Bentley Continental GT

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See also Bentley Continental for other models sharing this name

Bentley Continental GT

Manufacturer	Bentley
Parent company	Volkswagen AG
Production	2003–
Body style	2-door coupé
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)
Related	Audi A8 Bentley Continental Flying Spur (2005)

The 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.

1 Aspects
2 Pricing
3 In Film
4 World Speed Record on Ice
5 Continental Flying Spur
6 Continental GTC

[edit] 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 and permanent four-wheel drive. 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 (318 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, using some components from owner Volkswagen's flagship cars the Phaeton and the Audi A8.

The Continental GT features the largest brake disc on any production car at 405 mm (16 inches) in front. The rear disc measures 335 mm (13 inches).

[edit] Pricing

Prices start at around $177,000 (A$375,000) before options. The Continental GT has also been popular among celebrities and is sometimes referred to in the popular press as a "Baby Bentley".

[edit] In Film

The GT appears 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.

[edit] World Speed Record on Ice

In early 2007 a Bentley Continental GT driven by 4 times 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 or 199.86MPH in both directions on the "flying kilometer", reaching a maximum speed of 331km/h or 207MPH. Previously the record was 296km/h held by a Bugatti EB110 Supersport. The Bentley was largely standard except for a roll-cage, some aerodynamic improvements and low-temperature fuel and calibration. Tires were from Nokia with spikes.

[edit] Continental Flying Spur

Main article: Bentley Continental Flying Spur (2005)

The four-door Continental Flying Spur saloon was shown at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show in March. The Flying Spur utilizes the most of the technical basis of the Bentley Continental GT and has been be available in the United States from the summer of 2005. Together they have taken 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.

The Flying Spur is currently the world's fastest production saloon with a top-speed of 312km/h or 195MPH.

[edit] Continental GTC

The convertible version of the Continental GT, the Continental GTC, was presented in September 2005, and has been available since the autumn of 2006. With the second generation Azure, it is the second convertible by Bentley presented in 2005. The roof is produced by Karmann in Osnabrück/Germany. One prominent owner of this car is Paris Hilton who famously ran out of gas in it on a busy street.

Bentley Continental GTC 1	Bentley Continental GTC 2	Bentley Continental GTC 3	Bentley Continental GTC 4
Bentley Continental GT	The car in the foreground is a Continental GT. The other two are an Arnages and a Rolls-Royce