Thursday, August 13, 2009

Bentley Continental Supersports (2010)


The Bentley Continental Supersports is the fastest and most powerful Bentley ever. It is the extreme Bentley, a muscular two-seater that delivers supercar performance and a highly focused driving experience. The Bentley Continental Supersports is also the first Bentley capable of running on both petrol (gasoline) and biofuel, pioneering the use of FlexFuel technology in the luxury sector. This represents stage one of the company's commitment to make its complete model range compatible with renewable fuels by 2012. Available worldwide from autumn 2009, the Bentley Continental Supersports will be FlexFuel compatible in the majority of markets from launch with North American cars offering the capability by summer 2010, following regulatory approval.

The Bentley Continental Supersports began as an 'under the radar' project exploring the possibilities of weight reduction on the Bentley Continental GT but with more power and torque. A largely experimental process crystallised over a period of 24 months into an official new car programme, driven by the passion and enthusiasm of a small group of Bentley engineers and designers. The results are dramatic. With 630PS (621 bhp) and new 'Quickshift' transmission that halves shift times, the Bentley Continental Supersports sets new performance benchmarks for Bentley. It accelerates from 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds (0-100 km/h in 3.9 seconds) with a top speed of 204 mph (329 km/h).

Supercar performance is complemented by an array of chassis enhancements including retuned steering and suspension, utilising lighter weight components, retuned dampers and anti-roll bars. Agility is further sharpened by the 40:60 rear-biased torque split for the all-wheel drive system, a wider rear track, bespoke lightweight 20-inch alloy wheels and a unique electronic stability programme. Carbon ceramic brakes are standard fitment, benefiting steering response, grip and ride comfort, while saving weight. Overall, the engineering team have achieved a weight reduction of 110 kg (243 lb) compared with the Bentley Continental GT Speed.

The evolution of the Bentley Continental Supersports' design is very much a case of 'form following function' with new purposeful sculptural forms signalling the engineering changes beneath the skin. For example, the increased power and torque of the W12 engine necessitated additional airflow to the twin turbocharger intercoolers and cooling system. Bentley's designers responded with a purposeful and dramatic style that features large vertical intake apertures and twin bonnet vents. Similarly, new flared rear wings that accommodate the 50 mm (2 inches) wider rear track are designed to emphasise the powerful stance of this ultra-high performance coupe. The resultant Supersports style combines the looks of the iconic Continental GT with a new and distinctive appearance that reflects its more extreme character.

The Bentley Continental Supersports is further distinguished from its Continental coupe stable mates by a unique dark-smoked steel finish to all exterior 'brightware', including front grilles, lamp bezels, window surrounds and wheels. A complex 'Physical Vapour Deposition' process is applied to all stainless steel components to give a lustrous and highly durable finish. A car industry first, this process is normally used as a coating on industrial tools, watches and even hip replacement joints.

Fully embracing the extreme spirit of the Supersports, Bentley's interior designers have created a unique ambience. The cockpit represents a dramatic reinterpretation of Bentley interior design in which carbon fibre and Alcantara not only convey a sporting and contemporary style but also reduce weight. The Bentley Continental Supersports is a strict two-seater featuring all-new lightweight sports seats with carbon fibre clamshell rear panels. In the rear compartment, the seats are replaced by a stowage deck with a carbon fibre luggage retaining beam. The new interior also provides a showcase for the skills of Bentley's craftsmen and women at the company's factory in Crewe, England. Signature premium grade leather and brightware are complemented by carbon fibre panels, replacing traditional wood veneers.

The Bentley Continental Supersports is capable of running on either petrol and E85 biofuel or any combination of the two. E85 biofuel can offer a reduction of up to 70 per cent in CO2 emissions on a 'well-to-wheel' basis. Well-to-wheel is a measurement of a fuel's net CO2 contribution to the atmosphere, not just tailpipe emissions. It is a way of quantifying how much CO2 a fuel emits from its growth or extraction (well) to its combustion or deployment (wheel). It includes refinement, distillation and transport of the fuel. The fuel supply system detects the blending ratio of the fuel in the tank and ensures that power and torque remain constant regardless of the ratio of petrol to biofuel. The result is seamless power delivery in the Bentley tradition.

The 'Supersports' name is inspired by the original two-seater 3-litre Supersports model introduced in 1925, itself an evolution of the 3-litre Speed. The lightweight, 85 bhp Supersports was the first production Bentley to reach 100 mph and was also renowned for the application of Le Mans-winning race technology.

Commenting on the new Supersports model, Dr. Franz-Josef Paefgen, Bentley's Chairman and Chief Executive said: "The Bentley Continental Supersports reflects the passion and enthusiasm of Bentley's engineers and designers. This is the fastest, most extreme Bentley ever, dramatically styled to underline its supercar character. Importantly, it also pioneers the use of FlexFuel technology in the luxury sector."

Bentley Continental GTC Speed (2010)


Introduction of the new Bentley Continental GTC range builds on this success with a subtle evolution of its distinctive style and a range of technical and feature enhancements benefiting comfort and customer choice. The appeal of the GTC is further strengthened by the addition of the new 600bhp (610PS) Bentley Continental GTC Speed model. It is Bentley's most powerful convertible ever and inspired by Bentley's legendary 'Speed Models' from the 1920s.

The new GTC models share a fresh frontal appearance. The radiator grille is more upright with a more pronounced square edge, accentuating the Bentley profile, and bolder lower air intake. These latest models are further distinguished by chrome headlamp bezels, the availability of two new exterior paints and a new colour hide.

For the standard Bentley Continental GTC, new low-friction dampers provide improved ride comfort. In addition, two significant new options may be specified on both GTC models: lightweight, fade-resistant, carbon-ceramic brakes, the largest production passenger car brakes in the world, and a sophisticated follow-to-stop Adaptive Cruise Control system with long-range radar sensor that monitors traffic ahead and manages throttle and brakes to maintain a driver-selected time gap.

The GTC's chassis and exceptionally rigid steel body have proved more than capable of coping with the power of the 552bhp (560PS) 6-litre W12 engine. For the new Bentley Continental GTC Speed, twin-turbocharged W12 now develops 600bhp (610PS) that delivers true 200 mph (322 km/h) performance, with the roof up, with exhilarating, effortless acceleration. Even with the roof down the Bentley Continental GTC Speed can reach 195 mph (312 km/h).

The Bentley Continental GTC Speed is visually distinguished by subtle design enhancements which emphasise its higher performance credentials. At the front, the radiator and lower air intake grilles feature a dark tinted matrix as standard. Larger diameter 9.5J x 20-inch, multi-spoke alloy wheels with Bentley-bespoke Pirelli PZero ultra-high performance (UHP) tyres, lowered and uprated suspension, wider twin-rifled exhaust tail pipes and a new boot-mounted lip spoiler that enhances high speed aerodynamics, reinforce the sporting character of the Speed model.

The GTC Speed's 600bhp (610PS) W12 engine develops 9 per cent more power than the standard GTC. However, it is the 15 per cent increase in torque that really distinguishes the Speed model, which now develops an impressive output of 750 Nm (553lb ft). This is achieved across virtually the complete rev range, from just 1700 to 5600 rev/min, delivering that characteristic Bentley wave of torque.

The 0-60 mph sprint is despatched in a mere 4.5 seconds (0-100km/h in 4.8 seconds) and 0-100 mph in 10.6 seconds (0-160 km/h in 10.5 seconds).

