If you can make a V8 that is 99.9% equal to a W12 for less why would anyone EVER buy 12????????? To pay more nothing? With an ECU tune in a V8 a man will get less for more$ if he buys a 12?

Do I understand this correct?

An 8 is just as quick
Cheaper
More economical
Sounds better
Handles better
In a blind test in indistinguishable from the W12
The more responsible green choice

Ken the 12 is dead for any reasonable man. Thank God we are not those people. My next car might have to be an Aston Martin, they make no pretense of logical car sales, pricing or marketing. They just come right out and say we are so pretty buy us. They AM forum have a spirited discussion of comparing the V8V with the V12V and they have gotten more heated than we have.

 

Just noticed this weird thing while comparing specs between GT and GT V8. On the V8 page they reference a "total 40% efficiency gain" (I am assuming compared to the W12). Yet, looking at things like fuel consumption, I see that V8 gets 18 mpg vs W12 getting 15 mpg. Can someone please tell me where the 40% is? If V8 was really 40% more efficient than the W12, that would mean W12 gets 10.8 mpg.

 

I've just come back from driving a new Aston Martin Virage, followed by a quick burst on the Mercedes SLS roadster again. Both cars I would buy in a heartbeat, but only as second cars. Nothing so far can head off the CGT for comfort and speed and so on.

I think you're right about the logic of the V8 vs W12... we may see the end of the bigger model since there's not much between them.

 

You diehard fans of the W12 are dinosaurs and just don't realize it yet.
That being said, I'd love to see Bentley tune the W12 to 750 HP and drop it into a mid-engine chassis supplied by either sister companies Audi or Lambo and make a true super car with renowned Bentley style, comfort and exclusivity but with a weight of under 4000 lbs. And, sell it for $295K.

 

Sanibel, I like your thinking!

 

I agree if you are comparing the CGT W12 to the CGT V8...but I think the W12 is a great engine for the Speed because it sets it apart from the V8 car more. I also understand that the V8 car doesn't have a leather headliner and some other small differences like that.

 

The car I traded in on my GTC V8 was a GTC Speed, and the very responsive 8-speed transmission seems to make up for the difference in HP, and the sound is every bit as nice, if not nicer (and louder). Headliner on the convertible top is exactly the same.

 

Right but the new GT Speed has the 8 speed so it will be significantly quicker in all situations. Anyway, they had to cut the cost for the V8 somehow.