Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Bentley Brooklands
British racing green could take on a whole new meaning if Bentley is able to achieve its goal of reducing CO2 emissions by two-thirds to just 120 grams per kilometer by 2012. Currently, all of its vehicles emit more than 400 g/km, no doubt including the 2009 Bentley Brooklands we drove last week, so the company from Crewe has a long way to go. While we'd expect to see some sort of diesel offering, Bentley remains mum on any real details regarding its future powerplants. We do know, however, that the British manufacturer of ridiculously luxurious transportation is holding out hope for biofuels, which post high well-to-wheel CO2 measurements. When just the tailpipe emissions are taken into consideration, biofuels offer just a little benefit as compared to dino-juice, but when the entire carbon footprint of the fuel is considered, biofuels like ethanol and biodiesel can post significant CO2 improvements.
[Source: Automotive News Europe - sub. req'd]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
James Sonne @ Apr 15th 2008 6:14PM
Actually, the entire pollutant footprint of biofuels made from corn are at least 4 times higher than from petrol. Switchgrass or sugar cane emit marginally more pollutants than petrol. Carbon is one of many concerns, and taken alone accounts for merely one in a thousand parts of the pollutants emitted by modern automotivation. Do not discount the nitrates, which acount for one quarter, that are used heavily as fertilizers. And least we forget the famines caused by using a rarity greater than oil: land. Fewer crops of food from less land space means higher food prices and more starvation, hence the recent riots in so-called third world countries of Middle and Southern America.
Dan @ Apr 15th 2008 7:07PM
Excellent and well-informed post, James.
I still maintain that the only viable and carbon-reducing option is plug-in electric vehicles. Even if all electric cars got their charge from a "dirty" electric grid, our overall carbon footprint could be reduced by by as much as 30% (read on autobloggreen).
I think there are options to increase the efficiency and recyclability of our current cars, while still using gasoline as a car fuel.
The Nissan GTR's twin-turbo engine has incredible volumetric efficiency and as such qualifies as an Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle. HCCI could dramatically increase power yet enable the use of smaller displacement engines. Our car interiors could be made using renewable resources like soy or bamboo. I think all these strategies could be implemented in an exclusive luxury car, without any damage to the marque's signature.
I really wish the next administration sees how environmentally and economically catastrophic the ethanol industry really is and starts putting this country (and hence, others) on the path to clean energy.
goat @ Apr 15th 2008 7:24PM
You are thinking too narrowly. For instance, fertilizers are not used to grow algae, and you can even take existing CO2 emissions and use it to grow algae, which is then used to produce biodiesel.
The people virulently attacking biofuels tend to be those who despise capitalism and/or humanity.
MarcT @ Apr 16th 2008 11:46AM
goat-
Exactly how do you classify an industry that solely relies on govt handouts for its very existence as capitalism?
Enough algae to fuel even a fraction of a percentage of vehicles is still years or decades away. Biofuels now and in the near future consist of feeding food to your car. It is foolish to think that we are anywhere close to getting away from food and arable land being used up to fuel our vehicles if we pursue this bio-fuel route.
etienne @ Apr 15th 2008 6:22PM
Then they should kill all the morons who buy such self-indulgent machines. I admire the beauty of Bentley's and the engineering is awsome yet the people who drive them are not so much.
zmf001 @ Apr 15th 2008 7:48PM
That is a bit extreme. Should we kill all self-indulgent buyers?
I am going to buy a Lotus Elise. Are you going to kill me?
etienne @ Apr 15th 2008 7:54PM
Its a start.LOL!
Yar @ Apr 15th 2008 10:57PM
I think we should just kill all the hippies. Then we don't have to hear them bitching about pollution and global warming anymore...
Ian @ Apr 15th 2008 6:28PM
Well at least they have woken up and owned up to being a part of the world.
Alex B @ Apr 15th 2008 7:10PM
What percentage of C02 emissions comes from Bentleys? Something like 0.00000000000000000000000001% probably, so who cares?
etienne @ Apr 15th 2008 7:58PM
Good point.
Joel @ Apr 16th 2008 2:21AM
You make a good point. I will counter with the fact that Bentley considers itself a world leader and rich people have the money to invest in and parade around in greener technology. If a small boutique maker can do it, then Detroit, Germany and Japan can do it.
MarcT @ Apr 16th 2008 11:53AM
AlexB-
First, Bentley is part of VW, one of the largest auto companies in the world, so they are a big player. They also will have access to all of VW's work in this area.
Second, if every company or individual believed as you do, nothing would ever get done. Do you really believe that you shouldnt eat less cows, switch to CFLs, drive a more efficient car, recycle, etc, etc etc? Should you just wait until someone else does it? Should you not vote? Does one person, one family, one company, one community's actions matter at all?
We should just do whatever the he** we want; our air, water, atmosphere, land, children, future be damned. Is that what you are saying?
zapperdude60 @ Apr 15th 2008 7:17PM
thay could start by putting a more econimical engine in the arnage/azure/brooklands than the current gas guzzler from the 70's
mp @ Apr 16th 2008 5:59AM
Algae, last I checked, is still a lifeform and as such requires nutrients and room to grow. The resulting biomass still needs to processed into a fuel that an ICE can burn. That all requires fertilizer (in some form), land, and energy and is still not as efficient as processing dino-goo. Thus rendering the speculation "The people virulently attacking biofuels tend to be those who despise capitalism and/or humanity."
as absurd at face value..
zmf001 @ Apr 15th 2008 7:51PM
I think this is a great target for Bentley to aim for. Not impossible, but it will be a challenge for them to deliver the same complete package if they have to cut back the power.
Michael D. @ Apr 15th 2008 8:46PM
If innovations and technologies are used to achieve this, I support it much so, but, if it's to downsize, detune, depower, humble, or decontent, to achieve less CO2's, etc., I'll condemn it and be disappointed in Bentley.
Bentley is not about humility, like it's exclusive peers, and it's small percentage where it can't affect any averages so much.
jgp @ Apr 15th 2008 9:32PM
Dammit.
Owning a Bentley is all about being a rich bastard and flaunting your wealth; it's not about being an environmentally-conscious drone.
Owning a Bentley is all about being as self-indulgent as possible; it's not about worrying about your impact on the environment.
Someday, I hope to be enough of a rich bastard to own a Bentley. I want to be self-indulgent and flaunt my wealth. I hope Bentley is still that icon when I can afford one.
Smeagle @ Apr 15th 2008 10:12PM
Something's not right here. Bentley are supposed to be about excess. They are supposed to destroy a rain forest, skin a herd of cattle, and drain an oil field when they make one of these. No use pretending the company cares about the environment because none of their customers do.
God I wish I owned a Bentley...
bakka @ Apr 16th 2008 10:26AM
Cut the weight!!!
Now THAT can't be done!