The GT Speed coupe, which debuted in 2007, has become the top selling GT model across the globe. This was followed in summer 2008 by the 4-door Continental Flying Spur Speed. Now, the Speed family is completed with the introduction of the Bentley Continental GTC Speed, which is expected to account for up to two-thirds of GTC sales worldwide in its first year of production.

Enhanced powertrain delivers more power and torque

Both Continental GTC models are powered by Bentley's 6-litre, twin-turbocharged W12 engine which is produced exclusively at the company's Crewe engine plant. The Bentley W12 is the most compact 12-cylinder engine in production with 48 valves and 4 camshafts with continually variable valve timing. Power is transmitted via a ZF six-speed automatic transmission.

The Bentley Continental GTC Speed is powered by Bentley's W12 engine in its most powerful, 600 bhp (610PS) form. It develops 15 per cent more torque and 9 per cent more power than the 552bhp (560PS) standard Bentley Continental GTC.

Engine efficiency improvements result from the use of lower friction, lighter-weight components and a new engine management system, while twin, low inertia turbochargers with minimal turbo lag contribute to the W12 engine's flat torque curve. In 600 bhp (610PS) form, the W12 develops a maximum torque of 750 Nm (553 lb ft) from 1700 rev/min all the way up to 5600 rev/min. The GTC Speed engine is visually differentiated by the 'crackle black' finish to the intake manifold.

This endows the Bentley Continental GTC Speed with a top speed of 200mph (322 km/h) with the roof-up and a 0-60mph sprint time of just 4.5 seconds (0-100 km/h in 4.8 secs). It also accelerates from 0-100 mph in just 10.6 seconds (0-160 km/h in 10.5 seconds).

The six-speed transmission can be left in two fully automatic modes (Drive and Sport) or used as a clutchless manual where the driver can change gears sequentially, via either the gearlever or paddles mounted behind the steering wheel.

The advanced continuous all-wheel drive system of both GTC models provides exceptional traction in all weathers. The drive is transferred between the front and rear axles via a highly sensitive centre Torsen differential. If the differential detects a deviation in torque demand between the two axles it automatically sends more power to the wheels with greater grip.

Both the GTC and GTC Speed also feature an advanced electronic stability programme (ESP 8.1). The 'Sport Traction' mode for the GTC moderates ESP intervention at low speeds, benefiting driver interaction and control, particularly on low traction surfaces. The 'Dynamic Mode' of the GTC Speed allows increased wheel slip at higher speeds compared to the standard chassis. This ensures that torque is reinstated more quickly, allowing the driver to exploit the full potential of the engine.

A luxury convertible with outstanding ride and handling

The Continental GTC's steel body has an exceptionally rigid torsional stiffness of around 30Hz that not only minimises 'scuttle shake' but provides a very stable platform for the aluminium-intensive suspension system, optimising its performance. Despite the boost in power and torque for the GTC Speed model, no changes to the body structure were required.

For the 552bhp (560PS) GTC, new low-friction dampers provide improved secondary ride (the response of the car to poor road surfaces) and even greater levels of comfort.

The Bentley Continental GTC Speed has a range of dynamic enhancements that deliver a more sporting, open-top Bentley driving experience. The retuned Continous Damping Control (CDC) system ensures that the body response matches the inputs from the new sports wheels and tyres, while improved body control reduces pitch and roll when cornering enthusiastically. In addition, stiffer rear axle bushes deliver better axle control and turn-in response.

The GTC Speed's suspension is lowered by 10 mm at the front and 15 mm at the rear for improved handling, while the retuned speed-sensitive steering system and solid-mounted front subframe, shared with the standard GTC, benefit steering response.

The wider 9.5J x 20-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels, unique to the GTC Speed, are fitted with bespoke 275/35 ZR20 Pirelli PZero ultra-high performance tyres that provide the car with superior grip as well as sharper steering response and feel.

To ensure optimum aerodynamic balance at speeds up to 200 mph (322 km/h) the new GTC Speed is fitted with a discreet spoiler on the trailing edge of the bootlid. This provides additional downforce and increases the top speed.

For both models, Bentley's carbon-ceramic brakes (CCB) are offered as a cost option. Larger diameter (420 mm front, 356 mm rear), lightweight discs and eight-piston callipers offer fade-resistant braking performance with minimal disc distortion under high thermal conditions. A 20kg weight saving reduces unsprung mass and benefits steering response and handling. This braking system may only be specified with 20-inch diameter wheels and are the largest and most powerful brakes ever fitted to a production car.

The standard-fit tyre-pressure monitoring system (TPMS) allows drivers to select tyre type and speed range parameters. As well as monitoring pressures, the system warns drivers if their speed is too high for the tyre pressures or if tyre speed ratings are exceeded on winter tyres.

Commenting on the GTC Speed's character, Dr. Ulrich Eichhorn, Member of the Board, Engineering, said:

"The Bentley Continental GTC Speed offers supercar performance, superb refinement, comfort and unrivalled craftsmanship all in one car. It perfectly evokes the spirit of the original Bentley 'Speed Model' of the 1920s."

Subtle evolution of the GTC's distinctive style

Both the GTC and GTC Speed benefit from subtle revisions to their frontal appearance.

The matrix grille is now more vertical and has a more pronounced square edge that accentuates the distinctive Bentley profile. A new lower bumper design with a widened air intake reinforces the sporting stance of both GTC convertibles, complemented by new chrome headlamp bezels. The new design also provides a practical benefit by improving airflow to the more powerful Speed engine by 14 per cent.

The Bentley Continental GTC Speed has a unique set of design cues, notably a dark-tinted matrix grille to the upper and lower air intakes, a black lower bumper valance, wider, rifled exhaust tailpipes and 20-inch, silver-painted, multi-spoke alloy wheels. The wheels are available as an option with a special dark tint finish.

GTC and GTC Speed customers have a choice of 17 'standard' paint colours including two new colours (Aquamarine and Blue Crystal).

Luxurious hand-crafted cabin

The cabins of both GTC and GTC Speed are available with a choice of 6 natural, unbleached, laser-cut wood veneers and 17 premium grade leather hides, including the new option, Aquamarine.

The GTC Speed's cabin is based on that of the Mulliner Driving Specification (a cost option on the standard GTC). It features diamond quilted hide seats with embroidered Bentley emblems, a knurled chrome and hide gearlever and a three-spoke multi-function steering wheel with brushed aluminium switch surround. These are complemented by drilled alloy foot-pedals and 'Speed' logos to the polished treadplates. The standard GTC also receives a new Bentley 'B' brake pedal.

A range of options give further opportunities for personalisation, including fascia panels, centre console, door pads and rear quarters in bright aluminium. Uniquely, the Bentley Continental GTC Speed is also available with a dark tint aluminium option.

New adaptive cruise control system

A sophisticated follow-to-stop, radar-based Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) system is now available on both GTC and GTC Speed. It uses a long-range radar sensor, mounted in the lower front grille, to monitor the road ahead for other vehicles. When a slower moving vehicle is detected, the system automatically adjusts the throttle or brakes to maintain a 'time gap', as selected by the driver.

