Bentley is bidding farewell to its 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine in the Continental and Flying Spur models, while the Bentayga will continue with this powertrain for now. Production of the final V8 cars in Europe, the UK, and the Middle East is set to be completed soon, with final deliveries in June. North America will follow suit later.
However, Bentley is not abandoning the V8 entirely. The company announced that an “all-new” V8 plug-in hybrid powertrain is on the horizon and will serve as the flagship offering, replacing the W12. This new powertrain is expected to produce 740 horsepower and offer an all-electric range of 50 miles on the WLTP drive cycle, although the EPA testing may yield fewer miles of range. Bentley promises to reveal more information about this hybrid powertrain in due course.
Looking towards the future, Bentley plans to offer hybrid variants across all its model lines by 2024. Currently, the only model without a hybrid option is the Continental, but an announcement regarding a hybrid variant for this model is expected soon.
To commemorate the end of the current V8 era, Bentley has released “Edition 8” versions of its Flying Spur, Continental GT, and Continental GTC exclusively for the North American market. These special editions come with various Mulliner options as standard equipment and feature Edition 8 badges on their fenders or D pillars. The interior of the Edition 8 boasts luxurious seats with a never-before-seen Palm Fluting pattern, embroidered seat backs, and engraved treadplates. Deliveries of the Edition 8 will begin shortly, providing fans of Bentley’s current V8 engine with a limited opportunity to own a special edition vehicle.
In conclusion, while Bentley bids adieu to its 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine in certain models, it is not abandoning the V8 entirely. Instead, the company is introducing an “all-new” V8 plug-in hybrid powertrain that will serve as its flagship offering. Bentley also plans to expand its hybrid offerings across all model lines by 2024. To mark the end of the current V8 era, Bentley is releasing limited Edition 8 versions of select models with exclusive design features and luxurious touches. This transition represents Bentley’s ongoing commitment to innovation and sustainability in the luxury automotive industry.
