Autoblog Green http://green.autoblog.com Autoblog Green http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog Green http://green.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Chris Shunk, Sam Abuelsamid and Dan RothThe podcast by the people who obsessively cover the auto industry.<![CDATA[REPORT: Bentley considers going hybrid, rules out hydrogen]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/07/report-bentley-considers-going-hybrid-rules-out-hydrogen/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/07/report-bentley-considers-going-hybrid-rules-out-hydrogen/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/07/report-bentley-considers-going-hybrid-rules-out-hydrogen/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Bentley Continental Supersports - Click above for high-res image gallery

Bentley is on a mission to lower fuel consumption and carbon emissions. According to Auto Express, once the firm's Continental Supersports hits the market (and, we may add, after it actually becomes flex-fuel capable), the next step in the green train may very well be hybrids.

To reach that conclusion, AE uses the process of elimination. Here's the reasoning: diesels don't historically sell well here in the United States, Bentley's largest market, so an oil-burner is out. Bentley has reportedly already ruled out hydrogen fuel cells, which aren't expected to make any sort of dent in the marketplace at all until about 2015. That leaves biofuels and hybrids, which the automaker is already rumored to be testing.

If there's any truth to the report, its possible that the next Continental for the 2011 model year will feature a flex-fuel hybrid powertrain and a relatively lightweight aluminum body to reduce carbon emissions from today's 396 g/km to less than 225 g/km. Not amazing or anything, but certainly moving in the right direction.



[Source: Auto Express]

REPORT: Bentley considers going hybrid, rules out hydrogen originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 08:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 bentley continental2011BentleyContinentalbentleybentley continentalbentley continental hybridbentley hybridBentleyContinentalBentleyContinentalHybridBentleyHybridcontinentalcontinental hybridContinentalHybridWed, 07 Oct 2009 08:54:00 EST<![CDATA[REPORT: Bentley to delay flex-fuel capability for 2010 Continental Supersports]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/06/report-bentley-to-delay-flex-fuel-capability-for-2010-continent/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/06/report-bentley-to-delay-flex-fuel-capability-for-2010-continent/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/06/report-bentley-to-delay-flex-fuel-capability-for-2010-continent/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Bentley Continental Supersports - Click above for high-res image gallery

While the environmental merits of any 621 horsepower, twelve-cylinder behemoth that's capable of traveling at speeds of up to 204 miles per hour are, at the very least, debatable, Bentley hasn't exactly been shy about touting the green angle of its upcoming 2010 Continental Supersports.

Add one more black mark to the car's eco credibility now that word comes from Green Car Advisor that U.S. laws and "engineering challenges" - including the fitment of hardened valve seats in Bentley's W12 engine - mean that the first 200 Supersports imported to the United States won't actually be flex-fuel capable.

Ah well, somehow we doubt that buyers willing to plonk down the $267,000 it takes to park a twin-turbocharged Continental Supersports in their driveway will be all that concerned with pumping ethanol in the tank.



[Source: Green Car Advisor]

REPORT: Bentley to delay flex-fuel capability for 2010 Continental Supersports originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bentleybentley continentalbentley continental supersportsBentleyContinentalBentleyContinentalSupersportscontinentalcontinental supersportsContinentalSupersportsethanolethanol bentleyEthanolBentleyflex-fuelflex-fuel bentleyFlex-fuelBentleyTue, 06 Oct 2009 14:03:00 EST<![CDATA[REPORT: New Grand Bentley will feature cylinder deactivation]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/07/27/report-new-grand-bentley-will-feature-cylinder-deactivation/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/07/27/report-new-grand-bentley-will-feature-cylinder-deactivation/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/07/27/report-new-grand-bentley-will-feature-cylinder-deactivation/#commentsFiled under: ,


The New Grand Bentley - Click above to enlarge

The new Grand Bentley replacement for the Arnage will be making its world-wide debut in just a few weeks at the Pebble Beach Concours. Like every other upcoming model from the classic British luxury brand, it will be adopting technology to help reduce fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. Automotive News is reporting that the Grand Bentley will be the first model from the brand to use cylinder deactivation to reduce the number of active cylinders under light load conditions. Currently, this fuel-saving concept is used in production vehicles by a number automakers - including General Motors, Chrysler, Daimler, and Honda. It is unknown if the new car will also have flex-fuel capability like the Continental SuperSports that debuted at Geneva.


