06 May 2018
Uncategorized Permalink

Bentley Continental GT3-R ECU Upgrade

May 6, 2018

Bentley’s Continental GT3-R is basically a road-going race car. Only 300 hundred were ever
made. Just 99 made it to the US.

At launch, Bentley described this special edition as the most dynamic and fastest-accelerating
car they had ever produced. The British carmaker also described this Continental as uncompromising and focused.

Motorsport pedigree
The GT3-R was inspired by the companies successful return to motorsport with the
race-winning GT3 racer. Just like its track going counterpart, the GT3-R has the Audi/Bentley
co-developed 4.0-litre V8 engine. This engine is found in other Continentals as well as Audi’s
RS7.

Staying true to its motorsport roots, the GT3-R went on a diet. Engineers shaved 220lbs from
the coupe’s kerb weight. This was accomplished with the use of carbon fiber trim and select
body panels. The rear seats were removed and lighter front seats fitted. Gone is Bentley’s
signature wooden inlaid interior – the door cards are entirely carbon-fiber. Replacing the
standard exhaust with an Akrapovic titanium muffler saved over 15lbs. The team also fitted
machined, 21” lightweight alloy wheels and fade resistant, Carbon-Silicon-Carbide brakes. The
brakes are a jumbo pizza size 16.5 inches up front.

This isn’t a budget spec Bentley though. You’ll still find the same fit and finish as you would in
any Bentley – it still has double-paned windows for sound reduction, air suspension, a 4WD
system and massaging seats. Let’s not forget that motorised trunk opener too!

For enhanced road-holding, the GT3-R sits lower than other Continentals, offering a lower
centre of gravity. The dropped ride-height improves the handling and allows for faster cornering with less body roll.

Bentley’s M-Sport race team were involved in developing the GT3-R, refining the suspension,
dampers and steering for a more lively driving experience.

Each GT3-R is handbuilt at Bentley’s factory in Crewe, England before being passed over to the
motorsport division for finishing. The interior is shod in Alcantara and Beluga hide.

 

 

14 Apr 2018
Bentley, Bentley Continental GT Permalink

A Closer Look at the Bentley Continental W12 6.0L Engine

April 14, 2018

Throughout the history of the internal combustion engine, there have been some ingenious engines developed. Almost any layout and configuration you can think of has been tested, with varying degrees of success. We know about single cylinder engines, flat fours, five strokes and the now famous piston-less Wankel engines. In cars though, we generally now use well-established engine layouts like inline four, V6/8 and V12 engines.

VW took inspiration from an early 20th-century British aircraft engine builder and pioneered the use of a W12 configuration in automotive applications. The result is a powerful, butter smooth engine that delivers impressive fuel economy.

W12 Engine History

The W12 engine is a twelve-cylinder piston engine layout, which was first used by British engineering company and aero engine builder D. Napier & Son. The twelve-cylinder engine it built was called the Napier Lion and it featured three banks of four pistons. At the time, this was one of the most powerful engines in the world. A number of other manufacturers adopted the layout through the 1920s and 30s.

In the late 80s, two separate Formula One teams experimented with a W12 engine. One was only tested privately and never entered into an official race. The other, built by a former Ferrari engineer, attempted to attract potential racing customers. When the company failed to do so, they bought an F1 chassis and tried to enter F1 in 1990 as an independent race team. The engine was highly unreliable and down on performance, in 14 attempts, the W12 never made it out of pre-qualifying.

VW would later experiment with the W engine layout for automotive use, starting with a W8. The W engine derives its name from the configuration of the pistons, which when viewed from the front, appear to resemble the letter W. Volkswagen started work on the W8, the experience gained later proved instrumental in the development of W12 engines. W8’s were fitted to VW Passats longitudinally, that is, with the front of the engine at the front of the car.

The W8 can be thought of as two narrow V4 engines melded together. The VR4 engines it’s based upon use a very narrow-angle between pistons of 15 degrees. The four banks of pistons then share one crankshaft. This makes for a very compact engine, which will fit in the same space as a traditional V6.

In 1991, Audi unveiled a W12 engines concept car, called the Audi Avus. The show car was fitted with a dummy engine, however, made from painted plastic and wood.

It wasn’t until a decade later that VW demoed its W12 engine, then fitted in a mid-engined, rear wheel drive concept car. The engine had a 6.0-litre displacement and produced 600hp. A week before its debut at the Tokyo motor show, the W12 concept car broke a 24-hour world endurance record, covering 4,400 miles at an average speed of 183.45mph.

