Lighter and more powerful Bentley GT
07 September 2010
- Uprated W12 engine delivers 567bhp
- New 4.0-litre V8 due late in 2011
- Weight down by 65kg, 0-60mph time cut
The Bentley Continental GT coupe has been given an overhaul with more power, less weight and tweaks to its exterior and interior.
See more photos of the Bentley GT in our Facebook gallery.
Performance and efficiency
The 6.0-litre W12 engine gets a 15bhp power boost from 552bhp to 567bhp which – combined with the car's 65kg weight loss – results in a 0-60mph time that's cut from 4.6 seconds to 4.4. Top speed remains 198mph.
Average fuel consumption improves slightly by 0.1mpg to 17.1mpg, while CO2 emissions drop from 396g/km to 384g/km.
The front and rear track of the car are also increased, by 41mm and 48mm respectively, and the six-speed Quickshift automatic transmission has been modified. Shift times are halved to 200 milliseconds, while 60% of the engine's power is now sent to the rear wheels compared with 50% previously. Bentley says the new arrangement allows for greater cornering control on the throttle.
Styling
New headlights, squarer exterior styling and a refreshed interior with new seats and a 30GB in-car control system mark the revised car out.
New engine
A more efficient 4.0-litre V8 option will be added to the range late next year. Power output hasn't been confirmed yet, but Bentley says it will have class-leading emissions-to-power ratio.
Both of the engines in the GT will be able to run on E85 bioethanol fuel, which Bentley estimates will reduce your well-to-wheel CO2 emissions by 70%. However, E85 is sold in only 21 petrol stations in the UK.
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