New Bentley Edition 8: A Farewell to the Pure V8

Bentley has unveiled its most opulent Continental GT, GTC, and Flying Spur in a new and final edition featuring gas-powered V8 engines. The Edition 8 is exclusive to the North American market.

Celebrating this farewell, Bentley has commissioned some of the finest Mulliner personalisations.

What does it mean for the US and us?

This exclusive North American launch comes in light of Bentley's resolute decision to shift towards hybridisation by the end of 2024. While other regions have already seen the end of pure V8 Bentleys, this is the last chance for North Americans to own a pure gasoline-powered Bentley coupe with a V8 engine.

The Edition 8 marks the final version of V8's without any electric sorcery in their coupes. However, the legacy of the L-Series V8 engine isn't quite over yet. They will continue to be sold in some variants of the Bentley Bentayga SUV, although the Bentayaga has already welcomed hybrids to its lineup. The news came just after the retirement of their W12 engine, following the introduction of a new hybrid V8. This shift has caused some disappointment among fans, but the brand is betting big on its new PHEV technology, specifically their "Ultra Performance Hybrid," promising more power to live up to its name.

What are the features?

While the Edition 8 Bentley Coupes focus primarily on aesthetics, the touches from the bespoke in-house coachbuilder Mulliner elevate the vehicles to a whole new level. The cars will be available in a plethora of color options with black accents, with over 60 paint finishes from the Mulliner extended range.

The trio wears iconic 22-inch alloy wheels in two distinct designs: a five-spoke or a ten-spoke option, both featuring self-leveling Bentley wheel badges. All three models will also sport the Palm Fluted pattern on the front seats. Though not entirely new, the manufacturer claims this is the first time it's been made available on "mainstream Bentley production models". Apart from that, the front seats also carry Edition 8 embroidery on their headrests. Bentley has retained their signature rotating center screens.

The exuberantly equipped Edition 8 models also boast carefully crafted jewel petrol filler caps, LED welcome lamps, and Edition 8 badges. These badges adorn the fenders for the Continental GT and GTC, while the Flying Spur will sport them on the D-pillar, or rear pillar in other words.