The end of the era of performance and sports cars is nearing, as Bentley's Continental GT will soon be released as a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, letting go of its iconic W12 internal combustion engine. This centers on Europe's rampant adoption of electric cars, which would soon ban the use of ICEs. The mandate will take full effect in 2035, about 11 years from now.
Modern Bentleys have sported the iconic W12 engine that powers its renowned vehicle lineup for many years, but this has been changing for several years.
Bentley's Continental GT is Coming as Plug-In Hybrid
Bentley announced earlier this month that the fourth-generation Continental GT will soon adopt a plug-in hybrid engine. It is the first in Bentley's lineup to use the new Ultra Performance Hybrid powertrain. This hybrid engine could provide as much as 50 miles (80 kilometers) of electric-only range, with the rest of the trip still relying on its conjoined combustion engine, which centers on gasoline.
It is also the first drastic change from Continental's 20-year market success, with the new Continental GT still centered on Bentley's hand-crafted production in Crewe.
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Farewell W12 Engine: Bentley's Electrification
Bentley is bidding farewell to the iconic W12 engine, a legacy of performance GT cars, replacing it with the new V8 engine and electric motor hybrid that features 782 PS and 1,000 Nm. The company claims this engine only has a CO2 figure (WLTP) of under 50g/km.
The Continental GT will sport an active all-wheel drive that also includes torque vectoring, advanced dual-valve dampers, an electronic Limited Slip Differential (LSD), 48V electric active anti-roll control, and four-wheel steering.
Plug-In Hybrid vs. Electric Vehicles
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) are known for sharing batteries, electric motors, and regular combustion engines in one. They were touted as the cleaner version of ICEs but not close to fully electric ones. After the deep dive into creating EVs, several companies have positioned themselves to bring more hybrids with the likes of Ford.
Volkswagen Australia also announced its plans to slow down on its EV adoption and focus on offering more hybrid cards for now.
However, PHEVs are also embroiled in a previous controversy. In a test done in 2022 in Europe, they were found to emit more CO2 than regular combustion engines.
Electric vehicles are still the most ideal among all types of cars in this age, especially with other alternative power sources still in their testing phase, including hydrogen-based engines.
Not all companies are going all-in for the shift, with Bentley doing it at its phase, but it is already a massive development for the Continental GT's PHEV future, coming from its W12 engine legacy.
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