Bentley is bridging the gap between its formidable past and its alternative fuel future with the FlexFuel Supersports Convertible. This sporty convertible prototype is going to be presented at the Geneva Motor Show next week. Bentley used the name of its 1925 racing model to show that it is still committed to powerful and well-designed vehicles. The British automaker is taking a step toward alternative fuels with its FlexFuel system.
The Bentley FlexFuel system is designed to use gasoline, E85 and a combination of the two depending on fuel availability. The FlexFuel Supersports Convertible is powered by a 463kW W12 engine that maintains the automaker’s commitment to power driving. Bentley is already incorporating the FlexFuel technology in its Continental line for the 2011 model year. The automaker wants all of its new models to feature the FlexFuel system by 2012 in order to meet EU emissions standards. This compatibility would also help Bentley owners take advantage of E85 stations springing up throughout Europe.
Bentley is committed to keeping up the performance metrics of the standard Supersports Convertible in the flex-fuel prototype. The switch to a dual-fuel drive system does not diminish the zero to 60 MPH time of 4.2 seconds. The FlexFuel system is capable of reaching 202 miles per hour, allowing owners to open up on quiet stretches of highway. The Supersports Convertible allows drivers to reduce their emissions while still getting plenty of power for their investments.
The Supersports Convertible presented at the Geneva Motor Show is a mixed blessing for fans of greener transportation. Bentley claims that this prototype achieves a 70% reduction of carbon dioxide emissions over similar Bentley models, which would help the automaker meet EU emissions targets. These emissions levels do not tell the whole story, however, as the projected fuel mileage is still atrocious even for a sports car. Bentley states that the projected fuel economy for this flex-fuel sports car is 14.1 MPG combined with a city rating of 9.2 MPG. By comparison, the 2009 Bentley Continental achieves fuel economy ratings of 17 MPG highway and 10 MPG city. This prototype is likely to please consumers willing to pay in excess of $150,000 in the next few years but it is little more than an eye-pleasing, dual-fuel guzzler to the rest of the consuming public.
