Bentley Continental T

Bentley used to be the most luxurious coupe brand in the world. Now with the launch of Continental T, its prestigious status is further strengthened.  

Continental T is actually an updated version of Continental R. With higher power ( 420hp vs 385hp ) and stiffer suspensions, it emphasis on more sportier image which may reminds the company's glorious racing history in pre-war period.  

Its 2.5 ton weight is unquestionably the heaviest among all coupes in the world, because everything is heavy - huge body, lots of wood and equipments, huge leather seats, big V8 engine which is made of cast iron....no problem, because the combination of 6750c.c. and turbocharger can output a record-breaking 650lbft of torque ! That's 50lbft more than Aston Vantage 600 and 170lbft above McLaren F1 !  

Yes, 155mph top speed and 6.0sec for 0-60mph must be impressive, but the handling is another matter. For such a huge car, it would be foolish to expect a high level of cornering ability. However, Bentley has never attempted to attract such demanding drivers. On the contrary, it is serious to offer first class quality and luxury that would never be matched by Mercedes-Benz. In this respect, it employed the best craftmen in Britain to hand-made virtually all parts like body panels, leather seats and wooden dashboard. Even if the Mercedes can provide the same build quality by robotic machines, Bentley's proud leather and wood-rich cabin is still unmatchable. 
 

The above report was last updated in 1998. All Rights Reserved.

Specifications

Model
Bentley Continental T
Layout
Front-engined, Rwd
Dimension
L / W / H / WB: 5240 / 1920 / 1450 / 2960 mm
Engine
V8, ohv, 2v/cyl, turbo
Capacity
6750 c.c.
Power
420 hp
Torque
650 lbft
Transmission
4A
Suspension
All : double wishbones
Tyres
285 / 45 R18
Weight
2524 kg
Top speed
155 mph (estimated)
0-60 mph
5.8 sec (claimed)
0-100 mph
N/A
 
 

Continental T : related models

Continental has 3 versions with just minor deviations in trimming or tuning: 
  • Continental T: sport-biased. Engine tuned to 420 hp.
  • Continental R: comfort-biased. 385 hp.
  • Azure: convertible version of Continental R.
  • Corniche: Rolls-Royce convertible version. Lower pressure turbo result in 325 hp and 544 lbft.
The above report was last updated on 28 Dec 99. All Rights Reserved.
 

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