This engine can be thought of as two VR6 (narrow-angle V) motors joined together at 72 degrees to one another. Unlike earlier W12 layouts, it uses four rows of three cylinders, as opposed to three rows of four. Sometimes, this configuration is referred to as a WR12 engine.

VW is the only motoring group in the world to use a W12 layout. The reason for doing so is that this layout is highly space efficient. Rather than combining two V6 engines lengthwise, the W12 halves the motor length, meaning it can be mounted transversely. This means that car designers can create AWD sedans and coupes.

Engine Specification

Identification / Part Number Prefix 07C
Engine Displacement 366.0 cubic inches,
Configuration 72° W12 engine.
Bore x Stroke 3.31 in x 3.55 in
Stroke Ratio 0.93:1
Compression Ratio 10.7:1
Cylinder Block Homogenous monoblock, die-cast from  hypereutectic ‘Alusil’ aluminum-silicon alloy
Crankcase Torsionally stiff crankcase with high-resistance piston liners. Die-forged steel crank with seven main bearings. Constant firing order as per V6 engine.
Cylinder head Cast aluminium, four valves per cylinder, 48 total. 2 x double overhead camshaft.
Aspiration Dual electronic throttle bodies cast magnesium alloy intake manifold. Bentley models are twin turbocharged.
Fuel Common rail fuel distribution with multi-point sequential indirect fuel injection. NGK spark plugs. Mapped direct injection also. Knock sensors and permanent lambda control.
Dimensions 20.2in long, 28.1in height, 28 in wide.

 

Power output and models

Currently, the W12 engine is fitted to the following models.

  • Audi A8L W12 (384.4 cu in with 493bhp and 463 lb-ft torque at 4,750 rpm
  • Bentley Continental GT (353 cu in with twin turbos and 626hp. 664 lb-ft @1,350 to 4,500 rpm
  • Bentley Continental Supersports (353 cu in with twin turbos and 700hp. 750 lb-ft @1,350 to 4,500 rpm
  • Bentley Continental Flying Spur (353 cu in with twin turbos and 626hp. 605 lb-ft @2,000 rpm
  • Bentley Bentayga (353 cu in with twin turbos and 600hp. 664 lb-ft @1,350 to 4,500 rpm
  • Volkswagen Phaeton W12 until 2011 (366.0 cu in. 444 bhp. 413 ln-ft @ 2,750 – 5,200 rpm)

Power gains with tuning

It’s possible to further increase the power of this large engine by adjusting parameters on the engine control module. With ETG’s (ECU Tuning Group) software, the Bentley Continental GT will make 681 Horsepower and 651 LB-FT of torque. Additionally, changes to throttle and transmission maps further enhance performance.

W12 Factory Video

A YouTube channel filmed the W12 production from start to finish. It’s a fascinating watch and surprising to see a lot of hand finishing and traditional build methods still in use at the Bentley Crewe factory.

 

by Ben Gribbins

gribbins 2 - A Closer Look at the Bentley Continental W12 6.0L Engine

04 Mar 2018
Bentley, Bentley Continental GT, Uncategorized Permalink

Redesigned 2018 Bentley Continental GT W12 Engine

March 4, 2018

Bentley Continental GT W12

For 2018, Bentley has re-designed the Continental GT.

Bentley describes the third-generation Continental GT as the definitive luxury Grand Tourer car.

The 2018 model, powered by a ginormous, updated, 6.0-litre W12 TSI engine, generates 626 bhp and a staggering 664lb.ft. of torque. The leviathan motor is paired with an 8-speed, dual-clutch transmission. The redesigned body is sleek and sporting, with heavyset chiselled lines and a sculpted rear. Bentleys are still designed and handbuilt in Britain, combining old-school coach-building methods with modern technology.

 

Engine – A Technical Marvel

Bentley says the updated W12 TSI motor is the most advanced 12-cylinder in the world. The engine derives its name from the layout of the pistons, in a unique ‘W’ config. This arrangement makes the W12 almost 25% shorter than a conventional V12, offering more cabin space and optimal weight distribution.

The W12 is controlled by a modern engine management system, that makes 300,000,000 calculations every second. The result is a 626bhp power output and 664 lb.ft of torque. The Continental GT will storm from 0-60 in 3.6 seconds. Flat out, a W12 engined GT will do 207 mph.

Bentley designed the W12 to combine high-pressure direct fuel injection in tandem with low-pressure injection. As a result, the engine is more refined, produces fewer tailpipe emissions and has optimal power and torque curves. The W12 meets ULEV 125 (LEV 3) emission levels.

