Citing insider intel, a new report coming out of England finds the next-gen Bentley Continental GT will ride on the same aluminum-intensive platform as the second-gen Porsche Panamera that is set to debut in 2016.
“Bentley will use our technology and there is a good relationship between us. This is a big chance for them,” explained an anonymous inside source in an interview with British magazine Autocar.
The current Continental rides on an aging platform that was initially developed to underpin the full-size Volkswagen Phaeton. Switching to Porsche’s upcoming MSB platform will allow the big Bentley to shed a considerable amount of weight, and it will handle noticeably better thanks to an engine that will be mounted closer to the firewall.
The MSB platform won’t be the only Porsche-sourced component found in the next Continental GT. Autocar also believes the coupe will get its own version of the V8 engine that the Stuttgart-based automaker is currently developing for use in its larger cars like the aforementioned Panamera and the Cayenne. High-end models will continue to be offered with a 12-cylinder mill, and a fuel-saving plug-in hybrid drivetrain could be offered later in the production run.
Autocar speculates the next-gen Bentley Continental will be introduced at a major auto show in the second half of 2016. It will go on sale the following year, meaning it could land on our shores in time for the 2018 model year.
