500bhp, twin-turbo Betley Continental GT V8 makes its debut at 2012 NAIAS

While it doesn't have the W12 model's 631 horsepower, the new twin-turbo, 500bhp, V8-engined Continental GT / GTC might still be just about acceptable for some. Maybe

Bentley have unveiled the new Continental GT (coupe) and GTC (convertible) V8 models at the currently ongoing North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. Fitted with a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, the new Bentley cars come with a new, close-ratio eight-speed automatic gearbox, 20-inch wheels (21-inch hoops are optional…) and all-wheel-drive.

With 500 horsepower and 660Nm of torque from the twin-turbo V8, the Continental GT can accelerate from zero to 100km/h in 4.6 seconds and hit a top speed of 303km/h. And yet, the car is surprisingly fuel-efficient, with the ability to travel up to 800km on a single tank of fuel. The new V8 features variable displacement, operating in four-cylinder mode under light throttle load. The shift from V8 to V4 and back is, according to Bentley, seamless and imperceptible.

‘With the new 4.0-litre V8 engine we are widening the appeal of the latest generation of Continentals, introducing a completely new driving experience. The new engine will have all the exhilarating power, drama and performance you would expect from a V8 engine sporting the famous Bentley wings, effortlessly delivered with our characteristic wave of torque. This is complemented by innovative powertrain technology that delivers exceptional fuel efficiency and emissions,’ says Wolfgang Dürheimer, Chairman and CEO, Bentley Motors. And, indeed, priced at a mere 136,000-150,000 euros, the Bentley Continental V8 GT and GTC models have now been made even more affordable than ever before.

Of course, despite what Mr Dürheimer says, Bentely entirely understand that a 500bhp V8 may be deemed inadequate by some of their more discerning customers. And for such gentlemen of impeccable taste, the company also has twin-turbo 6.0-litre W12-engined Continental GT and GTC models, which boast a rather more acceptable 631 horsepower. Bentley have, since 2003, sold more than 50,000 units of these W12-engined Continental models worldwide, proving that 600+ horsepower is what most people really want in their cars.