Bentley Continental GTC (2010)


Introduction of the new Bentley Continental GTC range builds on this success with a subtle evolution of its distinctive style and a range of technical and feature enhancements benefiting comfort and customer choice. The appeal of the GTC is further strengthened by the addition of the new 600bhp (610PS) Bentley Continental GTC Speed model. It is Bentley's most powerful convertible ever and inspired by Bentley's legendary 'Speed Models' from the 1920s.

The new GTC models share a fresh frontal appearance. The radiator grille is more upright with a more pronounced square edge, accentuating the Bentley profile, and bolder lower air intake. These latest models are further distinguished by chrome headlamp bezels, the availability of two new exterior paints and a new colour hide.

For the standard Bentley Continental GTC, new low-friction dampers provide improved ride comfort. In addition, two significant new options may be specified on both GTC models: lightweight, fade-resistant, carbon-ceramic brakes, the largest production passenger car brakes in the world, and a sophisticated follow-to-stop Adaptive Cruise Control system with long-range radar sensor that monitors traffic ahead and manages throttle and brakes to maintain a driver-selected time gap.

The GTC's chassis and exceptionally rigid steel body have proved more than capable of coping with the power of the 552bhp (560PS) 6-litre W12 engine. For the new Bentley Continental GTC Speed, twin-turbocharged W12 now develops 600bhp (610PS) that delivers true 200 mph (322 km/h) performance, with the roof up, with exhilarating, effortless acceleration. Even with the roof down the Bentley Continental GTC Speed can reach 195 mph (312 km/h).

The Bentley Continental GTC Speed is visually distinguished by subtle design enhancements which emphasise its higher performance credentials. At the front, the radiator and lower air intake grilles feature a dark tinted matrix as standard. Larger diameter 9.5J x 20-inch, multi-spoke alloy wheels with Bentley-bespoke Pirelli PZero ultra-high performance (UHP) tyres, lowered and uprated suspension, wider twin-rifled exhaust tail pipes and a new boot-mounted lip spoiler that enhances high speed aerodynamics, reinforce the sporting character of the Speed model.

The GTC Speed's 600bhp (610PS) W12 engine develops 9 per cent more power than the standard GTC. However, it is the 15 per cent increase in torque that really distinguishes the Speed model, which now develops an impressive output of 750 Nm (553lb ft). This is achieved across virtually the complete rev range, from just 1700 to 5600 rev/min, delivering that characteristic Bentley wave of torque.

The 0-60 mph sprint is despatched in a mere 4.5 seconds (0-100km/h in 4.8 seconds) and 0-100 mph in 10.6 seconds (0-160 km/h in 10.5 seconds).

The GT Speed coupe, which debuted in 2007, has become the top selling GT model across the globe. This was followed in summer 2008 by the 4-door Continental Flying Spur Speed. Now, the Speed family is completed with the introduction of the Bentley Continental GTC Speed, which is expected to account for up to two-thirds of GTC sales worldwide in its first year of production.

Enhanced powertrain delivers more power and torque

Both Continental GTC models are powered by Bentley's 6-litre, twin-turbocharged W12 engine which is produced exclusively at the company's Crewe engine plant. The Bentley W12 is the most compact 12-cylinder engine in production with 48 valves and 4 camshafts with continually variable valve timing. Power is transmitted via a ZF six-speed automatic transmission.

The Bentley Continental GTC Speed is powered by Bentley's W12 engine in its most powerful, 600 bhp (610PS) form. It develops 15 per cent more torque and 9 per cent more power than the 552bhp (560PS) standard Bentley Continental GTC.

Engine efficiency improvements result from the use of lower friction, lighter-weight components and a new engine management system, while twin, low inertia turbochargers with minimal turbo lag contribute to the W12 engine's flat torque curve. In 600 bhp (610PS) form, the W12 develops a maximum torque of 750 Nm (553 lb ft) from 1700 rev/min all the way up to 5600 rev/min. The GTC Speed engine is visually differentiated by the 'crackle black' finish to the intake manifold.

This endows the Bentley Continental GTC Speed with a top speed of 200mph (322 km/h) with the roof-up and a 0-60mph sprint time of just 4.5 seconds (0-100 km/h in 4.8 secs). It also accelerates from 0-100 mph in just 10.6 seconds (0-160 km/h in 10.5 seconds).

The six-speed transmission can be left in two fully automatic modes (Drive and Sport) or used as a clutchless manual where the driver can change gears sequentially, via either the gearlever or paddles mounted behind the steering wheel.

The advanced continuous all-wheel drive system of both GTC models provides exceptional traction in all weathers. The drive is transferred between the front and rear axles via a highly sensitive centre Torsen differential. If the differential detects a deviation in torque demand between the two axles it automatically sends more power to the wheels with greater grip.

Both the GTC and GTC Speed also feature an advanced electronic stability programme (ESP 8.1). The 'Sport Traction' mode for the GTC moderates ESP intervention at low speeds, benefiting driver interaction and control, particularly on low traction surfaces. The 'Dynamic Mode' of the GTC Speed allows increased wheel slip at higher speeds compared to the standard chassis. This ensures that torque is reinstated more quickly, allowing the driver to exploit the full potential of the engine.

A luxury convertible with outstanding ride and handling

The Continental GTC's steel body has an exceptionally rigid torsional stiffness of around 30Hz that not only minimises 'scuttle shake' but provides a very stable platform for the aluminium-intensive suspension system, optimising its performance. Despite the boost in power and torque for the GTC Speed model, no changes to the body structure were required.

For the 552bhp (560PS) GTC, new low-friction dampers provide improved secondary ride (the response of the car to poor road surfaces) and even greater levels of comfort.

The Bentley Continental GTC Speed has a range of dynamic enhancements that deliver a more sporting, open-top Bentley driving experience. The retuned Continous Damping Control (CDC) system ensures that the body response matches the inputs from the new sports wheels and tyres, while improved body control reduces pitch and roll when cornering enthusiastically. In addition, stiffer rear axle bushes deliver better axle control and turn-in response.

The GTC Speed's suspension is lowered by 10 mm at the front and 15 mm at the rear for improved handling, while the retuned speed-sensitive steering system and solid-mounted front subframe, shared with the standard GTC, benefit steering response.

The wider 9.5J x 20-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels, unique to the GTC Speed, are fitted with bespoke 275/35 ZR20 Pirelli PZero ultra-high performance tyres that provide the car with superior grip as well as sharper steering response and feel.

To ensure optimum aerodynamic balance at speeds up to 200 mph (322 km/h) the new GTC Speed is fitted with a discreet spoiler on the trailing edge of the bootlid. This provides additional downforce and increases the top speed.

For both models, Bentley's carbon-ceramic brakes (CCB) are offered as a cost option. Larger diameter (420 mm front, 356 mm rear), lightweight discs and eight-piston callipers offer fade-resistant braking performance with minimal disc distortion under high thermal conditions. A 20kg weight saving reduces unsprung mass and benefits steering response and handling. This braking system may only be specified with 20-inch diameter wheels and are the largest and most powerful brakes ever fitted to a production car.

The standard-fit tyre-pressure monitoring system (TPMS) allows drivers to select tyre type and speed range parameters. As well as monitoring pressures, the system warns drivers if their speed is too high for the tyre pressures or if tyre speed ratings are exceeded on winter tyres.

Commenting on the GTC Speed's character, Dr. Ulrich Eichhorn, Member of the Board, Engineering, said:

"The Bentley Continental GTC Speed offers supercar performance, superb refinement, comfort and unrivalled craftsmanship all in one car. It perfectly evokes the spirit of the original Bentley 'Speed Model' of the 1920s."

