Bentley Reveals New 740 HP-rated V8 PHEV Powertrain

Bentley’s long-awaited replacement for its iconic W12 engine has been revealed in the form of a new, 740 HP-rated V8 hybrid.

It is a known fact that Bentley is retiring its W12 engine, with several special models having been released to commemorate the special power plant. The wait for its replacement is finally over, as the British marque has recently revealed the replacement for its iconic powertrain in the form of a V8 plug-in hybrid (PHEV).

While some may argue that there’s no replacement for displacement, Bentley said that thanks to the partial electrification, this new V8 PHEV setup is capable of delivering up to 740 HP, making it the most potent powertrain ever developed by the Crewe-based marque.

While its torque figure has yet to be revealed, Bentley claims that it will at least be able to match the 1,000 NM output achieved by the tuned W12 on the Batur.

Besides the initial estimated power figure, Bentley has yet to reveal any additional details regarding this new V8 hybrid mill, except that this setup will boast a respectable EV-only range of 80 KM. The partial electrification also helps the mill generate only 50 g/KM of CO2 emissions, making it the cleanest powertrain ever produced by the Crewe-based marque.

Both the Continental GT (left) and Flying Spur (right) will be among the first Bentley models to get the new V8 PHEV powertrain.

This new V8 PHEV powertrain is poised to make its way into several models previously powered by the W12 as early as late 2024. This roster includes the core models like the Continental GT and GTC, as well as the Flying Spur saloon, where the new V8 PHEV mill will also replace the ongoing fully-ICE V8 used on said models.

Meanwhile, the Bentayga SUV will remain pure-combustion at least by the end of 2026, where it will also go hybrid-only like the rest of Bentley’s lineup.

Bentley former CEO Adrian Hallmark (left) recently announced the delay of Bentley's first BEV model (right).

The reveal of this new V8 hybrid powertrain follows the announcement made by Bentley about the delay in its electrification plan. According to former CEO Adrian Hallmark, the postponement of its first all-electric model allows Bentley to focus more on the development of its new plug-in hybrid powertrain.

Echoing the voices of many other European automakers, the former boss also hailed the hybrid technology as a perfect transitional technology that will help to acclimatise drivers to electric driving while reducing the carbon footprint at the same time.

Bentley's first EV will underpin the newly-developed PPE architecture developed by Porsche.

As for its first BEV model, Bentley cited that the project has been delayed due to issues pertaining to the development of Porsche’s new Premium Platform Electric (PPE) EV architecture. Aside from Bentley, the PPE project delay has also affected the development of both the Audi Q6 e-tron and Porsche Macan Electric, with said models also underpinning the newly-developed platform.