The engineers at Bentley are considering mounting the new variants of Continental GT that are to come out of their production lines in future with the dual-clutch transmission that its sister organization Audi prefer to call S-Tronic. The future Continental GT variants would be powered by a V8 engine.
The underbody shape of the GT does not conform to the S-Tronic transmission system. Re-engineering the cars’ bottom to be able to take on the S-Tronic system rather than the six-speed ZF system is the engineering feat that is being studied by the engineers at Bentley.
Driving the car with the dual clutch system would give a sportier experience which Bentley feels would appeal to the new group of buyers that they are targeting.
As per Alasdair Stewart who is Bentley’s new sales and marketing boss, “The V8 will find a new audience for us. There are sports-car enthusiasts out there, particularly in the U.S., who won’t buy a sports car unless it’s powered by a V8.”
Price of the V8 is expected to be less than £135,000 or $213,000 which is the cost of the W12.
Sales of the car are expected to commence by early 2012 and the sales figures the company wishes to maintain is 5,000 cars a year. Recession has had its effect on car sales for Bentley which they wish to make up with this car.
Bentley is also in the process of making a new car which would be a four door model with high speed. Launch of this car is expected in late 2012 or early 2013. Leg room at the rear seat is a fad amongst the Chinese and this feature would give rise to the design of this new car in the making. 40 percent of the Spur sales are in the Chinese market.
Source: autoweek
