hallmark of Bentley since 2003, is making way for a ground-breaking new engine: the Ultra Performance Hybrid V8.
We’ll first see the latest engine powering the new Continental GT. But will it live up to the outgoing W12 – an engine that powered 105,000 Bentleys over two decades? The on-paper stats certainly suggest it will. So, let’s take a closer look…
Hear the new Ultra Performance Hybrid V8!
It may be a hybrid, but the new Ultra Performance Hybrid V8 certainly sounds like a V8 should!
The Dawn of a New Powerhouse
Dubbed the most powerful road car to ever sport the Flying B badge, the Ultra Performance Hybrid V8 is not just about maintaining Bentley’s legacy of luxury; it’s about amplifying it. With an anticipated base of a 4.0-litre V8 engine paired with an electric motor and battery, this hybrid combo promises over 1,000Nm of torque with a remarkably flat torque curve, plus 770 horsepower.
Cheaper than a Ford Ranger company car
The electric motor has a claimed all-electric range of 50 miles which suggests Bentley is looking at the future of plug-in hybrid technology. That keeps the Continental GT’s CO2 emissions impressively low at approximately 50g/km. To give that some context, that means it falls in the 8% bracket for company car tax values. Assuming a starting price of around £200k provides a BIK with value of just £16,000. So, a 20% taxpayer would pay just £3,200 a year (£266.66 per month) for one as a company car! By comparison, a £60k Ford Ranger Raptor has a BIK value of £23,000! That means (based on our £200k estimation) a Continental GT would be over £100 per month cheaper than a Raptor pick-up truck! Good luck getting accounts to sign off a £200k car, though!
A Nod to Sustainability
This transition is part of Bentley’s ambitious Beyond 100 strategy, initiated in 2020. The goal? Achieving carbon neutrality and championing sustainability by 2030. While the automotive world gradually shifts towards fully electric vehicles – with Bentley planning an all-EV line-up by 2033 – the introduction of the Ultra Performance Hybrid V8 shows Bentley’s strategic embrace of hybrid technology during this transition.
What This Means for Enthusiasts
For die-hard fans of traditional internal combustion engines, this evolution brings mixed emotions. The discontinuation of the W12 represents the passing of an era; however, it also signals a few more exhilarating years with petrol-powered Bentleys than initially anticipated.
The post Bentley goes hybrid! Introducing the Ultra Performance Hybrid V8! appeared first on Fast Car.
