Bentley Conti GT beefs up
Just what the twin-turbo Bentley Continental GT always needed... even more power and torqueNo doubt spurred on by the advent of models such as the brutal Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG, Bentley has tweaked its Continental GT coupe in a bid to regain its crown as the king of the luxo-coupe segment.
The latest iteration is dubbed the Continental GT Speed, and it's an appropriate moniker as Bentley claims the big two-door is its first production model capable of cracking 200mph (320km/h).
It's also the most powerful production car to wear the Bentley badge, as evidenced by towering outputs of 449kW and 750Nm -- compared with 411kW and 650Nm for the standard Conti GT.
The increased engine efficiency was reaped via the use of lower friction, lighter-weight components and a new engine management system, according to Bentley.
The resultant performance is eye wateringly brisk, with a quoted v-max of 326km/h, a zero to 100km/h sprint of 4.5sec (claimed) and "effortless overtaking capability".
Complementing the extra straight-line squirt is a fettled, tauter chassis that's said to deliver tauter handling and improved agility, with new, wider 9.5x20-inch wheels and bespoke Pirelli P-Zero performance tyres fitted as standard. Fade-resistant carbon ceramic brakes are available as an option.
Visual clues that distinguish the Speed from lesser Conti GTs include a dark-tinted front grille and larger sports tailpipes. In addition, the latest updates to the Continental GT line-up also bring a wider, lower air intake and more upright radiator grille that provides increased airflow to the W12 engine.
Inspired by Bentley's legendary 'Speed' models of the 1920s, the newcomer is said to deliver "a harder-edged, more sporting Bentley driving experience" that builds on the success of the Continental GT coupe.
The 2002 debut of the all-wheel drive Continental GT marked a key turning point for Bentley, which until then had been lumbering along with an ageing line-up lacking in pizzazz.
The Continental Flying Spur (2005) and the Continental GTC convertible (2006) that followed established a family of models that has been responsible for a dramatic increase in Bentley production at its Crewe factory -- from around 1000 cars in 2003 to more than 9000 in 2006.
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