Bentley Continental GT. Refined strength
Bentley Continental GT is a 2-door 4-seater luxury car from the Gran Turismo, produced by British company Bentley Motors since 2003 in ‘coupe’ and ‘cabriolet’ bodies. In 2020, 3rd generation of the 2017 Continental GT luxury premium coupe was available on the Israeli market.
Continental GT is a phenomenally powerful, uniquely beautiful, and sophisticated car. It also features Speed modification, first introduced in 2007. The Bentley Continental GT Speed is the fastest of all Bentley cars, so the word ‘speed’ was not added for marketing purposes. In addition, GT Speed has a modified suspension and braking system, as well as minor exterior changes.
There are many interesting facts connected with Bentley Continental GT. For example, Finnish rally driver Juha Kankkunen set a world speed record on ice in his own Bentley Continental GT. The speed was 321.65 km/h. In one of the races, the supercar accelerated to 331 km/h, which is 5 km/h more than its passport speed. All racing versions of Bentley Motors are equipped with Austin Ballance Control and Traction Mode.
One more interesting fact is connected with the cartoon ‘Cars 2’, where Continental GT cars were seen in Monte Carlo, and this sports car also parodied Prince William as Prinz Wheeliam.
First generation
Produced from 2003 to 2011. Bentley Continental GT sports car was first unveiled at Geneva Motor Show in 2003 and was positioned as the successor to the Continental R and T. The 2-seat coupe was a 4-seat inside. According to Bentley Motors, a 180 cm person could comfortably fit in both the front and rear seats. The client was provided with a huge number of all kinds of leather colors and wood species for the lining of car. The dashboard and center console outwardly resembled Bentley symbolism – wing. Most of the functions could be controlled from the three-spoke steering wheel.
The first Bentley Continental GT was equipped with a 12-cylinder V-shaped engine with a volume of 6 liters and power of 560 hp. Fuel consumption was approximately 26.5 liters per 100 km. After 7 years of production, the car has acquired a large number of modifications and special versions. The cars were refined in order to provide an improved level of dynamics and quality of movement.
Second generation
It was produced from 2011 to 2017. It was facelifted in 2015. Second generation Bentley Continental GT was developed practically from scratch. The hood, along with the aft, was made of solid pieces of aluminum using a method of ultra-precise molding without welds, which made it possible to make sports cars lighter. The second Continental JT became not only lighter but also taller than its predecessor.
One of the important differences of the second generation is the headlights, which not only increased but also received a beautiful frame in the form of integrated LEDs. The radiator grille is located more vertically, which not only allowed for improved airflow, but also gave the car a more modern and aggressive look. Because the size of the door became larger, it was necessary to modify the side component of the headlights. It was slightly shortened. Windows have become narrower and more elongated. The wheel arches have become more muscular, and the overall silhouette has tightened and became more impetuous. Behind, the sidelights along with exhaust pipes have become flatter, and the reversing lights have gone down even lower. The luggage compartment lid has also undergone changes. Now the back of Continental GT began to resemble the sedan Bentley Mulsanne.
The Bentley Continental GT Speed is the fastest of all Bentley cars.
Second Bentley Continental GT was equipped with the same 6-liter twin-turbocharged V12 engine as the first one. But, there were changes. In the earlier version, there was 560 hp, and then it was 575 hp. The top speed was 318 km/h, and the car accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds. The operation of the motor was synchronized with a 6-speed automatic from ZF with the ability to change speeds using paddle shifters. The distribution of torque to the four-wheel drive is in a 40/60 ratio. With FlexFuel’s leading technologies, the engine could run not only on regular unleaded gasoline but also on environmentally friendly bioethanol.
The end of 2011 brought another powertrain to the Bentley Continental GT – a brand new 4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine with 509 hp. This engine was 40% more environmentally friendly than its 12-cylinder brother and consumed 10.5 liters per 100 km, and acceleration from 0 to 100 km was 4.8 seconds. In the 8-cylinder version is the 8-speed gearbox, which will be installed in the 12-cylinder version of the car in the future.
Third generation
Produced from 2017 to present (data for 2020). The third generation of the coupe is built on the MSB modular platform from the new Porsche Panamera. Like its predecessor, the model is assembled at the UK plant in Crewe. It is a fundamentally new car! The manufacturer shifted the front axle of the coupe forward, reducing the front overhang. Thus, the weight distribution is improved to almost ideal – 45% to 55% in favor of the rear axle. It has a positive effect on handling. The body of the new Continental GT is made of high-strength steel and aluminum. The total curb weight has decreased to 80 kg. Now it is 2244 kg. The drag coefficient compared to its predecessor has decreased by 2 points to 0.29 Cx.
Exterior
In front, the new Bentley Continental GT has 5 aggressive lines that go around the hood and go away from headlights, and one central one that goes to the vertical line of the radiator grille. The huge rectangular radiator grill consists of small vertical rhombuses. The new round LED matrix optics are split in two and are chrome edged. The bumper has massive air intakes and division into a central grille. The profile of the car received widened wheel arches, especially the rear. The line from the Continental GT headlight runs under the window frame to the rear spoiler. At the bottom of the body sidewall, there is a massive recess with integrated silver ‘gill’ and a line extending from it, enveloping the body at the rear. The edging of the window frame is trimmed with chrome. The rear-view mirrors are mounted on a leg, giving an even sportier look to the body. The rear of the car is equipped with new oval headlights with a chrome surround. The exhaust system, integrated into the lower plastic protection, looks stylish. The shape of the exhaust and headlights repeats each other. The curved trunk lid is equipped with a retractable spoiler. The bumper is essentially simple, elongated from the bottom, where a plastic insert with a decorative diffuser is located.
Interior
In Bentley Continental GT 2019/2020, the interior design has radically changed – everything is fitted with natural leather with inserts of wood, aluminum and covered with piano lacquer. Dash panel and top of the doors are lined with wood. When a driver approaches the car, it greets him with programmed optical signal light, illuminated thresholds, and contoured interior lighting.
There are also 4 seats, molded for a sporty style. Front seats are fitted with leather, equipped with massive lateral support, electrically adjustable, and heated. Ventilation and massage set them apart from conventional sports car seats. The matt chrome handle is designed to tilt each of the front seats forward and to access the rear. An express switch activates the electric drive, which automatically moves the seat forward. Front passengers are separated by a wide tunnel that starts from the center console. A cool feature in the upper part of the console is the three-pointer indicators, the platform of which turns over, providing a display of the multimedia complex. The Rotating Display is a 12.3-inch multimedia system and navigation MMI touchscreen. The line of buttons with washers for setting the main functions of the audio system is placed under the display. The passage to the tunnel is equipped with two circular deflectors with an analog clock in between.
Motors and dynamics
Bentley Continental GT 2020 is powered by a 6-liter W12 TSI petrol engine. The engine, due to the twin-turbocharged TwinScroll, produces 635 hp at 6000 rpm and 900 Nm of torque at 1350 rpm. In quiet driving mode, half of the 12 cylinders are deactivated to save fuel. When driving aggressively, flaps open, and fuel is supplied to all cylinders again. Fuel consumption, on average, is 17.7 liters in the city and 8.9 liters on the highway (with a tank volume of 90 liters). The engine is fitted with an 8-speed robotic gearbox with two clutches. The torque is transmitted through the all-wheel drive system, which depends on the driving modes, and is distributed in different ways through the multi-plate clutch: in Comfort mode, it is at least 62% to the rear wheels, in Sport mode – at least 83%. The dynamic performance of the coupe has improved: now it accelerates from 0 to 100 km/ h in 3.7 seconds, and top speed has increased to 333 km/h.