[Source: Automotive News (subs req'd)]

REPORT: New Grand Bentley will feature cylinder deactivation originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 10:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bentleybentley arnageBentleyArnagecylinder cut-offcylinder deactivationCylinderCut-offCylinderDeactivationgrand bentleygrand bentley teaserGrandBentleyGrandBentleyTeaserMon, 27 Jul 2009 10:09:00 EST<![CDATA[Derek Bell runs the Bentley Continental Supersports at Goodwood [w/VIDEO]]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/07/15/derek-bell-runs-the-bentley-continental-supersports-at-goodwood/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/07/15/derek-bell-runs-the-bentley-continental-supersports-at-goodwood/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/07/15/derek-bell-runs-the-bentley-continental-supersports-at-goodwood/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Bentley Continental Supersports - click above for a high res image gallery

At the Geneva Motor Show in March, Bentley unveiled its fastest most powerful road car in its 90 year history in the form of the Continental Supersports. Besides significantly reducing the weight of the existing Continental GT, the Supersports marked the first step of Bentley's move reduce its CO2 emissions, in this case through the use of ethanol as a fuel. The Supersports is the first flex-fuel vehicle from the British luxury marque. At the recent Goodwood Festival of Speed, Bentley brought out a prototype and let multiple Le Mans winning driver Derek Bell spend the weekend ferrying lucky passengers up the hillclimb course at elevated speeds. Bentley has provided a gallery of photos and video that you can check out after the jump. Did we mention these passengers were lucky?

Gallery: Goodwood 2009: Bentley Continental Supersports


[Source: Bentley]

Continue reading Derek Bell runs the Bentley Continental Supersports at Goodwood [w/VIDEO]

Derek Bell runs the Bentley Continental Supersports at Goodwood [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bentleybentley continentalbentley continental supersportsBentleyContinentalBentleyContinentalSupersportsderek bellDerekBellgoodwoodgoodwood festival of speedgoodwood festival of...GoodwoodFestivalOf...GoodwoodFestivalOfSpeedWed, 15 Jul 2009 15:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Spy Shots: Is Bentley testing a hybrid Continental GT?]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/06/07/spy-shots-is-bentley-testing-a-hybrid-continental-gt/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/06/07/spy-shots-is-bentley-testing-a-hybrid-continental-gt/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/06/07/spy-shots-is-bentley-testing-a-hybrid-continental-gt/#commentsFiled under: ,

Bentley CEO Franz-Josef Paefgen has repeatedly said in the past that the British luxury marque will introduce lower CO2-emitting powertrains over the next several years, starting with the flex-fuel W12 in the Continental Supersports this fall. As part of the Volkswagen Group, Bentley is likely to follow some of the same powertrain paths as the rest of the group (i.e., diesel). However, it's likely that hybrids will be part of the picture as well.

Speaking of pictures, some new spy photos have turned up of a Continental GT running somewhere in southern Europe. The new shots may indicate that Bentley is already working on a hybrid Continental. Lots of unusual gear is visible through the back window and the photographer claims the car was running very quietly, a signal that may point to a hybrid running in EV mode.

If the Bentley is a hybrid, it's probably using the same system developed by VW, Audi and Porsche that will be appearing in the Touareg, Q5, Cayenne and Panamera in the next couple of years. Thanks to Andrus for the tip!

[Source: FastestCar.com]

Spy Shots: Is Bentley testing a hybrid Continental GT? originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sun, 07 Jun 2009 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bentleybentley continentalbentley continental gtbentley continental hybridBentleyContinentalBentleyContinentalGtBentleyContinentalHybridspy shotspy shotsSpyShotSpyShotsSun, 07 Jun 2009 11:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Bentley guarantees Continental is 85% recyclable]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/05/14/bentley-guarantees-continental-is-85-recyclable/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/05/14/bentley-guarantees-continental-is-85-recyclable/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/05/14/bentley-guarantees-continental-is-85-recyclable/#commentsFiled under: ,


Bentley Recycling Certificate - Click above to enlarge

Good news for all the Bentley Continental owners who plan to recycle their uber expensive and luxurious automobiles after they have outlived their usefulness: Bentley now guarantees that the Continental line is 85% recyclable and 95% recoverable. In recognition of this fact, the premium automaker has been awarded an official certificate from the German Motor Transport Authority. According to Dr. Arno Homburg, head of Whole Vehicle Development at Bentley Motors:
"Our environment policy is based on sustainable principles and we take a holistic view of the whole process. At the design stage we consider the environmental impact of all components over the entire life of the car. This is despite the fact that over 70% of all Bentleys ever produced are still in existence - our cars tend to end up as collectors' items rather than scrap."
We'd tend to agree that most Bentleys are unlikely to ever be sold for scrap, but the recycling certificate means that if that unthinkable deed ever does happen, the various bits of metal, plastic, glass and the like can be reused in any number of industries. Who knows, your old, unwanted Bentley could come back to life as the world's finest toaster oven... or a laptop computer, or some luggage.

