[Auto] Bentley 'Edition 8' Limited Editions Celebrate End of a V-8 Era

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You can't be too mad at change for too long, right? And you really can't be mad at Bentley for doing its best to keep quirky high-cylinder count engines alive with its W-12 and V-8 vehicles over the last few decades. Bentley claims it's moved more than 53,000 examples of its hand-built V-8 engines across various models since the latest engine generation was introduced in 2012.

 

Confusingly here, Bentley is indeed keeping a version of the V-8 alive with its newly-announced range-topping hybrid V-8 powertrain (with many details still to come). That setup now replaces the W-12 powertrain in the range in the future, and is the most powerful powertrain that the automaker's ever developed, with around 740 horsepower as standard. The news is that the Continental GT, GTC and Flying Spur models will be losing the non-hybrid, twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 soon, for now at least, so these Edition 8 versions will be some of the last. It's not clear if or when Bentley plans to introduce the hybrid V-8 setup to those ranges.

 

 

Bentley also clarified the current 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 setup being celebrated as on-the-way-out here will indeed live on for some time in the Bentayga SUV trim range, at least until further notice. The automaker also already offers hybrid, turbocharged V-6 powertrains in some models (Bentayga and Flying Spur), which it now reports there is overwhelming demand for.

 

So what makes one of these new "Edition 8" Continental GT, GTC and Flying Spur models special? Well, 542 horsepower and 568 lb-ft of torque from the V-8, good for a 198 mph top speed on some models. The rest of the kit digs through the existing Mulliner Personal Commissioning catalog of stuff, including: Blackline specification exterior trim, a choice of more than 60 colors in Mulliner’s Extended Paint selection, self-leveling wheel badges on 22-inch wheels of either 5- or 10-spoke design choices, the company's so-called "jewel" filler cap, Edition 8 badging on the fenders (or D-pillar on the Flying Spur), and Comfort Specification seating front and rear with available Palm Fluting and contrast stitching, with an Edition 8 motif on the seatbacks and treadplates.

 

The Edition 8 models are exclusive to North America for some undisclosed time, with deliveries said to be imminent. Pricing was not announced and the consumer site has yet to be updated with the option, but if you have to ask ...

 

https://www.motortrend.com/news/bentley-edition-8-first-look-review/