Subtle evolution of the GTC's distinctive style

Both the GTC and GTC Speed benefit from subtle revisions to their frontal appearance.

The matrix grille is now more vertical and has a more pronounced square edge that accentuates the distinctive Bentley profile. A new lower bumper design with a widened air intake reinforces the sporting stance of both GTC convertibles, complemented by new chrome headlamp bezels. The new design also provides a practical benefit by improving airflow to the more powerful Speed engine by 14 per cent.

The Bentley Continental GTC Speed has a unique set of design cues, notably a dark-tinted matrix grille to the upper and lower air intakes, a black lower bumper valance, wider, rifled exhaust tailpipes and 20-inch, silver-painted, multi-spoke alloy wheels. The wheels are available as an option with a special dark tint finish.

GTC and GTC Speed customers have a choice of 17 'standard' paint colours including two new colours (Aquamarine and Blue Crystal).

Luxurious hand-crafted cabin

The cabins of both GTC and GTC Speed are available with a choice of 6 natural, unbleached, laser-cut wood veneers and 17 premium grade leather hides, including the new option, Aquamarine.

The GTC Speed's cabin is based on that of the Mulliner Driving Specification (a cost option on the standard GTC). It features diamond quilted hide seats with embroidered Bentley emblems, a knurled chrome and hide gearlever and a three-spoke multi-function steering wheel with brushed aluminium switch surround. These are complemented by drilled alloy foot-pedals and 'Speed' logos to the polished treadplates. The standard GTC also receives a new Bentley 'B' brake pedal.

A range of options give further opportunities for personalisation, including fascia panels, centre console, door pads and rear quarters in bright aluminium. Uniquely, the Bentley Continental GTC Speed is also available with a dark tint aluminium option.

New adaptive cruise control system

A sophisticated follow-to-stop, radar-based Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) system is now available on both GTC and GTC Speed. It uses a long-range radar sensor, mounted in the lower front grille, to monitor the road ahead for other vehicles. When a slower moving vehicle is detected, the system automatically adjusts the throttle or brakes to maintain a 'time gap', as selected by the driver.

Bentley Continental GT (2009)


Two figures alone would seem to say it all about the Bentley Continental GT: it accelerates from 0-60mph in 4.7sec (0-100km/h 4.8sec) and reaches a top speed of 198mph (318km/h). In fact such bold statistics barely scratch the surface of the Bentley Continental GT's true capabilities.

The aim from the start of the Bentley Continental GT project was to create a car with an unrivalled performance envelope, so that it would not only be quicker and more powerful than any rival on paper, but that these extraordinary talents would also be able to be used safely and to the full in the real world. The Bentley Continental GT is not and never was about theoretical performance potential - every aspect of its ability has been specifically tailored so that it is not just possible to access its performance, it is easy and natural.

Moreover, the Bentley Continental GT concept also dictated that the resulting car would recognise that, though we would all wish otherwise, road conditions in all markets mean that frequently its owners will not be able to make use of its full potential. Indeed in some regions traffic conditions are such that being able to extend such a car is more of a rare treat than an everyday occurrence. Which is why in addition to being able to thrill its occupants at a moment's notice, the Bentley Continental GT is also configured to comfort and cosset them the rest of the time - in the tradition of a true British Grand Tourer.

The Bentley Continental GT is the first product designed entirely under the patronage of the Volkswagen Group and a £500 million investment in the marque has enabled a transformation of the site at Crewe. This made it possible for the Bentley Continental GT to be designed, engineered and assembled on site.

The investment has also made it possible for Bentley to recruit over 400 new staff to Crewe, giving Bentley greater independence and control over its future than at any time since it first passed into proprietary ownership in 1931.

Engine

The heart of the Bentley Continental GT is its 5998cc, four camshaft, 48-valve, twin turbocharged W12 engine. It can now be revealed that its power output, hitherto quoted as 'in excess of 500bhp', is in fact 552bhp (560PS) (411kW) at 6100rpm. Maximum torque is 650Nm (479lb ft) which may sound an impressive enough statistic in isolation but its true significance only become apparent when you learn that it is generated at just 1600rpm. Typically, a performance car engine will force the driver to wait until it is spinning at between 3-5000rpm before it will deliver maximum thrust; in the Bentley Continental GT it's all there at barely more than idling speed. No other car in production makes its torque so instantly accessible.

But this just the start of the story for this engine has other claims to fame beyond its headline-grabbing outputs. Its exterior dimensions, for instance, make it the smallest 12-cylinder engine currently in production, despite its considerable 6-litre displacement. The block is just 513mm long, 715mm high and 710mm wide. This has been made possible entirely by its 'W' formation where instead of arranging the cylinders in two long rows as you would in a conventional V12 configuration, each bank of cylinders is actually staggered, effectively creating two V6 engines mated on a common crankshaft. The angle between the two main banks is 72deg, that between the staggered cylinders just 15deg. The result of this is an exceptionally compact motor, a trait that brings advantages in many areas. Clearly it helps hugely with weight distribution as a geographically small engine is easier to locate nearer the centre of the car. This in turn helps the overall packaging of the car and, in particular, its frontal crash performance, a crucial consideration in a Bentley which has a short front overhang as one of the main features of its design language.

It is no secret that the basic engine architecture has been supplied to Bentley from its parent company, the Volkswagen Group, but by the time Bentley's powertrain team had finished re-engineering it to an exclusive specification for the Bentley Continental GT, it could be truly considered a unique engine in its own right.

Clearly the major engineering challenge was to adapt the engine to accept forced induction, a process that required major re-engineering of the block, the replacement of many internal components and all new inlet and exhaust manifolds. The result would have to cope with a rise in output from 420bhp in standard form to 552bhp once installed under the bonnet of the Bentley Continental GT.

The engine features special pistons, specifically designed for the Bentley Continental GT in order to deliver the desired compression ratio of 9.5:1, a phenomenally high figure for a turbocharged engine. The engine also features seven main bearings, pent-roof combustion chambers and variable valve timing on both inlet and exhaust valves. The timing is infinitely variable within its fixed range, which is some 52 degrees on the inlet camshafts and 22 degrees on the exhaust camshafts.

A huge amount of work was also undertaken to make sure the Bentley Continental GT could use very efficient air to air intercooler. Fitting them within the already cosy confines under the Bentley Continental GT's bonnet was not the matter of the moment, but Bentley's engineers regarded their inclusion in the specification as not negotiable and, after several months work, they were integrated into the under bonnet package.

The Bentley Continental GT also uses a dedicated exhaust system, using two six-into-one manifolds. Much attention has been paid not simply to ensure the exhaust provides maximum efficiency, but also that its sound is appropriate to the fastest Bentley road car in both tone and volume.

The turbochargers are made for Bentley by renowned specialists, KKK, and need operate at only the comparatively conservative boost pressure of 0.7bar to provide the Bentley Continental GT with its headline performance. Given this, the existence of maximum torque at 1600rpm and the engine's 6-litre capacity and it's easy to see how turbo-lag, the sole undesirable side-effect of this variety of forced induction, has been effectively removed from the equation. As with all Bentley-designed powerplants since the birth of the company in 1919, smooth power is not something you need to wait or ask for - it is there, at your disposal at every point of the rev-range from idle to its 6100rpm red-line.

