Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Bentley
Bentley rules out W16 and diesel engines
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Bentley engines are some of the biggest, most powerful old-school units on the market, and that's not about to change. This, despite earlier reports that Crewe was considering utilizing diesel engines or even the powerplant from the Bugatti Veyron, which now appear off the table... in the short run at least.
Although Bugatti and Bentley are now united under common leadership, Bugatti is rumored to be working on its own luxury limousine, so shoehorning its engine into the production Arnage could cut down its legs prematurely. As for the diesel, Bentley's position remains that customers aren't ready for oil-burning Bentleys at this point. In the short term, then, Bentley customers will just have to make do with 6.75-liter V8s and 6-liter W12s. Dang.
[Source: Autoweek.nl]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
HotRodzNKustoms 6:36PM (3/25/2008)
That 6.75 liter V8 is just perfect for the Arnage it still can keep up with the best of them.
The W12 is a very impressive motor.
Does anyone remember when the W16 was meant for Bentley and the W18 was meant for Bugatti?
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Farris 6:41PM (3/25/2008)
I don't think it's possible to have a W18. W20 maybe, but not W18.
refugee7 6:47PM (3/25/2008)
Was thinking the same thing but W18 is separated into three cylinder rows, not four.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W18_engine
Mike 7:11PM (3/25/2008)
This is a shame. I can understand not putting the W16 in a Bentley. It's just too extreme. However, VW/Audi's diesel V12 would be absolutely perfect for the Arnage in any market (ok, maybe not the US right now, but eventually), and a V8 or V10 diesel in the Continental would sell in Europe. These changes would ease VW's transition into tighter fuel economy regulations. More importantly, they would help position diesels as an engine worthy of being in a luxury automobile, which could make them more acceptable to the average consumer. This would benefit not only VW group but the entire automotive industry as it tries to increase efficiency.
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Michael D. 7:54PM (3/25/2008)
I posted this in regard to a similar article on another site:
A powerful 500hp 6.0L V12 Diesel would have been very good here, but one never knows.
I do hear that a new V12 gasoline engine is under development for use in premium vehicles in VAG, I believe developed by Lamborghini and could find it’s way into other applications, Including the next-generation full-sized Bentley series. The W16 could be Bugatti-exclusive and either be used in reported Royale-like Sedan (and possible Atlantic-like Coupe), which could share it’s structure with the next full-sized Bentley. The Bugatti could also use a higher-tuned version, possibly turbo-fed V12; just basing this all on other reports from various other sites.
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User 7:59PM (3/25/2008)
I always thought that the 6.75L, low revving Bentley engine was perfect for the Arnage. I don't think a high revving engine would go well on one. The 6.75L has history and is a large selling point for the Arnage for it's unlike other engines on the market.
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Noah 9:56PM (3/25/2008)
The current 6.75 turbo V8 puts out as much HP and TQ as the Audi V12, so the V12 would have to be pumped up to really provide an advantage.
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Dan 12:31PM (3/26/2008)
After a certain power output and number of cylinders is reached, it's hard to understand why you don't have a turbine. Corn cob motors like this are so 1944...
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cunawarit 4:45PM (3/26/2008)
I agree with Bentley, it would be nuts to go the diesel route now! It is only really in Europe where diesels are seen as being acceptable, and even in Europe the only "luxury" cars that get diesels are fleet S-Classes that ferry VIPs around, that's to say glorified taxies.
Given that nothing in the league of Bentley is diesel, it would be a tad risky to try and be the first.
I'd say they are much better off going the hybrid/E85 route. That's far more acceptable the world over, and less likely to tarnish the brand.
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