Bentley Continental T (2002)

Bentley Continental T

Bentley were determined to leave no gap in their range of luxury high performance cars. This led to the devolpment of the even more powerful Continental T, with more emphasis on sportiness and slightly less on luxury.

Performance of the 1996 Bentley Continental T were without equal. The Continental T had 590 ft·lbf (800 N·m) and from 1997 650 ft·lbf (881 N·m) positioned this car at the top. There existed no other passenger motor car in the world which came even near this figure. The Bentley Continental T was a 2+2 coupé developed from the Bentley Continental R with a more athletic outward appearance due to a 4 in (10 cm) shorter wheelbase and extended front and rear wheel arches. The driver found an engine-turned dash with chrome finish instruments, (as opposed to the wood finish in the Continental R) as a delicate reminiscence of the heyday of Bentley. The Continental T's engine responded to a separate push-button starter. All Continental's were aimed at crossing continents with ease and luxury.

Introduced in 1999 the Bentley Continental T Mulliner could be specified by a discerning Bentley driver by comparison to the basic model. Modified shock absorbers in combination with stiffer torsion bars (front +40%, rear +20%) did permit to use the engine's most impressive power even under conditions, which previously might have been considered as beyond the limit.

However, many of the motoring press criticised the Continental T's soggy handling and lack of quick responses, which the company claimed it had. Although, they all fell in love with the sheer presence and character of the car.

Production

+ Continental T (1996 — 2002): 322
+ Continental T Mulliner (1999): 23
+ Continental T Le Mans (2001): 5