Controlling all this power is Bosch's state of the art ME 7.1.1 engine management system which comes complete with two throttle bodies, exhaust gas temperature regulation, boost pressure regulation, two air mass sensors, four knock sensors with adaptive learning and the latest ESP 5.7 electronic stability programme. Ignition is achieved without the need for a distributor, thanks to each cylinder being provided with its own coil. The engine is fully compliant with future Euro IV emissions regulations and has been calibrated to run on standard 95RON octane pump fuel.

Such is the power of the Bentley Continental GT's powertrain that Bentley engineers took the decision to reinforce its already substantial engine mounts with Kevlar bindings to make sure it does not move even under the most extreme circumstances.

Powertrain testing

The engine in the Bentley Continental GT has undergone some of the most gruelling and exhausting test procedures of any engine in order to ensure that it can be depended upon to accommodate all and more than any owner could ever need. Naturally prototypes have and continue to rack up millions of miles in some of the hottest, coldest, driest and most humid places on earth, but perhaps no single test illustrates the relentless pursuit of engineering perfection than those tests performed with the engine out of the car and sitting on a bench.

Perhaps the most eye-opening of these is a test where the engine is switched on and revved to maximum revolutions (6100rpm) from cold and then left there, not for a few minutes or even a few hours. It is left to run at maximum speed for 100 hours or, put another way, over four Le Mans in a row.

Another test puts the engine through an advanced programme of cyclical accelerations, decelerations and steady state running at all points in the rev range for 500 hours non-stop or, to put that perspective, just four hours short of three weeks.

The engine has also been exposed to prolonged thermal shock cycling where internal temperatures are swiftly brought to a peak whereupon its coolant is replaced by ice-cold fluid in order to induce the swiftest possible drop in temperature before the engine is re-heated up to maximum temperature again and the process is repeated.

Transmission

Not many gearboxes are capable of handling the extraordinary torque loadings that the Bentley Continental GT engine is able to produce and none so far fitted to a luxury coupé has had the benefit of six gears. Yet with the help of its partners at ZF, that is exactly what Bentley has provided for the Continental GT. Designated 6HP26, the new gearbox is the most advanced of its kind in the world, offering not only six ratios but also the ability to lock up its torque converter in every gear, providing effectively manual gearchanges via either the gear lever or steering wheel paddles.

The gearbox itself is exceptionally light and compact, given the torque it must handle, indeed it has almost 30 per cent fewer components than a conventional five speed automatic, decreasing weight and improving both reliability and efficiency. Though variants of this gearbox have been supplied by ZF to other luxury car manufacturers, that used by the Bentley Continental GT is distinguished by being adapted for use with a four-wheel drive transmission and has been further modified for use in the Bentley Continental GT.

Not only does the Bentley Continental GT carry bespoke gearing, tailored precisely to the unique torque characteristics of the engine and the car's exceptional top speed, it has also been fundamentally redesigned for installation in the Bentley, placing the front differential ahead of the torque converter in order to push the front wheels as far forward as possible, creating a minimal front overhang, an inimitable Bentley design trait. Direct drive equates to 22.7mph (36.5km/h) per 1000rpm which, with a 0.691:1 top gear ratio, gives 32.85mph (52.86km/h) per 1000rpm. At first this may appear a relatively long-legged ratio, after all the Bentley Continental GT will sit at the UK national speed limit (70mph) with just over 2100rpm on the rev-counter. In fact, and in keeping with the car's extreme sporting aspirations, this ratio has been chosen to ensure that maximum power and maximum speed coincide as closely as possible.

All-wheel drive

Pointing the power in four directions was part of the original strategy for ensuring the Bentley Continental GT would remain, safe, usable and enjoyable in all weather conditions routinely found around the world.

The system used employs a central Torsen (TORque SENsing) differential and a free differential on each of the front and rear axles. Both the front and centre differentials have individual cooling radiators.

After exhaustive investigation and a substantial test programme of available alternatives, Bentley's engineers decided to divide the drive equally between the front and rear axles, giving a conventional 50:50 torque split. This is the combination that was found to be best at providing not simply the safety demanded of a car with this performance potential, but also the most favourable handling response.

Naturally this front to rear ratio is infinitely variable according to available grip and the Torsen differential together with the 4 wheel ASR can sense slip of less than one per cent and act accordingly, apportioning the engine's torque to either the front or rear axle. It would, in reality, take exceptional conditions for this to happen such as both wheels of one axle being on black ice but in more conventional circumstances the Torsen differential will always be able to optimise the torque loadings between the axles.

Thanks to the Bentley Continental GT's advanced electronic stability programme, the need to equip each axle with a limited slip differential is obviated. When slip is detected at one wheel, the ESP system can apply the brake individually to that wheel and allow the torque to be transferred across the axle to the tyre with the most grip. In normal use this system acts entirely unobtrusively but it does, in fact, possess the ability to keep the Bentley Continental GT moving forward when traction is available to just one of its four wheels. It is true that luxury coupés rarely find themselves in these conditions but it is also true that this is because their hitherto practical limitations have tended to keep them from places where such circumstances are more likely to occur. But with all-wheel drive, advanced traction and stability systems (not to mention its spacious interior, large boot and ski-friendly through-loading facility), the Bentley Continental GT will easily take its occupants to remote mountain resorts where no other luxury coupé would dare to follow.

Electronic Safety Systems

Bentley takes the responsibility of putting a 200mph car on sale to the general public extremely seriously and, in addition to the clear traction advantage afforded by its all-wheel drive hardwear, Bentley's engineers have been working just as hard to make sure the software is there to back it up too.

ABS anti-lock brakes, HBA (Hydraulic Brake Assist) and EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution) in conjunction with the Bentley Continental GT's varied array of other defences designed to keep the car under control.

These include ASR traction control that employs the ABS sensors to detect when traction is lost at either end due to a combination of a low grip surface and an excessive application of power. Under these circumstances, the ASR will instantaneously cut the power until traction is restored.

As mentioned earlier, the Bentley Continental GT also features the latest Electronic Stability Programme (Bosch 5.7). This ESP system, which necessitates the use of a fly-by-wire throttle, operates by a system of sensors analysing a number of different parameters such as speed, throttle opening, steering angle and the car's yaw and pitch. When one of these parameters is breached, indicating a possible or impending loss of control, the ECU is informed and appropriate action is taken. Depending on the nature and severity of the situation this might amount to little more than throttle modulation or it could involve the targeted application and release of individual brake callipers until full control is restored.

The final weapon in this armoury is MSR drag torque control. This is an intermediate, electronic control system, designed to intervene before a potential loss of control is addressed by ESP or ABS. During deceleration it modulates engine braking to ensure deceleration is consistent, swift and helps remove the possibility of a wheel locking when the transmission changes down on a reduced grip surface.

Body Structure

It is widely understood that whether your ultimate aim is fine handling, exceptional ride quality or any blend of the two, the fundamental essential quality that must be provided before all others is a rigid structure. Without this firm foundation, the good offices of finest suspension systems and tyres will be irretrievably undermined. The trick is to remove as far as possible the frequency at which the body will start to vibrate from the frequencies of the disturbances introduced all over the body by everyday life on the road. The stiffer the bodyshell, therefore, the less the body will vibrate in sympathy with road imperfections and the better suspension will be able to work.

