http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/04/geneva-2008-bentleys-future-involves-drawing-straw/ Autoblog Comments for http://www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/04/geneva-2008-bentleys-future-involves-drawing-straw/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/04/geneva-2008-bentleys-future-involves-drawing-straw/
Ahem *cough* manual transmissions *cough*. I ain't talkin' bout no three on the tree. I'm talking about like 4 on the floor, lol. Just kidding, but honestly, manual and let's face it, the only automatic transmission that can hold a candle to a proper manual is a CVT.]]>Mar 4th 2008 5:22PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/04/geneva-2008-bentleys-future-involves-drawing-straw/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/04/geneva-2008-bentleys-future-involves-drawing-straw/Mar 4th 2008 5:42PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/04/geneva-2008-bentleys-future-involves-drawing-straw/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/04/geneva-2008-bentleys-future-involves-drawing-straw/
Applying technologies for efficiency and emission control is all well and good, and I'm all for it (direct Injection, auto stop-start, transmission innovations, etc.), but would this mean Bentley humbling or selling out? I certainly hope not! If lighter weight comes from more aluminum construction (i.e., Audi A8 or Jaguar XJ) and perhaps applications of Carbon-fiber and Magnesium, that's very good, but not the expense of downsizing or shrinking the beautiful stately Bentley machines. Also, like I said, I support the added innovations and technologies, but not reductions in engine displacement and power and/or lesser cylinders. Bentley, like other upper-eschelon marques, is NOT about humility.

I do agree with GM's car-czar "Maximum" Bob Lutz on this:

"If you want less C02 emissions, breath less times per minute"
"Global warming is a crock of #@*&%"

I certainly hope that future Bentley's aren't going to be compromised as a result.]]>Mar 4th 2008 5:32PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/04/geneva-2008-bentleys-future-involves-drawing-straw/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/04/geneva-2008-bentleys-future-involves-drawing-straw/
Roughly the same can be said for wet-clutch DSGs. In the real world, a DSG car tends to get slightly lower fuel economy than a manual, though EPA tests have said slightly the opposite. Both CVTs and DSGs have smoother shifting than either traditional automatics or manuals, so it's a reasonable compromise. I haven't seen if newer dry-clutch DSGs actually outperform in terms of fuel economy in the real world yet.

I believe it's generally still the case that a manual is still better than a DSG, which is better than a CVT, which is better than a slushbox auto.]]>Mar 5th 2008 4:11PMhttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/04/geneva-2008-bentleys-future-involves-drawing-straw/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/04/geneva-2008-bentleys-future-involves-drawing-straw/
They're basically talking about going from 10 mpg to 14 mpg, and then running on some sort of biofuel.]]>Mar 4th 2008 6:03PM