[Source: Bentley]

Continue reading Bentley guarantees Continental is 85% recyclable

Bentley guarantees Continental is 85% recyclable originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 14 May 2009 18:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bentleybentley continentalbentley recyclableBentleyContinentalBentleyRecyclablecar recoverycar recyclingCarRecoveryCarRecyclingThu, 14 May 2009 18:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Spy shots: Bentley gets ready to run the 'Ring in the E85 Continental Supersports]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/05/13/spy-shots-bentley-gets-ready-to-run-the-ring-in-the-e85-contin/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/05/13/spy-shots-bentley-gets-ready-to-run-the-ring-in-the-e85-contin/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/05/13/spy-shots-bentley-gets-ready-to-run-the-ring-in-the-e85-contin/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

At the Geneva Motor Show in March, Bentley unveiled its first-ever flex-fuel car, the Continental Supersports. Not only is this car the first production Bentley that will be capable of running on either gasoline of E85 ethanol, it also happens to be the most powerful production Bentley ever, putting out a staggering 621 horsepower.

Running on ethanol is the first stage of Bentley's plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, at least when measured on a well-to-wheel basis. Before Bentley puts its new flex fuel, reduced-mass coupe on sale around the end of this year, though, it has some testing left to do. To that end, the engineers are hitting the Nurburgring this week to see how it does in what's quickly becoming the new standard test for high performance vehicles, and these spy shots show a matte black Supersports getting ready for this baptism of fire.




[Source: Motor Trend]
Photos Copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

Spy shots: Bentley gets ready to run the 'Ring in the E85 Continental Supersports originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 13 May 2009 10:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bentleybentley continentalbentley continental super sportsbentley continental supersportsBentleyContinentalBentleyContinentalSupersportsspy picsspy shotspy shotsspypicsSpyShotSpyShotsWed, 13 May 2009 10:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Bentleys to lose weight, possibly add diesel and PHEV to flex-fuel]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/03/11/bentleys-to-lose-weight-possibly-add-diesel-and-phev-to-flex-fu/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/03/11/bentleys-to-lose-weight-possibly-add-diesel-and-phev-to-flex-fu/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/03/11/bentleys-to-lose-weight-possibly-add-diesel-and-phev-to-flex-fu/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2010 Bentley Continental Supersports

As Bentley works on the next generation of its "mainstream" Continental models in the next few years, new powertrains and weight reduction will be part of the program. At the Geneva Motor Show last week, CEO Franz-Josef Paefgen announced that an all-new powertrain would appear in Bentleys by 2012, but didn't give any indication as to the nature of it. Since Bentley is part of the Volkswagen group, diesel would be an obvious choice with its high torque being a good match for the big British luxury machines. All of the current Continental variants are powered by a twin-turbo W12 with VW roots.

Another option would be some sort of plug-in hybrid. The high price of Bentleys could more easily absorb the cost of batteries and hybrid hardware. The hybrid system being developed within VW and Porsche is modular enough that it could be adapted to the larger vehicles. Adding plug-in capability with a lithium ion battery could allow the Continental to operate in silently at lower speeds on electricity.

The Continental SuperSports that debuted in Geneva actually started as weight reduction project before flex-fuel capability was added to the engine. The next gen Continental is expected to drop about 400 lbs through increased aluminum and high strength steel.

