What’s the oldest single-cam, OHV engine still in production today?
Small-block Chevy, you say? In a way, yes, but there is an asterisk to that notation. And even though the new Gen V LT4 engine boasts 650 horsepower and 650 lb-ft peak torque, this other iconic pushrod V8 offers even more twisting force!
Today at the Paris Auto Show, Bentley Motors formally introduced its 2015 Mulsanne Speed, the brand’s flagship that is powered by a 6.75-liter, twin-turbo V8 rated at 530 horsepower but also pumps out an amazing 811 lb-ft of peak torque at just 1,750 rpm. That’s 1-ton diesel stump-pulling torque numbers.
The engine is an evolution of the old Rolls-Royce L-series platform introduced in 1959 and still in production, despite Volkswagen, the parent company of Bentley, using VW-based V8 or V12 powerplants in other Bentley models. Unlike the GM small-block, which has seen a number of changes in basic design and foundation since it debuted 1955, the L-Series is directly related to the original platform.
The Mulsanne Speed has a top speed of 190 mph with the updated engine. The automaker says it completely redesigned the combustion system, including the chamber, inlet port, fuel injectors and compression ratio to build the power. Also new are variable-valve timing and new turbo controls. For fuel economy, the engine has a cylinder-deactivation mode that shuts down half the cylinders.
So, GM isn’t the only automaker still promoting the benefits of two valves per cylinder. This configuration can make power and still meet fuel economy and emissions standards.