Bentley is celebrating the 60th anniversary of its venerable V8, the longest serving engine of its type in production. Originally fitted to the S2 model of 1959, the lasting appeal of the Bentley engine is proven by its continued application today in the luxurious Mulsanne limousine.
In the early 1950s, Jack Phillips, Senior Engine Designer, was asked to undertake a confidential study to find a replacement for the six-cylinder engine used in the Bentley Mark VI, R-Type and S1.
His brief was to build an engine that was at least 50% more powerful than the six-cylinder it would eventually replace, while occupying the same space under a bonnet with no increase in weight. A 'V' configuration was the natural choice, and it is a testament to Phillips and his team that the engine ran just 18 months after the start of the design process.
Designed, engineered and hand-built in Crewe, England, the latest twin-turbocharged version of the Bentley 6.75-litre V8 engine requires 15 hours of skilled craftsmanship to build. Whilst every part of the original S2 engine has been re-engineered over the decades, the basic principles and dimensions that have defined the engine for the last 60 years remain the same.
The advanced modern-day 6.75-litre V8 combines immense power with impressive fuel economy, developing 530bhp and 1,100Nm of torque in the driver-focussed Bentley Mulsanne Speed luxury sedan. This results in a top speed of 305km/h and a 0-100km/h sprint in 4.9 seconds.
Bentley also uses a smaller, 4.0-litre V8 engine in the Continental GT and Bentayga models. The twin-turbo engine is distinguished by a characterful, burbling exhaust note, and develops 542bhp and 770Nm of torque.
