Bentley Continental GT
- See also Bentley Continental for other models sharing this name
| Bentley Continental GT | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Bentley |
| Production | 2003– |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 2-door coupé |
| Related | Audi A8 Volkswagen Phaeton Bentley Continental Flying Spur (2005) |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2745 mm (108 in) |
| Length | 4804 mm (189 in) |
| Width | 1916 mm (75 in) |
| Height | 1390 mm (55 in) |
| Curb weight | 2385 kg (5258 lb) |
Bentley Continental GT is a grand tourer coupé with two doors and a 2+2 seating arrangement released in 2003, replacing the previous Rolls-Royce-based Continental R and T. Unlike previous British built Bentley's, this cars Final Assembly point is in Brazil at a VW factory.
Aspects
The Continental GT has a 6 L W12 engine with twin turbochargers which develops 552 hp (411 kW) at 6100 RPM and 479 lb-ft (650 N-m) at 1600 RPM. Never before had a 12 cylinder engine been employed on a Bentley car. Acceleration from 0-60 mph takes 4.7 seconds (0 to 100 km/h in 4.8 s), the top speed is 198 mph (312 km/h). It has all-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 manufactured by Bentley, but are loosely based on owner Volkswagen's flagship car the Phaeton.
The Continental GT features the largest brake disc on any production car at 405 mm (16 in) in front. The rear disc measures 335 mm (13 in).
Success
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 $170,000 (A$375,000). The Continental GT has also been popular among celebrities; The Game, Paris Hilton, Ben Affleck, Lil Kim, Fabolous, and Vince Carter, are known to own one and Chris Tucker was infamously caught speeding in his.
In Film
The GT apppears in the 2005 remake of The Longest Yard with Adam Sandler, featuring the Bentley in the co-starring role held by the Citroën SM in the 1974 Burt Reynolds original. This time, rather than escaping from the police, the protagonist crashes into them.
The 2006 film Miami Vice also has a Bentley GT.
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 D 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 autumn of 2006. With the second generation Azure, it is the second convertible by Bentley presented in 2005.
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Bentley Continental GT -
The car in the foreground is a Continental GT. The other two are an Arnages and a Rolls-Royce
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