Bentley Eight
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| Manufacturer | Bentley |
|---|---|
| Class | Luxury car |
| Production | 1984 to 1992 |
| Engine | 411.9 cu in, 6,750 cc V8 |
| Transmission | 4-sp 4L80-E automatic |
| Wheelbase | 120.47 in, 306 cm; |
| Length | 209.05 in, 531 cm |
| Width | 74.41 in, 189 cm |
| Height | 58.66 in, 149 cm |
| Kerb weight | 4,950 1b, 2,245 kg |
The Bentley Eight was a luxury car built from 1984 to 1992.
History
The Bentley Eight was introduced, as a cheaper and more simply equipped version of the Mulsanne, offering The Eight as Bentley's "entry-level" from 1984 until 1992.With 4 doors and 5 seats distinguished mainly by a wire-mesh grille radiator instead of vertical slats on the Mulsanne, the Eight also had somewhat less equipment than the similar Mulsanne on which it was based but the Eight was offered at a significantly lower price than the regular Mulsanne The number of paint finishes possible as standard had also been reduced. This brought the introductory price to under the psychologically important £50,000 mark at the time of introduction, £6,000 less than the Mulsanne.
The large 4 stroke; 8 cylinders in Vee engine with 411.9 cu in, 6,750 cc only achieved a fuel consumption of 16.1 m/imp gal, 13.4 m/US gal.The Eight was only available with a short wheelbase. A firmer suspension offered slight handling improvements. The Eight was so popular that sales expanded from the original UK market to Europe and the United States. the UK version came fitted with 2 SU type HIF7 horizontal carburettors and dual exhaust system while the USA market to meet emission standards came fitted with exhaust emission control, exhaust gas recirculation, catalytic converter, Bosch K- Jetronic injection. Similar exhaust emission control also for Australia.
The Chassis has front and rear auxiliary frames the front suspension independent type lower wishbones, coil springs, anti-roll bar and telescopic dampers at the rear also independent, trailing arms, coil springs, auxiliary gas springs, anti-roll bar, automatic levelling control, telescopic dampers.
The Eight was introduced with more simple dashboard design. Fuel injection and anti-lock brakes were added in 1986, leather upholstery and power memory seats were added in 1987, and automatic ride height adjustment was added in 1990. In Britain, catalytic converters became optional in 1990 – although they had been available long before in markets where such were required. The three-speed automatic transmission