It is also true that the potentially positive effect of adding stiffness to a car's bodyshell is entirely negated if the weight of that shell rises in proportion to the additional stiffness gained.

When presented with a brief for the Continental GT, Bentley's engineers were told that nothing less than exception torsional rigidity would enable the Continental to meet its dynamic targets. And the challenge they faced was providing such stiffness to a car with such a long wheelbase relative to its overall length and one which, thanks to its pillarless design, lacks a B-post between the front and rear side windows.

The first step to realising its targets was taken in the virtual world. Every single component on the Bentley Continental GT was designed on a computer and integrated into three dimensional digital models of the car. Using the latest Computer Aided Design (CAD) technology alongside Digital Mock Ups (DMU), Finite Element and Dynamic Crash Analysis (FE and DCA), Bentley's engineers were able to predict, analyse and enhance the Bentley Continental GT's structural integrity long before the first prototype was built.

Next, Bentley's engineers turned to adhesive technology. Adhesives have played a vital role in aircraft and aerospace technologies for some time (where they are used, for instance, to attach wings to aircraft fuselages) but it is only now that their full potential is being realised in the arena of car design. If understood correctly and used properly, adhesives can bring huge improvements to a body structure's rigidity with a minimal increase in weight. Adhesives are therefore used throughout the structure of the Bentley Continental GT, but particularly where there are long seals, such as around the door apertures.

Another emergent technology employed for the first time by Bentley is laser-welding. This process is expensive but, by introducing a new level of control into the welding process, it allows a considerable extra degree of strength to be introduced into each weld while, at the same time, ensuring minimal wastage and therefore saving weight.

Chassis

The Bentley Continental GT is without doubt the most sporting Bentley since the original company went into liquidation in 1931, but it would be no kind of Bentley at all if it was tuned to provide invigorating handling at the expense of a bone-jarring ride. The Bentley Continental GT is as its name describes, a long distance British Grand Tourer and while capable of being enthralling to drive, it also recognises that most of the time it will be driven on motorways or in towns when handling response will always be of secondary interest to overall ride quality.

Therefore, in the spirit of no compromise it was laid down that the Bentley Continental GT had to be as comfortable as it was quick, as responsive as it was restful. This was no mean feat to achieve and Bentley's engineers had to turn to one of the most sophisticated suspension arrangements ever configured to realise it.

Suspension at the front of the car is provided by twin upper and lower arms that converge as in a conventional wishbone arrangement but, in fact, never meet. The system is described as a 'virtual king pin axis' arrangement because the pivot point, where the arms would eventually meet is actually in the plane of the wheel rather than at a point in-board of the wheel.

The problem with the conventional system is that the torque loadings will only not be felt by the driver if they are equal either side and therefore cancel each other out. But if one wheel slips on a low friction surface, the loadings become unequal and this is fed straight back to the driver through the steering wheel. But by having the axis in the plane of the wheel, the torque is not created in the first place. The result is a car capable of putting phenomenal amounts of power through its front wheels without risking the dreaded 'torque steer' that would otherwise afflict it.

The rear suspension of the Bentley Continental GT is a multi-link arrangement designed to promote stability under all conditions be they braking, acceleration or cornering. Using trapezoidal wishbones and tie rods to give the rear tyres a firm foothold on the tarmac regardless of loading, this system plays a critical role in assuring that the Bentley Continental GT meets its targets for both ride and handling.

Much of the suspension at the front and rear, including all control arms, are made from aluminium that not only helps reduce the weight of the car but, critically, also keeps unsprung mass to a minimum, helping to achieve optimum ride quality.

Self-levelling air suspension has also been specified as standard equipment for the Bentley Continental GT. Much more expensive than a conventional steel spring, air suspension brings many benefits that would otherwise have been denied to the Continental GT. Air suspension works very simply with air-filled rubber bellows acting within a sealed tube with a concentric damper in the middle. As the wheel moves up, it compresses the air in the bellows which then offers resistance and thereby a springing effect.

One of the main advantages of air suspension over a steel spring is that the laws of gas dynamics mean that if you increase the mass on the axle, it compresses the spring further so the natural frequency of the car bouncing on its spring is held nearly constant whereas in a conventional system the frequency would become lower. This can be exploited to ensure that the car never suffers from that stodgy feeling that affects all steel sprung cars when they are heavily laden. In addition, the pressure acting on the spring is uniform across the entire strut whereas any conventional spring will inevitably be subject to some side loadings.

Another crucial benefit of air springs is the scope it provides in being able to tailor the car's ride characteristics. By carefully shaping the bellows, you can ensure that as they go up and down, they also go in and out effectively varying the spring rate as they do. The further in they go, the less air they contain and the softer the springing will consequently be. The bellows on the Bentley Continental GT are therefore designed to be quite narrow at the centre of each wheel's movement so that the suspension is relatively soft about its central point with obvious benefits in ride quality. Then, as the springs are compressed or expanded through acceleration, braking or cornering, the bellows widen to accept more air, firming up the ride and providing an extra level of control precisely when it's needed.

The final primary advantage of air suspension is packaging. If you were to ask a conventional spring to provide the same low frequencies that the Bentley Continental GT can achieve, there are only two ways of achieving it. You can either make the spring very long at which stage it can become unstable under compression, or you can shorten and widen it, bringing inevitable packaging problems. Using an air spring has allowed Bentley's engineers to allow for a much wider range of frequencies within a given space.

Air springs also allow Bentley to lower the ride height of the Bentley Continental GT at speed, optimising its aerodynamic performance. Currently the suspension is programmed to lower the car by 15mm at 100mph (161km/h).

The dampers used on the Bentley Continental GT are continuously and infinitely variable and the most sophisticated yet seen on a Bentley. Controlled entirely by computer, the dampers possess the ability to change their characteristics many times during a single 'event' such as a wheel moving up and down over a bump.

The electronics are so sophisticated they don't merely look at a force and react accordingly - they monitor the entire car. One example of how this works to the benefit of the Continental GT's ride comfort is that the computer can decide to let a wheel move to accommodate a single event if the car itself is in a fundamentally stable state. So if a bump is encountered, the damper will allow the wheel to travel upwards in the normal way. If however the body, let us say, is already moving downwards in reaction to an immediately prior event, the computer will analyse the relative movement of body and wheel and, if need be instruct the dampers to stiffen, thereby checking the upward motion of the wheel towards the descending body.

The overall set-up of the suspension has been configured to make the Bentley Continental GT an inherent mildly understeering car in steady-state cornering. This approach has been adopted primarily because Bentley believes that oversteer is a condition that should only ever arise at the driver's command. A car with low levels of natural understeer will, when the limit of adhesion is finally broached, gently start to run wide in a corner, a condition that can easily be cancelled by a simple lift of the accelerator. Bentley believes this is undoubtedly the safest and therefore the only responsible route to take.

That said, Bentley is equally aware that most Bentley Continental GT drivers will be of the 'press on' variety and have made it possible for the engine's torque to be used to overcome understeer in certain conditions, allowing the car to adopt a stance of neutrality or even mild and controllable oversteer, regulated by the ESP system.

Steering

The Bentley Continental GT features rack and pinion steering with speed sensitive Servotronic power assistance. The rack and pinion was chosen as it is the most precise form of steering available and offers great feel to the driver, an essential consideration in a car such as this. The rack has been designed with a fixed ratio so as to provide maximum linearity and consistency across the locks and has been equipped to give excellent feel both on and off-centre.

