Click the Bentley Brooklands' 6.75-liter V12 to view in our hi-res image gallery.
Of all the premium brands to go diesel, Bentley seems the most logical. Its vehicles are already the closest things to locomotives and yachts on four wheels, guzzling massive quantities of gasoline by the block. And as Marketing Director Adrian Hallmark pointed out in a recent interview with AutoTelegraaf, Bentley customers demand torquey, low-revving engines. Not to mention that Bentley is under the tutelage of Audi, which has cultivated for itself a pioneering image in modern diesel technology.
Although Hallmark, in a very un-"Hallmark Moment", claims customer demand isn't there yet for a diesel Bentley, reports suggest that Crewe is considering picking the V10 or V12 TDI out of the Volkswagen Group parts bin. However, Hallmark says that neither of these engines could fit into the Continental's engine bay. The Arnage/Azure/Brooklands range could, however, make a suitable starting point for Bentley's shift to burning the midnight oil.
[Source: PistonHeads]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Matt Keller @ Feb 18th 2008 4:31PM
I could also castrate myself, and that's about at likely as Bentley using a Diesel engine. People who buy these things don't care about fuel economy.
If AB posted every little thing like this, the next post here will read: "Honda may be developing space craft for the North Koreans!"
Snark @ Feb 18th 2008 4:42PM
"People who buy these things don't care about fuel economy."
However, the policymakers shaping the European and North American regulatory climate do, and 40% increased fuel economy compared to a comparable gasser will make it easier for VW to make its fleet CAFE requirements and Euro CO2 limits.
Also, the people that buy these things DO care about lots of torque and waftability. The diesel suits itself well to lazy, torquey power - especially the V12 TDI.
DKB_SATX @ Feb 18th 2008 5:20PM
While I'm sure that one of VW's big V TDI engines could satisfy Bentley customers' demands in these cars, the small number of sales aren't doing a whole lot to VW's fleet average. Also, the people buying them aren't likely to blink at a few thousand dollars in gas-guzzler tax added on to the astronomical price, so the reason to do it may be as much for a "diesel halo" for marketing as much as anything else.
Sean Flanagan @ Feb 18th 2008 5:02PM
Well, their tried-and-true twin-turbo V8 already has characteristics of a diesel powerplant, so I really don't see this as much of a change. Then again, I really think it would be a shame to see them replace said V8 with a diesel.
dean @ Feb 18th 2008 5:25PM
I could see Audi's V12 diesel as the obvious choice. Quiet, mountains of torque, even more than the current mill, I believe. And plenty of power (500 ponies). Yeah, the current V8 has torque, but not as much as the diesel, or as much down low. Would be the perfect fit. And it would get more than 10 mpg.
MikeW @ Feb 18th 2008 11:21PM
Actually the gasoline V8 has more torque than the V12.
But the V12 isn't out yet.
530hp, 774ft-lbs for the gasoline engine, and the automatic transmission limits that.
So unless VW takes the guts of the Bugatti's Veyron and reworks it for this, the V12 diesel won't be able to make more torque.
dean @ Feb 19th 2008 2:06AM
Holy smokes MikeW, you are right! I didn't know Bentley had its top car with basically the same stats as the Audi diesel (well, the number you quoted is for one version of the Arnage that slots in above the Arnage T). I thought they only had the mills now in the Arnage R/RL.
Still, diesel still delivers torque at lower RPMs right? If Bentley does use diesel, I think they would tune this V12 for more torque easily, perhaps even increasing the displacement. I didn't know they were working on a gasser V12. If so, they could easily tune that for massive torque (just like MB's AMG 65 units)
Paul P. @ Feb 18th 2008 5:25PM
I wonder what it would be like to drive a Bentley with AWD, 650hp, and 1,000+ ft-lbs tq from idle to redline. Even at 4,500lbs I bet it would throw you back in the seat more than most sports cars.
jgp @ Feb 18th 2008 5:29PM
Ettore Bugatti was right: Bentley really does make the fastest trucks in the world.
John @ Feb 18th 2008 6:05PM
If Bentley did come out with a diesel and it was well received, it could go a long ways to getting everybody else on board the diesel boat in the US. After all, wouldn't you want your ____ to have a diesel like a Bentley?
j_diesel @ Feb 19th 2008 12:51AM
especially if jeeves happened to school some lowly junior country club members in their S600 and 7 series, squinting as the huge TDI badge vapourizes away from them.
i'm not going to pretend i could ever buy one but how cool would it be to have a bentley that not only is as big and powerful as a locomotive but also uses the same fuel. ok, not as powerful and the fuel isn't quite the same but in many parts of the world a bentley would still be the 800 lb gorilla in the parking lot.
DIRETTORE @ Feb 18th 2008 6:16PM
* No joke, I was wondering about this about 20 years ago. Anyone remember when Cadillac was using the Olds oil burner? Well, I looked around & thought if S class Merc & 7 BMW all offer diesel options, why not Bentley? I mean as company cars go, it should have been on the option sheet since the 70's.
This is wayyyy long overdue IMHO.
rgseidl @ Feb 18th 2008 9:41PM
Audi's 4.2L twin-turbo V8 diesel (326hp, 650Nm torque) might fit, but Bentley would almost certainly require a second turbo stage and tweaks to raise the redline by a few hundred RPM. Both would increase rated power, something customers rarely use but still demand for the sake of bragging rights.
The Continental series currently sports a 6.0L W12 gasoline engine delivering 550-600hp and 650-750Nm of torque.
Ethan @ Feb 18th 2008 11:18PM
The Audi V12 TDI puts out a little less power and torque (30hp/25ft-lbf) than the Brooklands V12 and it's 0.75L smaller. Were they to make it Bentley-sized and rework it, I could see it putting out 550hp and 850ft-lbf ... which is 20hp and 75 ft-lbf more than it is now. That's something ultra-luxury buyers would look at.
Korona @ Feb 19th 2008 12:08AM
what we need is a multi-turbo diesel bugatti veyron :)
j_diesel @ Feb 19th 2008 12:55AM
how about twin turbos on either bank. a smaller one that cuts out early and a huge turbo that doesn't spool till 2500-3000 rpm? you could pull the foundation out from a highrise. it would be an awesome showcase of modern diesel power.
adrian @ Feb 19th 2008 6:52PM
As long as it does not sound like a bus when you start, Or drive it, Then I am just about okay with the idea. I hope Bentley don't go that route though.
Oh, and no D on the back of the car, Bentley, Thanks.
ianalminger @ Feb 20th 2008 11:25PM
brooklands and arnage have 6.75 V8s, V8 not V12s!!!!!!!!!!!!!!