The esteemed British automaker says it is speeding up development of alt-fuel cars in a push to increase fuel efficiency and curb emissions. Of course, the announcement came at the same time the company unveiled its most obscenely powerful convertible ever.
Bentley pulled the silk sheet off the 600-horsepower Continental GTC Speed, a $231,400 car capable of 200 mph provided you keep the top up. Dropping the top cuts maximum velocity to 195. Either way, you’ll still hit 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds and do it with all the comfort of a day spa.
Power comes from a 12-cylinder twin-turbocharged engine that burns petrol. But with all of the super-luxe automakers struggling to improve fuel economy ahead of tightening efficiency and emissions regulations in America and Europe, future models will run on biofuel.
What’s really interesting, though, is word that Bentley is speeding up development of the biofuel drivetrain it announced last March. Bentley’s first biofuel burner will make its debut at the Geneva auto show in March and will come to market nine months ahead of schedule, Bentley board member Stuart McCullough told a newspaper. That means we’ll see it early in 2011 instead of 2012 as planned.
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