Wheels and tyres

The Bentley Continental GT uses the same size wheels and tyres on both the front and rear axles after extensive investigation revealed this to be the optimum solution for a front engined car such as this when fitted with four-wheel drive. Two wheels will be available with 19in rims as standard and 19in split rims as an option. Tyre size is 275/40R19. These sizes have been chosen not only because they fit the ride and handling requirements of the Continental GT, but also because either can be fitted without changing the overall gearing of the car.

Brakes

The Bentley Continental GT is equipped with the largest brakes ever to be fitted to a standard production car. The ventilated front discs have a 405mm diameter (15.9in) and are 36mm (1.4in) thick, making them wider than the actual wheels of most production cars. Ventilated discs are also used at the back, this time of 335mm width (13.2in) and 22mm thickness (0.9in).

These brakes are not available on any other car, indeed they were created specially for the Continental GT by Teves to a specification laid down by Bentley. Teves were also responsible for their appropriately huge callipers.

The reason Bentley chose a brake specification beyond that yet offered on any production road car is simply that it holds the conviction that the Bentley Continental GT should stop as well as it goes.

The energy contained within a fully laden Bentley Continental GT travelling at around 200mph is naturally considerable. Through months of real world tests and computer analysis it was determined that nothing less than the finest braking system in the world would be capable of delivering not only the retardation Bentley required, but also the ability to do so again and again with no fade or loss of performance.

This formidable braking hardwear is also backed by a comprehensive software package. In addition to Hydraulic Braking Assistance (HBA) and anti-lock (ABS) and drag torque control (MSR), the Continental GT also comes with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD). This system monitors the level of grip available to each tyre and apportions braking force accordingly. This not only helps reduce stopping distances but also greatly enhances the feeling of control enjoyed by the driver under heavy braking.

Aerodynamics

The role played by aerodynamics in modern car design has advanced considerably from the age where making the smallest hole in the air is the most important consideration. Aerodynamics affect almost all areas of the car and without both the exploitation as well as the avoidance of the airflow, no modern car will realise its full potential.

And the faster the car, the more important are its aerodynamics, not simply to realise such speeds, but also to keep the car stable and its under-bonnet temperatures cool.

The Bentley Continental GT's shape can be said to be a thoroughly modern interpretation of classic fastback design and as a result it boasts the enviably low drag coefficient of just 0.32. However one of the historical drawbacks of such a shape is that if the airflow is allowed to spill off the back of the car unchecked, it creates classic conditions for encouraging rear-end lift. This could potentially change the balance of the car, alter the effective weight distribution and create unwanted instability.

To counter this, the Continental GT has two specific aerodynamic devices, neither of which is immediately visible to naked eye when the car is stationary, that takes the potentially threatening airflow and turns it to the car's advantage.

The first is a rear spoiler that lies across the base of the rear windscreen and deploys once the car is travelling at above a certain speed. This effectively interrupts the flow of air coming off the back of the car and uses it actually to push the car harder onto the road rather than let it create unwanted lift. Working in close conjunction with the rear spoiler is a diffuser underneath the back of the car, which not only contributes greatly to the car's overall stability, but also helps extract air from underneath the car and this reduces drag.

Another crucial responsibility of the aerodynamics team is to ensure there is sufficient airflow to and from all heat-generating components. One look at the displacement of the engine, its power output and the tightly packaged under-bonnet area gives some idea of the challenge involved. But in fact, the cooling requirement is that the Bentley Continental GT should be able to run fully laden in 40°C ambient temperature and at maximum speed until it has drained its fuel tank - a tougher test by far than will ever be replicated by any owner on the public road. To achieve this, thousands of hours were spent creating and studying computational fluid dynamics data (CFD) to ensure the correct airflow to all areas under the bonnet and to the brakes. In those areas where this flow in inherently compromised, (such as for both the front and central differentials) individual cooling radiators have been installed.

Acoustics

In many luxury cars, the primary acoustic aim is to reduce noise intrusion from the wind, road, suspension and powertrain to create the greatest level of refinement possible. But when you are charged with creating an all-new Bentley some rather more subjective and no less important considerations need to be accommodated. In short, the Bentley Continental GT needs not only to look like a Bentley from bumper to bumper, it needs to sound like one too.

Bentley's acoustic engineers have been at work since the very start of the Bentley Continental GT project deciding first how the car should sound and then determining how that sound should be achieved. So important is their work that they were able to influence the design of both the intake and exhaust manifolds to make sure a true, unique and instantly identifiable Bentley soundtrack would greet the occupants. Bentley also carried out extensive customer research among existing Bentley owners and prospects who will be new to the marque, in conjunction with benchmarking the sound quality and quantity of other luxury sportscars.

The sound of the Bentley Continental GT is therefore deep, smooth, muscular and inspiring

In keeping with its Grand Touring aspirations, the Continental GT has also been configured to be an extremely refined car. In pursuit of this, the design has been helped by the provision of an astoundingly smooth engine and a very rigid bodyshell. These have provided Bentley's engineers with a platform that already possesses minimal noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) characteristics.

Beyond that, the task was to investigate every component, every system and the car as a whole to make sure no unnecessary NVH sources were inadvertently designed into the car. This work was carried out first in the virtual world and was then incorporated into the wind tunnel programme.

It continued on Bentley's own Hydropulse four poster rig at Crewe which replicates road conditions without the potential for inconsistency caused by changes in weather and traffic and, of course, on real roads around the world to ensure that every part, from the smallest seal to the body structure itself, contributed to making the Bentley Continental GT the most refined car in the marque's history.

Use of Electronics

There are many elements of the Bentley Continental GT's specification that deserve to be described as extraordinary but perhaps none more so than its use of electronics.

Consider these points: Each Bentley Continental GT contains approximately two miles (3.2km) of cabling and the main wiring harness alone weighs over 50kg. A Continental GT also contains 70 microprocessors. A PC has just one. It has 35 individual control units - black boxes by another name - and they all talk to one another via three Control Area Networks (CAN) working at 500 kilobits/sec, and one superfast fibre-optic serial network operating at 4.2megabits/sec. A conventional low-speed serial network functions at just 9.6kilobits/sec. At any one time, the quantity of CAN messages in use around the car can number over 2000.

This electronic dialogue is important because all the various features on the car need to know what the others are up to as rarely does one have no impact on any of the others. For instance if the windows are being lowered, this is information that is likely to be of interest to the security systems. Another example is the information provided by the self-levelling sensors in the suspension is also of use to systems such as the ESP to help it constantly monitor the car's progress and the automatic headlight levelling to keep the beam at a constant pitch.

This system also helps simplify operations as it saves the same information being gathered by independent systems. One example of this is that responsibility for measuring vehicle speed has been allocated to the ABS sensors but this information is also used by the powertrain network for the engine management and transmission.

The easiest way to understand how the Bentley Continental GT's internal communications are configured is to imagine the networks as a huge notice board upon which all contributing systems post information as they receive it. Once there it can be seen by all other systems and, if need be, acted upon accordingly.

Conclusion

As can be seen, the Bentley Continental GT is one of the most sophisticated cars ever to be produced, breaking new ground in several areas while offering a level of performance for a four seat car that is unique in both quantity and quality. And while Bentley's engineers have made use of many processes and components that already existed within the Volkswagen Group, the result is as much a Bentley as it would be if it had gone to external suppliers.