Gallery: Bentley Continental Supersports


[Source: Automobile]

Bentleys to lose weight, possibly add diesel and PHEV to flex-fuel originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bentley dieselbentley plug-in hybridbentley weight reductionBentleyDieselBentleyPlug-inHybridBentleyWeightReductionWed, 11 Mar 2009 15:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Geneva 2009: Bentley goes flex-fuel, new powertrain in 2012]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/03/03/geneva-2009-bentley-goes-flex-fuel-new-powertrain-in-2012/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/03/03/geneva-2009-bentley-goes-flex-fuel-new-powertrain-in-2012/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/03/03/geneva-2009-bentley-goes-flex-fuel-new-powertrain-in-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2010 Bentley Continental Supersports

Bentley CEO Franz-Josef Paefgen promised an all-new more efficient powertrain for his lineup in 2012 but declined to give details. In the meantime, he acknowledged that bio-ethanol is an important stepping stone to a greener future as is lighter weight. To that end Bentley introduced its latest model today in Geneva, a project that started 24 months ago as an exercise in mass reduction. That part of the effort yielded savings of 242 lbs off the portly Continental coupe.

Under the hood the usual flex-fuel bits have been added to the twin turbo W12 bringing the output up to a massive 621 hp. That's enough to push the Continental Supersports to 204 mph. Although Paefgen didn't say what the new 2012 powerplant would be he did mention that he didn't feel that plug-in hybrids would make a significant impact on the market for at least 5-10 years. Plug-in hybrid technology is being developed elsewhere in the Volkswagen group and it would make sense to apply it to luxury vehicles like Bentleys allowing them to silently cruise around town, while still having massive performance when desired.

Gallery: Geneva 2009: Bentley Continental Supersports

Continue reading Geneva 2009: Bentley goes flex-fuel, new powertrain in 2012

Geneva 2009: Bentley goes flex-fuel, new powertrain in 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 05:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bentleybentley continentalbentley continental supersportsBentleyContinentalBentleyContinentalSupersportsbreakinggenevageneva motor showgeneva2009GenevaMotorShowTue, 03 Mar 2009 05:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Geneva Preview: Bentley Continental Supersports, 621 hp ethanol beast]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/02/25/geneva-preview-bentley-continental-supersports-621-hp-ethanol/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/02/25/geneva-preview-bentley-continental-supersports-621-hp-ethanol/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/02/25/geneva-preview-bentley-continental-supersports-621-hp-ethanol/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above for a high-res gallery of the Bentley Continental Supersports

In spite of being part of the Volkswagen Group, Bentley has opted to not go the diesel route in its efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Instead, the Continental Supersports becomes the most powerful Bentley ever through the use of E85 as a fuel. Bentley has added flex fuel capability to the twin turbocharged 6.0L W12 to increase the output from the 600 hp of the current Continental GT Speed to 621 hp. Torque output is increased from 553 lb-ft to 590 lb-ft.

Also contributing to the improved acceleration 0-60 acceleration of 3.7 seconds is a 242 lb reduction in weight. In fact, the Supersports project began primarily as an investigation into reducing the mass of the nearly 5,200 lb Continental coupe. If this car is actually run on E85, the net well-to-wheel emissions of CO2 will certainly be reduced compared to running it on gasoline, but this car is by no means green. If Bentley is really serious about reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, the company would be pursuing more aggressive changes than simply going flex-fuel. Within the group, there is work happening on electrification and hybridization, technologies that could be applied to a car like the Continental.

The Continental Supersports goes on sale this fall with most countries getting flex-fuel capability at launch. American examples get the E85 capability in 2010.


[Source: Bentley]

Continue reading Geneva Preview: Bentley Continental Supersports, 621 hp ethanol beast

Geneva Preview: Bentley Continental Supersports, 621 hp ethanol beast originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 25 Feb 2009 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bentleybentley continentalbentley continental supersportsBentleyContinentalBentleyContinentalSupersportse85 capableE85Capableflex fuelflex-fuelflexfuelgenevageneva 2009geneva motor showGeneva2009GenevaMotorShowWed, 25 Feb 2009 10:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Luxurious and green: Europe's (relatively) low-CO<sub>2</sub> luxury sedans]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/02/24/luxurious-and-green-europes-relatively-low-co-sub-2-sub-lu/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/02/24/luxurious-and-green-europes-relatively-low-co-sub-2-sub-lu/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/02/24/luxurious-and-green-europes-relatively-low-co-sub-2-sub-lu/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,



Some drivers love large luxury sedans sedans. What's more, there's nothing that denotes luxury quite like the largest car from a premium brand. They might be impractical in some European cities, but that's for the chauffeur to worry about. For the green-minded baron, though, there are always concerns about high fuel consumption and, well, sometimes you can do the job with a smaller car. However, for those times when we just need to be driven in a big sedan, let's see what the European market has to offer. After the jump we have a list of luxurious sedans ordered by CO2 emissions. And for once, this is a list - despite the inclusion of a few diesels - that includes many players from the American market as well. Click past the jump for the complete list.

