I don't think mine did. The 8 cylinder one comes with it I believe.

 

I went from 600 HP in my '10 GTC Speed to 500 in my '13 GTC V8 and with the 8-speed ZF transmission the new car is every bit the equal to the old, but more comfortable (the Mulliner seats are vastly improved), the exhaust is even louder and deeper than the W12, the storage space in the center console was long overdue and much appreciated, and the electronic controls & navigation are just superb. There is nothing about my old car that I wish my new car had, so I'm one very happy camper. I predict that the V8 model will outsell the W12, which is pretty much proven by dealer inventories.

 

OP- thank you for posting your report. What valuable input.

 

You could very well be proved right judging by the enthusiastic response. Talking to my Bentley guy the other day, he said the V8 will sell well, but there'll always be a percentage who want the top model. Since many of these wealthy aren't concerned about price, the W12 will sell on just as well, he said.

Personally I like the refined sound of the W12. The V8 is a bit vocal for me.

 

You're welcome. There's lots more I could have said, but I'd rather be out driving

 

My dealer told me that the newly build W12 all come with the new 8-speed like the V8. I saw the new transmission in the update brochure already. My local dealer will rise the price for the new car to clean out the old 6-speed inventories.

 

Not the case in Hong Kong.
The price for W12 is HKD 3,680,000 (USD 474,839)
V8 is HKD 3,380,000(USD436,129)
If V8 add couple options such as two-tone interior, change the veneer than the price just around the same as the W12.
More than 90% will pick the W12 here.

 

Wow those are some lofty fees! I am not sure i would buy the V8 if the price was close to the W12. If a man wants more sound out of the 12 cylinder he can get it.

 

My V8 GTC with the Mulliner interior plus extra-cost options of contrast stitching and the full range of colors, plus the chrome grille came to $224K. A similarly-optioned W12 GTC was around $232K, so the net difference came to roughly $8K between engines. I get much better gas mileage so I don't stop as often to refuel as I did with the GTC Speed, and don't notice the performance difference (if any), so I'm very content with the V8 and with knowing that my carbon footprint is considerably better than it was owning the W12. I think a lot of people will agree with this assessment and that Bentley will sell a lot of V8s. Only time will tell...

 

There's a more satisfying way to reduce your footprint, and that's to add a few more vehicles to your collection. The more cars you have, the lower your personal smog index. I was reminded of this when a well-known collector in my country was criticized for owning more than 30 fuel-heavy V8's. He said he could only drive one at a time, and was saving the planet by default. Wise man.

 

I am glad to know I am doing my small part to save the planet.

 

Cars are very personal things and I am sure there will be a large following of the V8.

 

The V8 should be cheaper to service so it will be interesting to see what Bentley charges vs W12.