Technologically the car is a tour de force and a mobile showcase for the technical capability now resident in Crewe. It shows that Bentley has both the backing and the ability to take on the world with a product unlike any other in the market place - one that still benefits from the unrivalled understanding of handcraftsmanship that has been handed down the generations at Crewe, but one that also sits right at the cutting edge of 21st century knowledge. Not once during the development of the Bentley Continental GT, has this blend of the traditional and advanced worked with less than total harmony. Using techniques both new and old, they have produced a car that does not need to look back because it knows already exactly from where it has come.

When, 75 years ago (1928), WO Bentley announced what would become his most fabled car, the Speed Six, he saw no problem in producing a design that could be both a limousine and a Le Mans winner, both disciplines in which the car went on to excel; and while the Bentley Continental GT cannot claim to cast its net quite that wide, the same principle of creating a car with the ability to both cosset and enthral is the same now as it was then. Then it created one of the world's few automotive legends; it is not for Bentley Motors to make such lofty claims for the Continental GT - all we would say is that it is a car of which we are inordinately proud and can only hope that, could he see it, it is also a car to which WO would be equally proud to lend his name.

Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed (2009)



Following the highly successful introduction of the Bentley Continental Speed coupe in 2007, Bentley - almost half of new Continental GTs now sold are Speed versions - Bentley now offers the 600bhp (610PS) W12 powertrain in the new Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed to deliver a more powerful and engaging Bentley driving experience.

The Speed engine develops 15 percent more torque and nine percent more power than the standard Flying Spur, while engine efficiency is optimised by the use of lower friction, lighter-weight components and a new engine management system. The resultant performance is exceptional, with a top speed of 200mph (322km/h), a zero to 60mph sprint time of just 4.5 seconds (0-100km/h in 4.8s) and effortless overtaking capability.

The most powerful four-door Bentley ever made, the Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed blends understated design cues to distinguish it from the Flying Spur. Its front grille and lower air intakes are dark-tinted chrome, while at the rear wider rifled sports exhaust tailpipes hint at the potential of the Speed model.

New 20-inch multi-spoke wheels available in both bright silver or darkened tungsten carry bespoke Pirelli PZero performance tyres introduced on the GT Speed model, which provide the car with superb grip and feedback.

The Speed's sporting performance is complemented by a highly capable chassis. Tauter handling and greater steering response with sharper turn-in and improved driver feedback is achieved through a retuned Servotronic steering system, direct-mounted front subframe and stiffer bushings.

Improved agility and body control is also achieved through uprated spring and damper settings as well as thicker anti-roll bars front and rear. To aid the car's high-speed dynamics, the Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed's self-levelling air suspension sits 10mm lower.

The advanced electronic stability programme (ESP), uprated to ESP 8.1 for both models, provides a greater degree of driver interaction and control.

The Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed offers a new 'Dynamic Mode' that allows increased wheel slip at higher speeds. Torque is reinstated more quickly after the traction control system is triggered, giving the spirited driver a greater sense of control and the ability to exploit the full potential of the new engine.

Dr. Ulrich Eichhorn, Member of the Board Engineering, comments: "The new Flying Spur advances its Bentley performance credentials while delivering outstanding refinement and comfort through our unique application of advanced technology and traditional craftsmanship. With 600 bhp and a sports-tuned chassis, the Flying Spur Speed redefines customer expectations of a large, four-door luxury saloon. The performance, handling and agility set new benchmarks."

ENGINE

  • Type: 12-cylinder, 6-litre twin-turbocharged engine
  • Installation: Front, longitudinal, all-wheel drive
  • Construction: Alloy heads and block
  • Bore/stroke: 84 x 90.2mm
  • Capacit:y 5998cc
  • Compression ratio: 9.0:1
  • Valve gear: Chain-driven DOHC per bank, 4 valves per cylinder, cam phased inlet and outlet
  • Power: 600bhp/610PS/449kW @ 6000rev/min
  • Torque: 553lb ft/750Nm @ 1750rev/min
  • Fuel: 98 (95) RON

PERFORMANCE

  • Top speed: 200mph (322km/h)
  • 0-60mph (0-100km/h): 4.5 seconds (4.8 seconds)
  • 0-100mph (0-160km/h): 10.5 seconds (10.4 seconds)
  • 50-70mph (80-120km/h): 2.4 seconds (3.1 seconds)

Bentley Continental Flying Spur (2009)


The new Bentley Continental Flying Spur is set to deliver even greater levels of refinement, comfort and opportunities for customer personalisation. The class-leading 12-cylinder luxury saloon will also be joined by the 600 bhp (610PS) Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed. The most powerful 4-door car ever produced by the British manufacturer, the Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed offers the pure driving experience and uncompromising performance synonymous with all Bentleys bearing the Speed legend.

The Bentley Continental Flying Spur has been an extraordinary success story for Bentley since its launch in 2005. Its unrivalled combination of exciting performance, luxury, craftsmanship, style and four-door practicality has broadened the appeal of the Continental range. The Bentley Continental Flying Spur has become the most successful 12-cylinder luxury saloon in the world and has played a pivotal role in the revitalisation of Bentley.

The instantly recognisable style of the Bentley Continental Flying Spur undergoes a subtle evolution with changes to the front and rear design. The new, more upright grille and bolder lower air intake accentuate the distinctive Bentley profile, while the new rear bumper delivers a more aggressive and sleek appearance.

A comprehensive range of noise-absorbent measures including acoustic glazing, tri-laminate body undertrays and wheelarch liners ensure that cabin refinement, already a hallmark of the Bentley Continental Flying Spur, is best in class.

The new Bentley Continental Flying Spur may now be specified with a sophisticated follow-to-stop, radar-based Adaptive Cruise Control system, which monitors traffic ahead and manages the throttle and brakes to maintain a pre-set time gap, up to a driver selected set speed.

As a further option, the new Naim for Bentley audio system provides the world's best in-car sound stage. Designed exclusively for Bentley by Naim, the renowned British hi-fi manufacturer, the system features an 1100 Watt amplifier, the most powerful unit offered in a production car, and 15 custom-built Naim speakers, including dual Naim sub-woofers. The next-generation Digital Signal Processor further enhances the listening experience.

The aluminium-intensive suspension of the Bentley Continental Flying Spur features revised spring and dampers and a new bespoke 19-inch Pirelli UHP tyre for outstanding levels of ride quality, comfort and refinement.

Bentley's commitment to the highest quality of craftsmanship and customer personalisation is highlighted with an enhanced choice of beautifully crafted wood marquetry and chrome inlays. In addition, seat piping, a traditional Bentley feature, is introduced on Bentley Continental Flying Spur together with two new hide colours. Three new colours and four duo-tone paint combinations are added to the exterior paint palette.

The 600bhp Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed unleashes the same potent performance and intense levels of driver engagement as its highly acclaimed stablemate, the Bentley Continental GT Speed.

Inspired by Bentley's legendary 'Speed' models that first appeared in 1923, the Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed offers a range of headline performance figures including a 0-60mph sprint time of 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 200mph.

A lowered ride height, uprated and redesigned suspension as well as retuned steering deliver outstanding agility and body control. Exceptional grip comes from the unique 9.5Jx20 multi-spoke alloy wheels with bespoke Pirelli P-Zero UHP performance tyres.

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