Bentley have finally named their new GT car and it's descriptive, if not
particularly exciting. To be known as the "Bentley Continental GT" it
represents one of the most deserving cars to carry the much abused GT name.
Half a century ago, the Bentley R-Type Continental was the fastest four seat
production coupé in the world, a title the new Continental GT will return to
Crewe, thanks to its Bentley-built (VW origin) twin-turbocharged, 6-litre W12
engine. The 6-litre, 12 cylinder, twin-turbocharged, engine drives all four
wheels through a paddle-operated, six speed automatic gearbox. The engine is
rated at over 500bhp, and can hurl the huge hulk of a car to over 180mph in
comfort - the very essence of what a GT car should be about. It will even reach
sixty in less than five seconds.
The car has been designed and engineered by Bentley at Crewe and will be
manufactured there in all-new facilities combining high tech with old men in
brown coats doing hand finishing. It goes on sale in the second half of 2003.
Styled in house at Bentley's design studios in Crewe to incorporate all
traditional Bentley design hallmarks into a totally contemporary shape. It's
designed to seat a family of four in comfort and to provide enough luggage space
for a fortnight's driving holiday.
The potential speed of the car requires some modern day aerodynamic features
hence the rear spoiler. It is of course no picnic table jobbie, but an elegant
wing that deploys at speed. Expect bolt on boys to mimic the other interesting
feature at the back - the high level brake light. So as not to intrude into the
roofspace, Bentley's designers opted for a 3mm deep light, that is one metre
wide!
Quite some thought went into the design of the boot. The Continental GT's
fuel tank is under the floor of the car leaving more room in the boot area. It's
a tricky piece of design but they've managed to house a 90litre tank straddling
the transmission tunnel. That gives enough boot space to swallow plenty of
luggage including four sets of skis inside the car or two pairs of skis and a
couple of snow boards. All of this mind, without having to resort to a roof
rack!
Whilst
the idea of VW owning one of Britain's automotive crown jewels is not one that
sits comfortably with patriotic Brits, it's a joy to see the result of the
investment. The car is light years ahead of what could have been done without
the enormous injection of cash and expertise. Does it make you proud to be
British? Perhaps not, but it's a fabulously British type of car.