Marko Hanželic
Last but not least at Bentley they are celebrating this year 60 years of the existence of its eight-cylinder, developed in the late 1s as a replacement for the six-cylinder from the Mark VI, R-Type and SXNUMX models. They were in charge of development Jack Phillips, which was given a very demanding task - to create a powertrain that will be 50 percent more powerful than the existing six-cylinder, but at the same time should be neither larger nor heavier. Phillips opted for V8 configuration, and completed the entire project in just 18 months.
It was first used in the S2 model, introduced in 1959. The engine had 6,2 liters of working volume, at the same time was for 13,6 pounds lighter from a six-cylinder and significantly more powerful. Over the years, the engine has been improved, and in 1971, the displacement increased to 6,75 liters, as it is today. At that time, they also increased the stroke of the piston, which managed to gain some additional torque.
Novelties were also introduced in the XNUMXs, along with the first generation of the Mulsanne model, and with them, the engine became more environmentally friendly and safer, with the model Mulsanne Turbo however, it got a forced charge, which was the first forced-filled Bentley after Blower Bentleys from the XNUMXs.
Today, an individual drive unit is manufactured in fifteen hours, and it has two turbines that provide maximum power. 395 kW (537 hp) and 1.100 Nm of maximum torque in the model Mulsanne Speed.
On the XNUMXth anniversary of the legendary engine, Bentley’s chief engineer, dr. Werner Tietzsaid: “The original V8 was designed with a desire for better performance, along with peace of mind and reliability. The engine was tested with thousands of kilometers in the most demanding conditions and 500 hours at maximum throttle. All this can also be found in the modern interpretation of Bentley's ethos. "
