I first heard about the prospect of Audi replacing the current 4.2L V8 in the A8 with a forced induction 4.0L mill in 2012 from Edmund's INSIDE LINE. We've had some back-and-forth on this issue here on this forum, and I've personally been ambivalent since canceling my D4 order due to the engine question.

Well it appears that this new Audi V8 engine is definitely making it into the 2012 Bentley in two versions: a single turbo 4.0L with 415-hp, and a twin turbo 4.0L putting out 550-hp (ordering to begin at the end of this year). Since this announcement, I contacted Ed Hellwig, one of Inside Line's senior editors, to find out if there was any further info regarding Audi's use of this engine in the A8. While we expect the twin turbo version to show up in the up-coming S8, Ed indicated that the single turbo 4.0L should still make it to the A8, but most likely not until sometime in the mid-2012 MY cycle---possibly in early 2013.

I could have extended my current lease through the end of October, but in my case the timing for the new engine appears problematic at this point, so armed with this new info (albeit still speculative), I've re-appropriated my original vehicle build order from my dealer---and the car (with the venerable 4.2L V8) is presently in production this week :^) Should be here in plenty of time when my lease terminates in April. Thought I'd share this latest "intelligence."

I first heard about the prospect of Audi replacing the current 4.2L V8 in the A8 with a forced induction 4.0L mill in 2012 from Edmund's INSIDE LINE. We've had some back-and-forth on this issue here on this forum, and I've personally been ambivalent since canceling my D4 order due to the engine question.

Well it appears that this new Audi V8 engine is definitely making it into the 2012 Bentley in two versions: a single turbo 4.0L with 415-hp, and a twin turbo 4.0L putting out 550-hp (ordering to begin at the end of this year). Since this announcement, I contacted Ed Helwig, one of Inside Line's senior editors, to find out if there was any further info regarding Audi's use of this engine in the A8. While we expect the twin turbo version to show up in the up-coming S8, Ed indicated that the single turbo 4.0L should still make it to the A8, but most likely not until sometime in the mid-2012 MY cycle---possibly in early 2013.

I could have extended my current lease through the end of October, but in my case the timing for the new engine appears problematic at this point, so armed with this new info (albeit still speculative), I've re-appropriated my original vehicle build order from my dealer---and the car (with the venerable 4.2L V8) is presently in production this week :^) Should be here in plenty of time when my lease terminates in April. Thought I'd share this latest "intelligence."

More official info.
Production (in Russian Cyrillic ''MONTAZA'') starts end of this year for S6/7 (408ps) and both A8 4.0 tfsi (420ps) and S8 (518ps) end of this year!

http://www.rs6.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=10896&d=1296721702
http://www.rs6.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=10897&d=1296721711

More official info.
Production (in Russian Cyrillic ''MONTAZA'') starts end of this year for S6/7 (408ps) and both A8 4.0 tfsi (420ps) and S8 (518ps) end of this year!



So late 2011 production in Oct/Nov would bring 4.0L cars to North America in Dec 2011 or Jan 2012---assuming these new engines have been U.S. certified by that time. Yup, falls outside my required timeframe. Wonder if they'll offer both 4.2 NA as the base engine, with the 4.0L turbo as an optional upgrade?

So late 2011 production in Oct/Nov would bring 4.0L cars to North America in Dec 2011 or Jan 2012---assuming these new engines have been U.S. certified by that time. Yup, falls outside my required timeframe. Wonder if they'll offer both 4.2 NA as the base engine, with the 4.0L turbo as an optional upgrade?
Probably not! Too close to each other... Also note there will be V6 3.0 tfsi upgraded from 290 to 333ps, so that is making it even less likely!