Bentley W12 Engine Improved to Avoid Replacement
It seems that with the release of the Bentley twin-turbo V8 powerplant, the W12 could be rendered a useless dinosaur. The British automaker however, still has plans to make the W12 more efficient and a viable engine in Bentley’s lineup.
The new 4.0L V8 from Bentley pushes out 500-hp, impressive when compared to the larger, less efficient W12 engine that makes 567-hp. The V8 however has noticeable fuel savings when compared to the W12. Ralf Frech of Bentley recently said that further improvements for the W12 engine are in the works.
Bentley looks to apply the same improvements that they did with their V8 to the W12, increasing power to around 600-hp from 567-hp while enhancing fuel economy. A big help in obtaining more fuel efficiency would be switching out the current six-speed transmission for an eight-speed.
There is also the chance that Bentley could turn their W12 into a hybrid variant, as the luxury carmaker has considered hybrid and plug-in variants for their Mulsanne and upcoming SUV model.
“We are looking at the possibility of a hybrid, particularly a plug-in hybrid, but we are waiting for the next generation of technologies because none of the current solutions work,” Frech said.
Unfortunately, Frech didn’t specify any timeframe for a new and improved W12.
[Source: WhatCar]
Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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