Bentley considers S-Tronic technology for upcoming V8 Continental

Bentley is considering equipping its future V8-powered Continental GT variant with a dual-clutch transmission that sister-company Audi badges as S-Tronic.

Bentley's engineers are doing engineering studies on the feasibility of packaging the S-Tronic into the Continental's transmission tunnel.

The major challenge is re-engineering and producing the GT's underbody and running gear to accept the S-Tronic, which is a different shape than that of the six-speed ZF that the W12 GT will employ.

The dual-clutch transmission could benefit enthusiasts by delivering a sportier driving experience, which Bentley says will suit the new group of buyers expected to buy the V8 GT.

“The V8 will find a new audience for us,” says Bentley's new sales and marketing boss Alasdair Stewart. “There are sports-car enthusiasts out there, particularly in the U.S., who won't buy a sports car unless it's powered by a V8.”

The price of the V8 is likely to be just less than the

By Julian Rendell