BENTLEY CONTINE GT V8

BEFORE NOW, THE smallest, cheapest, least powerful Bentley you could buy was the R2.995m Continental GTC. It boasted — and continues to boast-abi-turboW12 with 42gkW and 7ooNm. Clearly, there was a little room for downwards expansion. And this it. Yes, it does look much like the regular Continental, but behind that egg-crate grille lies aV8 sourced from the VW mothership. The new 4.0 litre is 5okW less powerful, 39Nm less torquey, 0.2sec slower to iookph and 18kph slower up top than the W12. Yet 373,kW, 660Nm, 4.8sec and 303kph should still suffice.

The new Bentley V8 is also 25kg lighter than the W12-though it still weighs 229 5kg - and, at 10.5L/100Km, 4o% more economical. Equipped with cylinder deactivation, a low-friction valvetrain and bearings, the latest electronic mapping, direct-injection, two twin-scroll blowers and more, the eight- ender is now the undisputed state-of-the-art Bentley powerplant. But it’s worth noting that 16% out of the 40% increase in overall efficiency is due to non-engine-related items like the eight-speed auto- which won’t vet Dair with the W12-variable-rate power steering and low rolling resistance tyres. The price reduction for this loss of four cylinders and 2005cc? Riogk. Riggkl? One gets that discount on a W12 without even trying. Specced identically, there is almost nothing in it anymore. However, in essence the V8 does everything right and actually exceeds our expectations. Although the British V8 is a chip off the same block Audi installs in the S8, it sounds so much better in the Bentley, and stimulates everything from the ear lobes to the small of your back. Idle speed is a dense hum, like the fusion of house music and Wagner. Part-throttle triggers mild thunder, a rhythmic coastal storm synchronised by staggered breakers. Full grunt is the total orchestral eclipse, a howling roar that explodes in one super-fast upshift after the other.I turn onto a series of back roads to challenge the Bentley’s chassis, but its noble portliness does not matter that much.

     Full acceleration is an amazing time-warp exercise, hard deceleration is no problem thanks to the biggest disc and caliper combination this side of a Veyron, and inspired cornering is put into perspective by my passenger who keeps reaching for the grab handle. Locking the ’box in fourth dishes up a tasty all-you-can-eat torque menu, serving 660Nm from 1700 to 5000rpm. Alternatively, you can work the shift paddles to keep the engine revving between 4000 and 63000rpm where the power and torque curves approach, inter- sect and then run almost parallel to the limiter. The new V8 makes its bigger, heavier and thirstier brother obsolete, at least until the twelve—cylinder reappears in upgraded direct- injection form. That’s the good news. The bad news is the real-life fuel consumption of the 4.0-litre V8. With cruise control pegged on 128kph, the official consumption figure of 10.5L/100km may be achievable. But after charging dovvn entertaining, traffic—free roads, the on-board cmnputer displayed a notably less frugal average consumption of 18.2L/100Km. It’s a fine effort, this V8, but we’d hold fire for the refreshed W12.

BENTLEY CONTINE GT V8
can v8 substitute for bentley's W12?Yes but no,says Georg Kacher
Prica : R2.8
Engine : 3993cc 32v twin-turbo v8,373kw@6000rpm,660Nm@1700-5000rpm
Transsmision : Eight-speed automatic, four-wheel drive
Performance : 4.8sec 0-100k[h,303kph,10,5L/100km
Weight : 2295kg
On sale :  This month in SA