Say what you will about the introduction of a V8 hybrid throughout the Bentley range (most said so far has been overwhelmingly positive), but heck does it sound good. The 4.0-litre unit tends to, whatever the installation, and never more so than when rollicking two and half tonnes of Bentley around. That doesn’t mean there wasn’t untapped potential in the V8, mind – so now there’s an Akrapovic titanium exhaust available for all variants (so the 680hp High Performance Hybrid, or the 782hp Ultra Performance Hybrid in the Speeds) of Continental GT and Spur.
Bentley reckons the new pipes offer up ‘a thrilling and visceral soundtrack that does full justice to the performance of these models’, as well as being closely related to the system just introduced in the Bentayga Speed. One we suggested was ‘cackle-out-loud fun’ in the SUV; imagine what Slovenia’s finest might sound like with the open air of a Continental GTC, or the supersaloon surroundings of a Spur. Certainly the video teaser would suggest it’s pleasingly raucous. Sport is when the bypass in the silencers open, so bank on these new Bentleys being suitably subdued in other scenarios. Hopefully.
Building an exhaust from titanium and ‘special super alloys’ means the Akrapovic setup is up to 10 kilos lighter than stock depending on which model. Strength, weight, flow and heat resistance were said to be the main priorities for the upgrade; no power gain has been published. Cars optioned with the exhaust will be identifiable by a new design of pipes with a sandblasted matte titanium finish with Bently and Akrapovic branding.
A cost hasn’t been issued for the optional upgrade, though you can bank on it being significant; this is an Akrapovic exhaust on a Bentley, after all. It’s available to order on new commissions of the Continental GT, GTC and Flying Spur now, or interestingly as a retrofit option for all the fourth-generation cars from dealers. The perfect finish touch for an Orange Flame GT like this one, surely.