Bentley goes bio

The company that produces the bi-turbo 12-cylinder engine which guzzles 25 litres of fuel every 100km, is moving into ethanol power.

Bentley will debut its first biofuel vehicle, presumably named Victoria, at the Geneva motor show in March.

A brief internet video sneak preview of the vehicle shows a coupe shape, so it is likely to be based on the Continental GT, and a 12-cylinder engine, possibly boosted.

The tacho is shown with a 6500rpm limit, ruling out a biodiesel engine.

Since ethanol is not as economical as petrol, Bentley's reputation for high fuel consumption will remain and the car's green credentials will rely on reputable ethanol fuel sources.

The company claims its "extreme Bentley" will have supercar performance and be its fastest, most powerful production car yet.

Bentley Motors Limited regional manager Ed Striebig said it represented the company's first stage in its commitment to an environmental strategy announced at last year's Geneva show.

"It will have a flexfuel drivetrain with the ability to run on anything from 100 per cent petrol to 100 per cent ethanol with no interruption of performance," he said.

"We're excited and confident that this is the correct strategy to follow.

"Obviously there are divergent strategies out there, but we made the announcement last year that in 2012 we would have a complete fleet of flexfuel-compliant vehicles and this is the first step.

"What sets it aside from the others (environmental cars) is it is the fastest we have built.

"It is something we're quite proud of."