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DESIGN
EXTERIOR DESIGN
The Crewe styling team has created a Bentley coupe of elegantly tailored lines and muscular form, with the precise crease of the front wings shaped by Superforming technology. Distinctive large, close-set inner headlamps, ringed by jewel-like LED lights, sit either side of the new chrome grille. At the rear, Bentley's signature 'floating' LED lights draw ones eye to the extremities of the car, emphasising its low, wide stance. The new V8 features a red enamel winged 'B' badge on the bonnet, boot and wheel centres. For an even more dramatic look there's an exclusive 21" wheel to accentuate the sporting character of the V8.
INTERIOR DESIGN
Traditional crafts of wood, leather and knurled metal are expressed in a crisp and modern design language to capture the sporting, youthful spirit of the V8. Nowhere is this more evident than the new steering wheel, complete with redesigned paddle-shift gear selectors for a more engaging drive. The symmetrical fascia was inspired by the Bentley winged 'B', and features a 'flying buttress' centre stack and open illuminated stowage. The shorter centre console creates extra space in the rear, emphasising the sporting feel of the cockpit. Storage has been redesigned to offer even more space.
CRAFTSMANSHIP
The knife-edge crease lines down the front wings of the Continental GT are made using a technique called superforming, where 5083 grade aluminium is heated to 500ºC and shaped around a die using air pressure. No other process enables such a complex panel to be created with such crisp sharp lines and without seams or joins.
OPTIONAL SPECIFICATION PACKS
A Bentley owner can never have too much choice and, in that spirit, the design team at Crewe has put together the Optional Specification Packs. Select one of them, and your Continental GT V8 will feature 21" 6 twin-spoke alloy wheels in a menacing black. Inside, the sporting theme intensifies, with seats, door panels, and rear three-quarter panels upholstered in quilted, perforated hide, the dramatic effect complemented by indented hide sun visors, a knurled sports gear lever and drilled alloy foot pedals. An indented hide headlining is included in the case of the GT V8, while embroidered Bentley emblems on the seat headrests are offered with both models at no extra cost.
PERFORMANCE
ENGINE TECHNOLOGY
Bentley already had expertise in variable displacement technology, where four of the eight cylinders are effectively switched off at gentle throttle openings. That technology now makes its appearance in the new direct injection V8. When the engine's control microprocessor detects a light throttle opening, it closes the valves on four of the eight cylinders so that they only act as gas springs. This has two immediate benefits: the remaining four cylinders operate at a higher level of efficiency, and the engine's frictional and gas transfer losses are reduced.
As soon as the driver presses the throttle harder the engine instantly switches back to full eight-cylinder operation. Such is the refinement, speed and smoothness of the technology that the engine's effective displacement seamlessly switches from V8 to V4 and back again with imperceptible ease.
TRANSMISSION
A key component of the new V8 powertrain is the new 8-speed transmission. Not only does it deliver faster, smoother gear changes, it also accounts for 6% of the total 40% efficiency gain achieved by the new V8. Having a greater number of ratios ensures that the engine is always working at its most efficient gearing, while drag torque losses have been minimised within the transmission.
ALL WHEEL DRIVE
Every Bentley Continental features permanent all-wheel drive. Whether you're four-time world rally champion Juha Kankkunen targeting a new world ice speed record, or simply want to accelerate smartly away from the lights on a cold, wet winter's day, the reassuring grip and traction of all-wheel drive is the other essential ingredient in a Bentley's high performance capability.
EFFICIENCY
Bentley's V8 engine is astonishing, not just for what it does but also for the way it does it. The power and torque figures of 500 bhp and 660 Nm from 4 litres alone would indicate that the V8 is an advanced high performance engine. But take into consideration that the GT coupe's CO2 emissions are a mere 246 g/km and it's clear that this engine's technology is world-leading. Even though the Bentley develops a full 500 bhp, its power to emissions ratio sets a new benchmark that will take most rivals years to equal.
TECHNOLOGY
INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM
As for the 'info' in 'infotainment', the effortless touch-screen navigation system includes live traffic data*, online access for point of interest searches*, a 30GB hard disc drive offering rapid access to a continent-full of mapping and even the option of satellite landscape imagery*. As you drive, it provides real time monitoring of your tyre pressures, access to your phone contacts (either via Bluetooth or by inserting your SIM card) and the opportunity to zoom in or out of mapping at the slightest touch of a finger.
BLUETOOTH CONNECTIVITY
The Continental GT V8 has telephone control with Bluetooth wireless connectivity as standard and WiFi as an option for optimum in-car connectivity.
IPOD/MP3 CONNECTIVITY
As standard, the Continental GT V8 comes with an eight channel, eight speaker system, which offers 15 Gigabytes of storage, and can also play music via an iPod, MP3 player, the car's own optional six-disc CD changer or even an SD card.
SOUND SYSTEM
Choose the Naim for Bentley audiophile system and the number of audio channels rises from eight to fifteen, with eleven custom-built speaers in the Continental GT. The result is a quality of music reproduction that is uncannily like being at the live performance, every caress of finger upon guitar string, every nuance of a singer's voice brought to life with clarity and passion.
GALLERY
DETAILED SPECIFICATION
Max Power
500bhp / 507 PS / 373kW @ 6000rpm
Max Torque
660Nm, 487 lb.ft @ 1700rpm
Engine Capacity
3993 cc
Fuel type
98 (95) RON
Acceleration
0 - 60 mph 4.6 seconds, 0 - 100 km/h 4.8 seconds
Max Speed
190 mph / 305 km/h
Combined
26.8 mpg 10.6 litres / 100km
Urban
18.2 mpg 15.5 litres / 100km
Extra Urban
36.7 mpg 7.7 litres / 100km
City Driving (US)
15 USmpg
Highway Driving (US)
25 USmpg
Combined (US)
19 USmpg
CO2 Emissions
246 g/km
Emission Controls
EU 6 / ULEV
Kerb Weight
2295 kg / 5060 lb
Gross Vehicle Weight
2750 kg / 6063 lb
Boot Volume
358 litres / 12.6 cu ft
Fuel Tank Capacity
90 litres / 20 gallons / 24 US gallons
Overall Length
4807 mm / 189.3 in
Width Across Mirrors
2226 mm / 87.6 in
Width with Folded Mirrors
1947 mm / 76.7 in
Overall Height
1401 mm / 55.2 in
Wheelbase
2746 mm / 108 in
Veneer
Dark Fiddleback Eucalyptus veneer
Gear lever
Hide & chrome trimmed gear lever
Hides and Colour Splits
Mono tone interior with choice of 4 hide colours
Engine
4.0 litre twin turbo-charged V8 engine producing 507PS & 660Nm of torque
Suspension
Air springs with continous damping control. Touring suspension set-up with electronic height adjustment facility
Wheels
20" 6 Tri-Spoke design alloy wheels - Painted
Brakes
Iron brakes with Black painted brake callipers
Radiator Matrix
Bright front radiator matrix
Tailpipe
Twin figure of eight tailpipes
Headlights
Bi-Xenon headlights incorporating LED main beam support function
Taillights
LED taillights
Exterior Badges
Red brand logos
Rear Console Armrest
Optional
Mulliner Driving Specification Interior Features
Optional
New Standard Feature
New Dark Stained Madrona veneer
Colour Specification
Premier Specification
Classic Specification
Interior Style Specification - Contrast Stitch
Interior Style Specification - Cross Stitch
Knurled gear shifter
Twin front arm rests
Massage/ventilated seats
21" Alloy wheels
Jewel fuel and oil filler caps
Naim Audio System
Adaptive cruise control