Gallery: Detroit 2009: Cadillac Converj


[Source: Auto News]

Continue reading Luxurious and green: Europe's (relatively) low-CO2 luxury sedans

Luxurious and green: Europe's (relatively) low-CO2 luxury sedans originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>green luxusGreenLuxuslarge luxury sedanslarge sedanLargeLuxurySedansLargeSedanlow co2 sedanLowCo2Sedanluxury greenluxury sedanLuxuryGreenLuxurySedanTue, 24 Feb 2009 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Ethanol-fueled eco Bentley to offer 630 horsepower]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/02/17/ethanol-fueled-eco-bentley-to-offer-630-horsepower/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/02/17/ethanol-fueled-eco-bentley-to-offer-630-horsepower/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/02/17/ethanol-fueled-eco-bentley-to-offer-630-horsepower/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Admittedly, there isn't much saving of the earth that's going to be done with a 630-horsepower twin-turbo 12-cylinder behemoth of a powerplant, but you've still got to give credit to Bentley for massaging another 30 horses from its already massively powerful W12 engine. We've taken a long look at ethanol as a fuel for performance in the past, and this new Bentley is sure to bring the issue back to the fore when it's released at the Geneva Motor Show next month.

Because ethanol burns at lower temperatures than gasoline, powertrain engineers are able to turn the wick up on boost pressure without undue fear of detonation, which, in turn, allows the engine to produce more horsepower. The flip side of this debate, especially for cars like this Extreme Bentley, is that an already thirsty engine is going to guzzle even more fuel when it's being fed E85.

Besides the ridiculously powerful powerplant, Bentley is also said to be reducing the weight of its next supercar, likely through the use of carbon fiber and aluminum in place of steel. In a rather unexpected move, reports also indicate that the British engineers have removed the rear seat for even more weight reduction.

[Source: 4WheelsNews]

Ethanol-fueled eco Bentley to offer 630 horsepower originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 17 Feb 2009 14:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bentleye85 bentleyE85Bentleyeco bentleyEcoBentleyethanolethanol bentleyEthanolBentleyextreme bentleyExtremeBentleygeneva 2009geneva motor showGeneva2009GenevaMotorShowgreen bentleyGreenBentleyTue, 17 Feb 2009 14:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Bentley lets out teaser video for new green supercar]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/01/30/bentley-lets-out-teaser-video-for-new-green-supercar/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/01/30/bentley-lets-out-teaser-video-for-new-green-supercar/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/01/30/bentley-lets-out-teaser-video-for-new-green-supercar/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above and scroll down to watch the video

Bentley hopes that eco-friendliness can go hand-in-hand with extreme horsepower in its new green supercar, which is so far known only as the Extreme Bentley. Engines that are properly tuned to run on ethanol can make plenty of power and, as the most powerful Bentley ever produced, the Extreme Bentley will definitely be, um, extremely fast. One question is whether or not it will be extremely green. The answer really depends on lots of factors, such as where the ethanol that it's quickly burning via its twelve twin-turbocharged cylinders comes from and how often the flex-fuel capability is even used, since the new supercar will be nearly as adept while running on gasoline.

Bentley has just released a quick teaser video that's meant to generate some extra interest in the new machine, which is the British firm's first biofuel-powered vehicle ever, and we've pasted it after the break for your viewing pleasure. The car is scheduled to be officially debuted this March at the Geneva Motor Show.

[Source: ExtremeBentley.com]

Continue reading Bentley lets out teaser video for new green supercar

Bentley lets out teaser video for new green supercar originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 30 Jan 2009 14:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biofuel bentleybiofuel bentley supercarBiofuelBentleyBiofuelBentleySupercarextreme bentleyExtremeBentleygeneva 2009geneva motor showGeneva2009GenevaMotorShowFri, 30 Jan 2009 14:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Geneva Preview: Bentley to reveal biofuel supercar]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/01/27/embargo-geneva-preview-bentley-to-reveal-biofuel-supercar/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/01/27/embargo-geneva-preview-bentley-to-reveal-biofuel-supercar/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/01/27/embargo-geneva-preview-bentley-to-reveal-biofuel-supercar/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click above for a high-res image of Bentley's new biofuel supercar

When the curtain rises on the 2009 Geneva Motor Show, Bentley will take a large share of the spotlight with the vehicle you see above. It has no name yet, and no technical specifics have been released, but what Bentley has revealed is that this will be the marque's fastest, most powerful production car yet, and that it'll run on biofuel. Visually, the grilles all have a blackout treatment, and sizable vertical intakes occupy the front bumper's outer edges. The hood also sports a pair of vents, presumably to help extract engine heat.

