Exclusive: 2012 Bentley Continental GTC spied

First photo of a V8 Bentley Continental

We have the first spy shots of the new V8 Bentley Continental, in this case the 2012 Bentley Continental GTC. We expect a reveal at Frankfurt

We had the launch of the new Bentley Continental GT – the 2011 car – back in September at the Paris Motor Show, but we’re still waiting for what will now be the 2012 Bentley Continental GTC – the drop-top Conti.

We had a photo of the new GTC – complete with a slightly odd two-tone paint job – drop in last week, and we’d planned to run the story today – it’s a good filler for a Sunday. But it’s turned in to a bit more than that.

A bit more because, after a bit of digging, it’s clear that this particular 2012 Bentley GTC is sporting the all new 4.0 litre V8 being developed by Bentley and Audi. And we’re expecting it to be revealed at Frankfurt in September.

We’re expecting Bentley to offer the new V8 in both the coupe and convertible versions of the GT, but we don’t yet know what output they are going to offer, or what output this V8 Continental GTC is sporting.

The information we’ve had so far on the new V8 indicates that the V8 will be offered in everything from a 415bhp single turbo version right the way up to a 555bhp twin turbo.

At the top end that will come very close to delivering the same performance as the W12, which is why we’ve already asked the question; ‘Is the W12 on its way out?’ It could be.

It could be because even Bentley – with its best sales for three years in 2011 so far – needs to be wary of CAFE rules, and if a twin-turbo V8 gives everything the W12 does – but with better economy and lower emissions – they’re probably going to take it.

It may be that at first we just see a V8 Continental GT/GTC with something around 475bhp as an entry-level car.

But we’re sure the W12 will end up giving way to a twin-turbo V8.