The new engine also has Bentley’s Variable Displacement technology. During sedate drives, the onboard computer shuts down half the engine, turning the 12 cylinder into a six-cylinder. The computer closes the intake and exhaust valves, fuel injectors and ignition in a pre-defined pattern. This gives better gas mileage and efficiency.

There are also a number of driver assists and new tech included on the W12. There’s a dedicated Launch mode that delivers the maximum possible acceleration by preloading the tranny. For further improving gas mileage, the W12 has start-stop technology that not only works in traffic and at the lights but also whilst cruising and at higher speeds. Bentley says this allows the engine to ‘rest’ temporarily.

 

Engine Specs

The W12 TSI is a twin-turbocharged, direct intercooled, 12 cylinder engine with a displacement of 363-cubic inches. Maximum power at 6000 rpm is 626 bhp, with 664 lb.ft of torque between 1330 – 4500 rpm.

The compression ratio is 10:5:1 and fuel delivery comes through port and direct injection. There four overhead camshafts, featuring dual cam phasing and 48 valves! The W12 TSI will happily run on anything between 92-98 RON unleaded gasoline.

Need more power?  GT owners can quickly and efficiently increase performance with an ECU upgrade from ETG:

ETG ECU Upgrade for Bentley Continental GT W12

PERFORMANCE
– ETG Horsepower: 681 HP
– ETG Torque: 651 LB-FT

FEATURES
– Increase in Horsepower and Torque
– Reprogram Throttle Maps for Improved Throttle Response
– Reprogram Transmission Maps for Quicker Shifts
– Raise Rev Limiter
– Remove Speed Governor
– Undetectable at Dealership (most vehicles)
– Vehicle Can Be Put Back to ‘Stock’ If Required
– Complimentary Re-flashing of ECU included, if Dealer Reprograms ECU

PRICE
– ECU Upgrade:  $3495
– OBD-II (install on-site) or Bench Flash (ship ECU), bench Flash makes more power:  $99

REMOVAL
– ECU is located on the passenger side, below windshield, under plastic cover
– Plastic cover with 4 tabs, turn counter-clockwise 45 degrees
– ECU sits under cover horizontally
– 1 Torx screw
– Grab ECU with one hand, push hook/clip back with other hand to remove

 

Powertrain

A Power plant like the W12 needs an equally beefy drivetrain to suit. Instead of a torque converter, Bentley engineers opted for a dual-mass flywheel. The DMF smoothes out shocks on the drive train, providing smooth power.

There are also dual clutches in the eight-speed automatic, creating near seamless and rapid gear shifts. The eight-speed box helps improve fuel economy too, with the W12 and auto combo fuel use at 23.2 mpg.

Different drive modes change gearshift responsiveness.  Sport mode gives super quick changes, whilst comfort mode is more relaxed. The eighth gear is actually an overdrive gear for cruising, with top speed occurring in seventh.

Grip is further optimized with an active All-Wheel-Drive System, with a variable torque split front-to-rear. The previous model had a conventional 40:60 power split, whilst the new model changes the power delivery on the fly. The car favours rear-wheel drive during normal driving conditions.

Front wheel drive engages only as needed, minimizing understeer.

 

Handling

Bentley has revisited the handling of this model. Underneath, you’ll find VW’s MSB architecture, shared with the Porsche Panamera.

The Continental features Bentley’s Dynamic Ride, a 48-volt body roll controlling system that adjusts electronic actuators on the anti-roll bar for an improved ride.

This way, Bentley is able to make a heavier GT tourer feel much lighter. The system works instantly to counter body roll in corners. This variable anti-roll arrangement also proves less of a compromise versus traditional mechanical sway bars.

Dynamic Ride Modes include a Comfort mode, Bentley mode and a Sport mode. Each mode calibrates the engine, suspension, transmission and steering systems to suit.

The Continental floats across rough surfaces now thanks to its 60 percent larger volume air shocks. The shocks constantly monitor the forces applied to each wheel and measure the distance between the body and wheels, adjusting the air volume.

Bentley made sure this powerful grand tourer will stop when needed, thanks to huge 16 ½ inch brake discs.

 

Interior

The interior is beautifully crafted. Featuring handmade and assembled wood trim, combined with parts machined to tolerances of 0.003 inches. Aluminium surrounds compliment the ebony black gloss inlays. The seats are extremely comfortable with 12-way adjustability.

Even the foam in the seats was revised to give a softer, more supportive seating experience. The high tech chairs feature pneumatic bolsters that adjust to cornering forces and give the driver more lateral support. Covering the seats is a sumptuous bull leather and throughout the interior, there is 1.75 miles worth of thread stitching.