Given that the 600-horsepower/553-lb-ft Continental GT Speed currently owns the "most powerful production Bentley" title, look for more extreme ratings on this new, obviously Continental-based monster. As for the biofuel half of the equation, we expect to see an ethanol-drinking version of the twin-turbocharged 12-cylinder that propels the rest of the Continental range. In any case, a new Bentley's coming, and it's fixin' to open up a plus-sized can of whoop-ass. We'll learn more closer to the Geneva festivities.

[Source: Bentley]

Geneva Preview: Bentley to reveal biofuel supercar originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 27 Jan 2009 19:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009bentleybiofuelbreakingcontinentalgenevageneva 2009geneva motor showGeneva2009GenevaMotorShowmost powerfulMostPowerfulsupercarTue, 27 Jan 2009 19:18:00 EST<![CDATA[Geneva Preview: Bentley to debut its first flex-fuel model]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/01/16/geneva-preview-bentley-to-debut-its-first-flex-fuel-model/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/01/16/geneva-preview-bentley-to-debut-its-first-flex-fuel-model/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/01/16/geneva-preview-bentley-to-debut-its-first-flex-fuel-model/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



At last year's Geneva Motor Show, Bentley declared it would get its fleet to the equivalent of 120 g/km of well-to-wheel CO2 emissions by 2012. One of the keys to that will be the use of biofuels, primarily ethanol. At the Detroit Auto Show this week, Bentley board member Stuart McCullough declared that the company would debut its first flex fuel car at the Geneva Motor Show in March. McCullough also confirmed that the entire Bentley lineup will be flex-fuel capable by 2012. Since all of Bentley's cars are turbocharged, they should be well suited to running on the high octane ethanol. By tuning the engines for ethanol, Bentley may even be able to overcome most of the efficiency deficit that normally aspirated engines experience with ethanol. Whether running on ethanol will really make Bentleys get the equivalent of 120 g/km is debatable, but at least they won't be using as much petroleum.

[Source: Inside Line via Autofiends]

Geneva Preview: Bentley to debut its first flex-fuel model originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 16 Jan 2009 09:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bentleybentley flex fuelbentley flex-fuelBentleyFlex-fuelBentleyFlexFuelgenevageneva 2009geneva motor showGeneva2009GenevaMotorShowFri, 16 Jan 2009 09:38:00 EST<![CDATA[The Queen's Bentleys go biodiesel]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2008/12/31/the-queens-bentleys-go-biodiesel/http://green.autoblog.com/2008/12/31/the-queens-bentleys-go-biodiesel/http://green.autoblog.com/2008/12/31/the-queens-bentleys-go-biodiesel/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,



The Queen is going green. Not surprisingly, the head of the Royal Family doesn't drive herself, relying instead on Bentley to provide a couple of £10 million limos complete with drivers. Must be nice, huh? The two luxury machines maintained for the Queen will be converted to run on biofuels, which we assume means ethanol. As of this moment, each machine is powered by a 6.75L twin-turbo V8 engine that makes 400 horsepower, though we're not sure if these engines will be converted or replaced. This move coincides nicely with Bentley's stated goal of emitting no more than 120g/km of CO2 per vehicle on a well-to-wheels basis by 2012.

The Royal Family is said to be very eco-conscious and is actually surprisingly well-versed in biofuels, with Prince Charles having already converted his Aston Martin to run on alcohol fuel and his Range Rover and Jaguars to biodiesel. Biofuel Bentleys are better than petrol-burning Bentleys, we suppose, but just switching to something smaller would have a much greater effect.

