The term "green" (environmental, not the colour) and "luxury sports car" are not usually used in the same breath, but Crewe based luxury car maker Bentley has been doing just that for some time. A new V8 powered take on its all-wheel drive Continental GT will be unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show in January - but aside from eye popping power, it's also doing its bit for the environment.
But first the power. Under the bonnet you'll find a 4 litre, twin turbo charged engine that delivers 500bhp at 6,000rpm, together with 487 pounds of torque between 1,700 and 5000rpm. The new powertrain enables the GT to accelerate from 0 to 60 in under five seconds - up to a top speed of 180mph. The famous Benley 'wave of torque' appears to be here in full effect.
So how is it green? While Bentley has not yet released economy data for the new V8, we do know that it can travel for 500 miles on a single, full tank of petrol and that it meets the target of improving economy and CO2 emissions by 40% - an ambition laid out as Bentley was creating the new powertrain. In part, this improvement has been made possible by the fact that the car mainly operates on just four of its eight cylinders with more gentle throttle openings. Fortunately, the new V8's greener credentials have not affected performance and anyone lucky enough to afford one can rest assured they won't be calling up their vehicle recovery service on a regular basis.
If you want a sneak peek yourself, and you can afford an air ticket to the USA this January, the V8 Bentley Continental will be at the Detroit Motor Show from January 9th to 22nd.
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