The attention to detail is impeccable. The combination of modern and retro style touches is masterful. For example, the dashboard now has digital gauges. For those who don’t like digital dials, you can press a button and the centre console revolves between a widescreen, HD monitor, a beautiful wood blanking plate and a set of analogue dials that include a compass and an atmospheric barometer. It is the most James Bond style feature I’ve ever seen in a production car.

The cabin is whisper quiet, thanks to acoustic glass. The doors will even hold themselves open no matter what position and they have dampers to stop the door from catching the wind. Amazing!

 

Summary

The Bentley Continental GT is a road eating monster. Bentley has spent a lot of time and effort getting everything just right.

It rides beautifully, is extremely comfortable, will accelerate hard and can even do a 12-second ¼ mile. And when you’re done throwing it around corners, driving hard, you can take it on a thousand mile road-trip and arrive feeling rested. What a machine!

 

by Ben Gribbins

gribbins 2 - Redesigned 2018 Bentley Continental GT W12 Engine

02 Feb 2016
Uncategorized Permalink

HJS Hi-Flow 200 C.P.S.I. Universal Tuning Catalyst HD (up to 900 HP)

February 2, 2016

HJS Hi-Flow 200 C.P.S.I. Universal Tuning Catalyst HD (up to 900 HP)

 

HJS 200 cell cat for bentley 450hp each - HJS Hi-Flow 200 C.P.S.I. Universal Tuning Catalyst HD (up to 900 HP)

for Bentley Continental GT, Porsche Turbo, and more.

 

Product Description

Model Number 9095 0190
Max Engine Size per Catalyst Up to 6.0 Liters per Catalyst; Up to 12.0 Liters w/ 2 Catalysts
Max HP per Catalyst Up to 450 HP per Catalyst; Up to 900 HP w/ 2 Catalysts
In/Out Diameter 2.99 in (76 mm); Extendable to 3.5 in (88.9 mm)
Length 14.76 in (375 mm)
Outer Diameter 5.67 in (144 mm)
Weight 7.72 lbs (3.5 kg)
C.P.S.I. 200 C.P.S.I.(Cells Per Square Inch); Hi-Flow
Air Flow 90%
Function OBD II, MOT, Euro 3, Euro 4, Euro 5
Country of Manufacture Germany
Functions as Main Catalyst
Notes To weld in, HD – High Durability;

For all European vehicles 2008 and later which are EURO 5.  Can  also be used on European vehicles 2007 and before, but is not required.
02 Feb 2016
Uncategorized Permalink

HJS Hi-Flow 200 C.P.S.I. Universal Tuning Catalyst HD (up to 700 HP)

February 2, 2016

HJS Hi-Flow 200 C.P.S.I. Universal Tuning Catalyst HD (up to 700 HP)

 

HJS 200 cell cat for bentley 350hp each 200w - HJS Hi-Flow 200 C.P.S.I. Universal Tuning Catalyst HD (up to 700 HP)

for Bentley Continental GT, Porsche Turbo, and more.

 

Product Description

 Model Number  9095 0182  “Porsche HD Variant”
 Max Engine Size per Catalyst  Up to 5.0 Liters per Catalyst; Up to 10.0 Liters w/ 2 Catalysts
 Max HP per Catalyst  Up to 350 HP per Catalyst; Up to 700 HP w/ 2 Catalysts
 In/Out Diameter  2.76 in (70 mm); Extendable to 3.5 in (88.9 mm)
 Length  12.28 in (312 mm)
 Outer Diameter  5.11 in (130 mm)
 Weight  5.62 lbs (2.55 kg)
 C.P.S.I.  200 C.P.S.I.(Cells Per Square Inch); Hi-Flow
 Air Flow  90%
 Function  OBD II, MOT, Euro 3, Euro 4, Euro 5
 Country of Manufacture  Germany
 Functions as  Main Catalyst
 Notes  To weld in, Matrix Diameter 127mm, HD – High Durability;

For all European vehicles 2008 and later which are EURO 5.  Can  also be used on European vehicles 2007 and before, but is not required.
05 Dec 2015
ECU FAQ Permalink

Beware of Fake Chips and Fake Handheld Tuning Modules

December 5, 2015

deceptive marketing in tuning industry - Beware of Fake Chips and Fake Handheld Tuning Modules

Instragram post by @ecutuninggroup:

We were at our local McLaren dealership a few weeks ago and some of their customers were complaining about a tuning device they bought on the internet. The customers had followed the procedure of “uploading the tune” and felt no difference in power. McLaren asked us to take a look at the device and so we did. When we opened the “tuning device” the only thing it contained was a circuit board for a flashing light…

Be careful of fake ecu modules, and fake handheld tuning modules.