Bentley may adopt engine cutoff technology

Bentley, Volkswagen AG's British luxury brand, is planning to use cylinder cutoffs in the next generation of its top-of-the-line model, the Arnage.

The cutoff technology is designed to sharply reduce fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions by closing off individual combustion chambers when they are not needed -- say, at cruising speeds.

The next-generation Bentley Arnage will use engine cutoff technology designed to reduce fuel use and carbon dioxide emissions. A current Arnage is shown.

(Credit: Automotive News)

The next-generation Arnage will be presented at the Frankfurt motor show in September.

In addition to Bentley, others working on engines with cylinder cutoffs are Audi and AMG, the Mercedes-Benz in-house customizer. Those engines soon will go into production.

Separately, Bentley turned to an innovative forming technology that uses superheated air and high tool pressure to shape the Arnage's curvaceous bodywork.