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Bentley to Make Diesel and Plug-in Hybrid Cars; Drops 6.75-Liter V8

by Auto News on August 17, 2012

Bentley is abandoning its iconic 6.75-liter V8 in favor of more fuel-efficient diesel and plug-in hybrid systems, reports Car and Driver magazine.

The diesel engines will be used on a new Bentley SUV as well as on future sedans, departing Bentley CEO Wolfgang Dürheimer told C/D. Although the automaker has not released specific details, it is likely that the new Bentley vehicles will utilize Audi’s new V8 TDI engine. This engine will debut on the new Audi A8 next year, providing 400 horsepower.

Dürheimer is familiar with ultra-luxury diesel cars, as he helped bring the Cayenne Diesel SUV onto the market during his leadership as R&D chief at Porsche.

Bentley will also be creating plug-in hybrid vehicles. This will help the ultra-lux automaker catch up on stricter fuel economy expectations for automakers. Bentley follows other top-tier brands including Ferrari and Bugatti in deciding to go electric.

These changes will leave the current 6.75-liter V8, used on the Mulsanne, in the books of history. Bentley’s range-topper still remains the powerful 12-cylinder engine capable of producing over 620 horsepower.

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