2018 Bentley Model Year Changes
Bentayga
The new sport utility adds Volkswagen Group's first new diesel since the debacle of the past few years. A 4.0-liter V8 billed as the first Diesel Bentley and having new clean diesel technology, it boasts a 100-mile range and 429 horsepower. EPA figures are not in, yet, but it should easily best the gasoline W12's 12 city/19 highway rating.
Atop the heap is the new Bentley Bentayga Mulliner. Hand crafted, two-tone and limited in number, if a Bentayga isn't enough caché, you need the Mulliner.
Continental GT
The Continental is all-new for 2018.
The engine is still a 6.0-liter, but the reinvigorated W-12 twin turbocharged engine with 626 horsepower has direct injection and port fuel injection and a higher compression ratio. It can run on only six cylinders under a light load. And it now also features automatic start/stop.
A dual-clutch gearbox replaces the old ZF traditional automatic. It still has eight gears, but with wider ratios.
The Continental GT continues to have a double-wishbone front, multi-link rear suspension with continuous adaptive shock absorbers and air springs, but now it also has an active roll system consisting front and rear active stabilizer bars powered by a 48-volt electrical system. These roll bars, instead of passively transferring forces from side to side to help control body roll, push back against it. This enables the new Continental GT to corner completely flat (although it allows some body roll to keep from freaking the driver out).
A new chassis is still almost completely aluminum.
Flying Spur
A long time ago, this model was called the Continental Flying Spur. It has always shared a lot woth the Continental GT. Now that the Continental GT is all-new for the 2018 model year, we expect the Flying Spur to follow. For 2018, it stands pat, introducing a V8 S Black Edition that uses the V8 S powertrain introduced last year. Chrome becomes darker and lights are tinted, the two-tone paint pattern is new and it has its own unique 21-inch wheels.
Mulsanne
No changes.