The Bentley Continental GT is a two-door 'two plus two' grand touring coupé released in 2003, replacing the previous Rolls-Royce-based Continental R and T.
It is equipped with a 5,998 cubic centimetres (366.0 cu in) (6.0 litre) twin-turbocharged W12 engine, which produces a DIN-rated motive power output of 560 metric horsepower (412 kW; 552 bhp) at 6,100 rpm, and torque of 650 newton metres(479 ft·lbf) at 1,600-6,100 rpm. Torsen-based permanent four-wheel drive is standard. It will accelerate from 0 to 100 kilometres per hour (0 to 62.1 mph) in 4.8 seconds, and go on to reach a top speed of 318 kilometres per hour (197.6 mph).
Bentley's most radical car to date has to be the newly named Continental GT. This car spices up the Bentley line which has been fairly conservative. As expected, the car is built with the highest levels of Bentley luxury, craftsmanship and comfort. Unexpectedly the car is based on an entirely new platform, with a W12 engine powering all four wheels. Indeed, this is grand touring at its best.
Bentley have been working on a GT project over the last twenty years. During such time only a handful of cars were built and some sold to the Sultan of Brunei. Not until Volkswagen came along did Bentley have the capital to finish the project. A £500 million dollar investment from VW enabled Bentley to release this car at the 2002 Paris Auto Show.
Former Skoda designer, Dirk van Braeckel is the designer of the Continental GT. His design is inspired by earlier cars such as the Bentley Speed Six of 1928 and the 1952 R-type Continental. Like these cars the Continental GT possesses a stance and presence that is clearly Bentley. Styling cues include a pillar less cabin, short overhangs and a flush mounted rear spoiler
Inside, the Continental is classic, four seater Bentley. Indeed owners of an Arnage or Continental R will feel right at home. Like all Bentley products, the highest grade of hides and woods are used throughout.
The key ingredient shaping the Continental GT is the W12 engine. This engines basic architecture is lent from the Volkswagen Phaeton unit. The design of this W12 staggers two narrow-angle, V6 engines, all sharing a common crankshaft. The result is the shortest twelve-cylinder engine ever made for a production car.
Having such a short engine allowed Bentley to increase passenger space without increasing overall size. This additional space allows the Continental GT to seat four people.
Bentley has completely reworked the W12 design to its own specification. To increase power, twin KKK turbochargers are utilized. Forced induction is not a new idea to the Bentley name, back in 1928 Blower Bentleys dominated motor sport. Now, for over 20 years, Bentley has been turbo charging their own power units.
Providing the link between the engine and all four wheels is a ZF, 6-Speed transmission. Highlighting the newly-designed box are tiptronically-actuated gear changes. Such gear selection is a first for the Bentley marque.
In the handling department, Bentley have employed the use of active damping. Electronic dampers are used in combination with double wishbones and air-springs on all four wheels. Both the damping and spring rates are adjusted via computer to optimize performance and comfort. This layout is very similar to the suspension setup on the VW Phaeton.
Second generation (2012 - onwards)
Continental GT
A revised Continental GT was introduced in 2011. As a cheaper alternative to the existing (but updated) W12 engine, the new model can have a twin-turbo 4-litre V8 engine (developed jointly with Audi).[10] The 3993cc V8 produces 500 hp (373 kW) and 487 lb·ft (660 N·m).Cylinder deactivation technology effectively turns the V8 into a V4 to improve fuel economy by 8%. Other changes, including on-demand steering assistance, weight reduction, better engine heat management, overrun alternator charging and eco-tyres, improve overall fuel consumption by 40% from the W12's 17.1mpg to the V8's 26.1mpg.
Continental GT Speed
Bentley announced on 20 June 2012 that it would produce the Continental GT Speed, its fastest ever vehicle with a top speed of 330 kilometres per hour (205 mph). The model was introduced at the Goodwood Festival of Speed on June 28, 2012.
The engine is a twin-turbo 6.0 liter W12 that generates 616 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque. It uses an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. The ride height is lowered and chassis and suspension uprated.
World record on Ice
In early 2007, a Bentley Continental GT Speed equipped with Nokian Hakkapeliitta Sport Utility 5 studded winter tyres and driven by four-time World Rally Champion Juha Kankkunen, broke the World Speed Record on Ice - on the frozen Baltic Sea near Oulu, Finland. It averaged 321.6 kilometres per hour (199.83 mph) in both directions on the "flying kilometre", reaching a maximum speed of 331 km/h (205.67 mph). The previous record was 296 km/h (183.9 mph), achieved with a Bugatti EB110 Supersport. The record-breaking Bentley was largely standard except for a roll-cage, aerodynamic improvements, and low-temperature fuel and calibration.
On February 15, 2011 Kankkunen broke the record again, reaching an average speed of 331 km/h (205.67 mph) in a convertible Bentley Continental Supersports. Bentley announced that a limited edition of the car would be released to celebrate the achievement. It seems that Bentley provoked the former tyre supplier by attempting a new record with a different brand because, on March 6, 2011, Nokian Tyres test driver, piloting an Audi RS6 with Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7 studded tyres, took the ice speed record in Finland, clocking a top speed of 206.05 mph (331.61 km/h) in freezing conditions.
