Bentley Continental GT
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 2006 Bentley Continental GT |
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| Manufacturer | Bentley |
|---|---|
| Parent company | Volkswagen Group |
| Production | 2003–present |
| Assembly | Crewe, England, Osnabruck, Germany (Convertible Roof) |
| Predecessor | Bentley Continental R, Bentley Continental T |
| Class | Grand tourer |
| Body style(s) | 2-door coupé 2-door convertible |
| Layout | Longitudinal front-engine, four-wheel drive |
| Platform | Volkswagen Group D1s platform |
| Engine(s) | 6.0 L twin-turbocharged W12 |
| Transmission(s) | 6-speed ZF 6HP26A tiptronic automatic, 6-speed manual |
| Wheelbase | 108.1 in (2746 mm) |
| Length | 2003-05: 189.3 in (4808 mm) 2006-Present: 189.1 in (4803 mm) |
| Width | 2003-05 & GTC: 75.5 in (1918 mm) Supersports: 76.6 in (1946 mm) |
| Curb weight | 2385 kg (5258 lb) |
| Related | Audi A8 Bentley Continental Flying Spur, Volkswagen Phaeton |
| Designer | Dirk van Braeckel |
The Bentley Continental GT is a two-door 2+2 grand touring coupé released in 2003, replacing the previous Rolls-Royce-based Continental R and T.
It is equipped with a 6.0 litre, twin-turbocharged W12 engine, producing 552 hp (412 kW), with a top speed of 198 mph (319 km/h).
Designed by Belgian stylist Dirk van Braeckel, the Continental GT is built on the Volkswagen Group D1s platform, and therefore shares many technical components with the Volkswagen Phaeton.
Contents |
[edit] Models
[edit] Flying Spur
The four door Continental Flying Spur saloon was first displayed at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show. The Flying Spur utilises the most of the technical underpinnings of the Bentley Continental GT, and was introduced to European and North American markets in the summer of 2005. Together, the Bentley Continental GT and Flying Spur have boosted Bentley's annual production from around 1,000 units in 2003 to 9,200 units in 2006.
One notable aspect of the Continental Flying Spur is its grille. Made to look like traditional chromed brass mesh, it is actually made of plastic. The plastic grille was fitted as a safety feature; it is designed to break apart upon impact with a pedestrian.
[edit] GTC
The convertible version of the Continental GT, the Continental GTC, was first presented in September 2005, and was introduced to several world markets in the autumn of 2006. With the second generation Azure, it is the second Bentley convertible released in 2005. The roof is produced by Karmann in Osnabrück, Germany.
[edit] GT Speed
On 1 August 2007, Bentley released details of a more powerful GT. Power is increased to 603 bhp/449kW (610 PS), with a top speed of 202 miles per hour (325 km/h) and a 0-60 mph time of 4.3 seconds. The Continental's weight is also reduced by 35 kg (77 lb). Minor exterior changes include a tinted front grille and larger exhaust pipes. The price for this model is £137,000. The Continental GT Speed is the first production Bentley officially capable of reaching 202 mph (325 km/h).
[edit] GTZ
Unveiled in the 2008 Geneva Motor Show, the Continental GTZ is a rebody option by coachbuilder Zagato.[1]
[edit] GTC Speed
Set to be released in 2009. It will incorporate the same engine as the GT Speed and the Flying Spur Speed.
[edit] Supersports
In February 2009, Bentley announced the production of Bentley Continental Supersports,
The first Bentley capable of running on both petrol (gasoline) and biofuel (E85 ethanol). The car's 6.0 litre W12 engine was rated 630 PS (621 hp/463 kW)@6000rpm and 800 N·m (590 lb·ft)@1700-5600rpm - using either fuel. The car has 0-100 km/h (62 mph) acceleration of 3.9 seconds, 0-160 km/h (99 mph) acceleration of 8.9 seconds, top speed of 329 km/h (204 mph), making it the fastest and the most powerful production Bentley ever.
It includes a revised ZF 6HP26A tiptronic automatic with "Quickshift" system that reduces shift times by 50%, and enables double downshifts. The car uses a Torsen T-3 centre differential for the 40:60 rear-biased torque split for the four-wheel drive system. Other changes include revised Continuous Damping Control (CDC), 20-inch lightweight alloy wheels with increased 25 mm offset on rear wheels with 275/35 ZR20 Pirelli Ultra High Performance tyres, advanced ESP with switchable Dynamic Mode, Carbon fibre-reinforced Silicon Carbide (C/SiC) disc brakes (the largest and most powerful brakes ever fitted to a production car), 110kg weight saving over Continental GT Speed, automatic retractable spoiler (deploys at 80km/h).
The car was unveiled in 2009 Geneva Motor Show, announced to be available in autumn 2009 worldwide, while North American cars would be available by summer 2010.
US model has MSRP of $267,000, with early vehicles not having E85 capability, which would be available in summer of 2010 for US market.[2]
[edit] World speed record on ice
In early 2007, a Bentley Continental GT Speed 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 321.6km/h (199.86 mph) in both directions on the "flying kilometer", reaching a maximum speed of 331 km/h (207 mph). The previous record was 296 km/h (184 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.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Bentley Continental GT |
- Official Bentley Continental GT website
- Bentley Continental Supersports site
- Professional review of Bentley GTC
- Official Continental Superspeed website
| Bentley ownership and road car timeline, 1920s–present – marque of the Volkswagen Group | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Type | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | |||||||||||||
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Rolls-Royce |
 Volkswagen Group |
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| Sports car | 3 L | 4½ L | WWII | |||||||||||||||||||
| Saloon | 6½/Six | 4L/3½ 4¼L/V | VI | R | S1/S2/S3 | T1 | T2 | Mulsanne | CFS | |||||||||||||
| Large Saloon | 8 L | Camargue | Arnage | |||||||||||||||||||
| Coupé | Corniche | Continental & C Turbo | Continental R/S/T | C GT | ||||||||||||||||||
| Convertible | Azure | C GTC | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Founder: Walter Owen Bentley • Bentley Motors corporate website • A marque of the Volkswagen Group • Bentley Boys | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bentley automobile timeline, 1980–2003 – marque of the Volkswagen Group – next » | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Type | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Saloon | Eight | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mulsanne | Mulsanne S | Brooklands | Arnage | Arnage RL/R | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Mulsanne Turbo | Turbo R | Turbo RT | Arnage Red Label | Arnage T | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Coupé | Continental R | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Continental S | Continental T | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Convertible | Corniche | Continental | Azure | |||||||||||||||||||||
| colour code: | Silver Shadow-based | Mulsanne-based | Arnage-based | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Founder: Walter Owen Bentley • Bentley Motors corporate website • A marque of the Volkswagen Group • Bentley Boys | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| « previous — Bentley automobile timeline, 1998–present – a marque of the Volkswagen Group | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | 1990s | 2000s | ||||||||||
| 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |
| Saloon car | Arnage | Continental Flying Spur | ||||||||||
| Red Label | Arnage R/T | |||||||||||
| Arnage RL | ||||||||||||
| Coupé | Continental R | Continental GT | ||||||||||
| Continental T | Brooklands Coupé | |||||||||||
| Convertible | Continental GTC | |||||||||||
| Azure | Azure | |||||||||||
| colour code: | Mulsanne-based | Arnage-based | Continental GT-based | |||||||||
| Founder: Walter Owen Bentley • Bentley Motors corporate website • A marque of the Volkswagen Group • Bentley Boys • Bentley Speed 8 | ||||||||||||
