Bentley confirms powerful new V8 plug-in hybrid

Bentley has confirmed that it'll replace its famous 6.0-litre twin-turbo W12 and 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol engines with a V8 plug-in hybrid later this year.

he Continental GT, convertible GTC and Flying Spur saloon will adopt the engine later this year. But Bentley is remaining high-lipped about the new unit's precise details, only confirming that it'll offer 50 miles of pure electric driving, emit CO2 emissions of less than 50g/km, and push out nearly 750bhp. 

In terms of power, the new V8 PHEV will be the most potent engine ever fitted to a Bentley road car, and as such the firm is calling the unit the "Ultra Performance Hybrid".

The majority of Bentley's range will be fitted with the engine later this year, although its best-selling Bentayga SUV will continue to use the existing twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 until 2026. The V6-based plug-in hybrid will also remain on sale in both the Bentayga and Flying Spur.

The British luxury marque recently committed to a significant investment into hybrids, while also delaying its first pure-electric car to 2026. Bentley said the push-back was due to production delays of the EV's Volkswagen Group "PPE" platform – similar delays have beset the Audi Q6 E-tron and Porsche Macan electric which also use the PPE platform.