Apart from honoring the Diamond Jubilee of HM The Queen by rolling out a limited edition version of the Mulsanne, Bentley has two more novelties on display for the visitors of the Auto China 2012.
The first one is the world premiere of the new Continental GTC with the 6.0-liter W12 engine as up until now, the updated model was available only with the new 4.0-liter turbocharged V8.
While 500HP, 660Nm (487 lb-ft) of torque, a 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) sprint of just 5.0 seconds and a top speed of 301 km/h (187 mph) for the V8 model may sound quite adequate to most, the range-topping W12 is slightly faster than its little brother.
The W12 has an output of 567HP and a peak torque of 700Nm (516 lb-ft), allowing the open-top model to accelerate from standstill to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.8 seconds and top out at 314 km/h (195 mph).
For some, the 0.2 seconds difference in acceleration and 13 km/h (8 mph) higher top speed may make a difference – although most will probably buy it because they won’t settle for anything less than the top of the GTC range.
Just like the Continental coupe, the W12-engined GTC transmits power to all four wheels via a six-speed ZF “Quickshift” auto transmission and an AWD system with a 40:60 front/rear torque split. It also has FlexFuel capability, which means that it can run on either normal gasoline, E85 biofuel, or any combination of the two.
Coincidentally, Bentley’s other model on display in Beijing is also powered by the 6.0-liter W12 powerplant. It’s the EXP 9 F SUV concept that was launched last month in Geneva and has since taken a lot of flak for its design – something that may have not reached the company’s boss as he paints a…very different picture.
“Since we first showed EXP 9 F at Geneva, the response has been overwhelming”, said CEO Wolfgang Duerheimer. “Everyone seems to agree that an SUV is a natural fit for Bentley. An exciting range of drivetrain options including a hybrid V6 are under active consideration but one thing is for sure, any Bentley SUV would offer the thunderous performance for which the marque is renowned.”
In China, Bentley revealed the engine options it is considering for the production version of the EXP 9 F.
The W12 version was pretty much a given, though it has been reworked for the SUV: it now churns out 600-horses and 800Nm (590 lb-ft) of torque, while the 6-speed auto has been replaced by the new 8-speed unit introduced in the Continental V8.
Bentley added that the 4.0-liter V8 is another option while, unsurprisingly, the third powertrain that is being considered for the ungainly SUV is a Porsche Cayenne-derived V6 plug-in hybrid.
Bentley says that the hybrid EXP 9 F can operate in full electric mode for up to 30 km (19 miles) and emit just 130 g/km of CO2, yet accelerate from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in less than 5.0 seconds.
BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GTC W12
BENTLEY EXP 9 F CONCEPT SUV 
