Bentley considering diesel powerplants

Bentley is considering offering diesel engines in its cars, a new report finds. Bentley's parent company, Volkswagen, has some of the world's best diesel technology -- thanks to their long history with the oil burning powerplant -- and even has some high-performance diesels engines waiting in the wings.

Bentley's marketing director, Adrian Hallmark, told AutoTelegraaf that a diesel powerplant would make sense for the Bentley brand because its customers expect a low revving, high-torque engine. However, the project has yet to get the green light because the current demand level isn't high enough to warranty the engineering costs of putting a diesel into a Bentley model.

Bentley has access to VW's V10 and V12 TDI engines -- the latter being the same motor used in the Audi R8 V12 TDI concept -- but Hallmark claims both engines are too large to fit under the bonnet of either the Continental GT or Flying Spur, the most likely candidates for diesel-power.

But with Roll-Royce reportedly readying a diesel powerplant option for its upcoming 'Baby Rolls', Bentley could give the program the green light sooner than later.