[Source: Daily Mail]

The Queen's Bentleys go biodiesel originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 31 Dec 2008 13:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biofuelbiofuel bentleyBiofuelBentleybiofuelsqueen bentleyQueenBentleyroyal family bentleyRoyalFamilyBentleyWed, 31 Dec 2008 13:48:00 EST<![CDATA[Bentley bets on ethanol, first production car headed to Geneva]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2008/12/18/bentley-bets-on-ethanol-first-production-car-headed-to-geneva/http://green.autoblog.com/2008/12/18/bentley-bets-on-ethanol-first-production-car-headed-to-geneva/http://green.autoblog.com/2008/12/18/bentley-bets-on-ethanol-first-production-car-headed-to-geneva/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Bentley has been talking about reducing its carbon emissions through the use of biofuels all year. It's still unclear whether the luxury automaker will be forced to adhere to the new EU standards of 130 g/km of CO2 by 2015, but Bentley has already announced its stated goal of emitting no more than 120g/km of CO2 on a well-to-wheels basis by 2012. This goal runs under the assumption that the cars are running on biofuels such as ethanol. To make the goal possible (regardless of how probable it may seem), the automaker is expected to launch its first production ethanol model at the Geneva Motor Show in the spring of 2009.

In related news, British royalty may soon be chauffeured in bio-Bentleys as negotiations are currently underway to have the British ultra-lux automaker supply ethanol-fueled cars for state use. That'd be nice, but we still maintain that the good 'ol diesel engine would make a whole heap more sense in the big stately saloons.

[Source: Channel 4]

Bentley bets on ethanol, first production car headed to Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 18 Dec 2008 19:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It looks like Bentley chief Franz-Josef Paefgen is being over-ruled when it comes to what kinds of powertrains will appear in his cars in the future. Specifically, Volkswagen is firmly committed to diesel engines while Paefgen has said that they are inappropriate for Bentley automobiles. VW Group CEO Martin Winterkorn told Auto Motor und Sport that the company will respond to changing markets and he could imagine a diesel Bentley. The engine for the British luxury brand is likely to be a new twin turbocharged variant of the current 3.0L TDI V6 currently being developed by Audi engineers. That engine with over 300 hp and 440 lb-ft of torque is set to debut in 2009 in the new A8. A high torque engine like this would be a good choice in a Bentley.

[Source: AutoCar]

Bentley boss gets over-ruled, diesel possible originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sat, 22 Nov 2008 10:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audi tdiAudiTdibentley dieselBentleyDieselvolkswagenvolkswagen tdiVolkswagenTdiSat, 22 Nov 2008 10:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Bentley buyers say "no" to diesels]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2008/08/23/bentley-buyers-say-no-to-diesels/http://green.autoblog.com/2008/08/23/bentley-buyers-say-no-to-diesels/http://green.autoblog.com/2008/08/23/bentley-buyers-say-no-to-diesels/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Despite the fact that a diesel Bentley makes perfect sense, the German-owned British automaker won't be cribbing any oil-burners from the VW parts catalog. According to the company, its customers just aren't interested in the massive bottom-end torque that a big diesel engine would bring to the table. Despite the fact that the model would likely sell just fine in Europe, the vast majority of Bentleys are snatched up in America and Asia - areas where diesel engines are only popular in large trucks and small economy cars... not exactly the image that Bentley wants to acquire. We believe those customer just need to be educated, but what do we know?

Alternative powerplants are still under consideration for the Bentley brand. A while back, the company announced that its first flex-fuel vehicle would be ready for 2009 with all models capable of running on biofuels by 2012. This is still the company's aim, and new engines are reportedly in the offing and should be ready shortly.

[Source: Autocar / Photo by >WouteR<. Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0.]

Bentley buyers say "no" to diesels originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sat, 23 Aug 2008 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Photo by >WouteR<. Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0.

Bentley CEO Franz-Josef Paefgen wants us all to chill out. Speaking at the 2008 Automotive News Europe Congress, Paefgen said that "it does help when the debate becomes excessively emotional" (Note: that's ANE's direct quote, but I'm pretty sure they meant "doesn't help" based on the headline: "Bentley's Paefgen says CO2 debate is too emotional"). Even though the debate can and does get quite personal at times, Paefgen wants politicians to take a look at the broader picture. Coming from the head of an automaker whose cars emit roughly 400 grams of CO2 per km, on average, the broader picture is the only thing that will help Bentley meet the EU's emissions targets of 120 g/km of CO2. Paefgen did say his company's vehicles will meet that 120 goal, but only when calculated on a well-to-wheel basis (i.e., when emissions up the supply chain are taken into account).

[Source: Automotive News Europe (subs req'd)]

Bentley CEO says to take it easy, not get emotional about CO2 debate originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 20 May 2008 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bentleybentley-co2bentley-co2-reductionsbentley-dieselbentley-ecoTue, 20 May 2008 10:45:00 EST