Not that the buyers of Bentley Continental GT V8 actually care, but the EPA ratings for the new model show a remarkable improvement in fuel consumption over the W12 model. The 2013 Conti V8 is rated at 15 city/ 24 highway/ 18 combined miles per gallon. In comparison, the W12 models manages 12 city/ 19 highway/ 14  combined. In other words, the V8 saves you a $1000 in fuel bills every year.

Granted, saving a grand is not that big an incentive to get anybody to drop the sheer power of the W12 model and go for the V8. But think of it this way: with the V8 you only have to stop for fuel every 500 miles (800 km). If you hate filing up as much as we do, you’d agree that’s something to fall for.

And anyway, it’s not like the V8 Continental is a slouch or anything. The new Bentley V8 engine delivers maximum power of 500 bhp (507 PS/373 kW) at 6000 rpm and an extraordinary peak torque of 660 Nm (487 lb ft), which means it still does 0 to 60 mph in under 5 seconds and reaches a top speed of over 180 mph.

What’s more, the V8 makes a much nicer noise than the W12, which to be honest sounds more like vacuum cleaner.