Bentley Continental GT
- See also Bentley Continental for other models sharing this name
| Bentley Continental GT | |
|---|---|
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| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Bentley |
| Production | 2003– |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 2-door coupe |
| Related | Bentley Continental Flying Spur (2005) |
Bentley Continental GT is a grand tourer coupe with two doors and a 2+2 seating arrangement released in 2003, replacing the previous Rolls-Royce-based Continental R and T.
The Continental GT has a 6 litre W12 engine with twin turbochargers that produce 552 bhp (412 kW). Acceleration from 0-60 mph takes 4.7 seconds (0 to 100 km/h in 4.8 s), the top speed is 198 mph (318 km/h). It has four wheel drive, the first Bentley to do so, and a six speed automatic transmission with steering wheel mounted gearshift paddles for instant override. The engine and air suspension are loosely based on owner Volkswagen's flagship car the Phaeton.
The Continental GT features the largest brake disc on any production car at 16 in (406 mm).
With a waiting list of 1 1/2 years it has proven to be a huge success for Bentley and Volkswagen. Depending on options it is priced around £120,000.
Continental Flying Spur
See also: Bentley Continental Flying Spur
The four-door Continental Flying Spur saloon was shown at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show in March. The Flying Spur utilizes the Volkswagen Phaeton platform, and will be available in the United States in the summer of 2005 for around US$175,000. Together they will take Bentley production from around 1000 units in 2003 to nearly 9000 units in 2006.
One notable aspect of the Continental Flying Spur is its grille. Although it looks like a traditional chromed brass mesh, it is actually made of plastic. This was done to add pedestrian safety to the car — it is designed to break apart on impact to soften the blow. However, it will not meet the forthcoming European Union pedestrian safety regulations.
Continental GTC
The convertible version of the Continental GT, the Continental GTC, was presented in September 2005, and will be available by the fall of 2006. With the second generation Azure, it is the second convertible by Bentley presented in 2005.
Related models
