Bentley outlines new environmental strategy

Posted Tue Mar 4 2008 6:44 AM by Viknesh Vijayenthiran

Carmakers across Europe and the U.S. are being forced to clean up their act because of new legislation being pushed on both sides of the Atlantic mandating a drop in fleet-average carbon emissions and improvements in fuel-economy. Some of the solutions we’ve seen in the past include downsizing engines as well as increasing the number of hybrid models, and now Bentley has come out with its new environmental strategy.

Bentley has a three-stage plan in the works with an aim to reduce emissions of its fleet by 15% by 2012, launch new powertrains that deliver a 40% improvement in fuel economy, and introduce flex-fuel models. The overall target for Bentley is to have its entire model range capable of delivering less than 120 g/km of CO2 by 2012, which is in line with the new legislation being proposed by the European Union.

Efficiency improvements will be achieved first through the application of innovative technology to its 8 and 12 cylinder engines, including enhanced engine management, and new, improved transmissions and drivelines, as well as through weight reduction.

Such a move would make Bentley the first carmaker in the ultra-luxury segment as well as one of the first carmakers in the world to deliver renewable-fuel vehicles throughout its range, along with substantial powertrain improvements.

Gallery: Bentley Continental GT Speed

Reader Comments

Tue Mar 4 2008 6:57 AM
rickybobby says

I like the part about reducing weight because these things are tanks!
Tue Mar 4 2008 8:30 AM
chris says

i'd like to point out that even in europe, there isnt a single brand that is under 120g/km as a fleet,.... and the MOTHER of all luxury and mass thinks they can do it? in FOUR YEARS? HAH.

ford will have a turbo on every engine, and toyota will sell nothing but flex fuel hybrids and pure electric cars before BENTLEY manages to even SCRATCH 120g/km....

the friggen PRIUS is barely lower than 120.

....maybe the engineers at bentley have actually done it.... maybe.... theyve found the key to..... COLD FUSION!!! OMFG... ITS HAPPENING EVERYONE!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.. FREE POOWWWWEEEEERRRRRR FORRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEVVVVVVVVVERRRRRRRRRRRRRRR....
Tue Mar 4 2008 12:10 PM
cj says

As if, 2012 is less than 4 years away. My dad has a Continetal GT and that does like 12 overall, 19 on the motorway and less than 10 is you wanna put your foot down. Pretty sure the Arnage hammers that! They will need hydrogen fuel and even then Bentleys will put out CO2 somehow!!!

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