Bentley Continental R — BrandWiki

Bentley Continental R

Overview

Bentley Continental R

assembly	United Kingdom: Crewe, England
manufacturer	Bentley
designer	John Heffernan Ken Greenley
platform	Rolls-Royce SZ
successor	Bentley Brooklands Coupé (Direct) Bentley Continental GT
class	Grand tourer (S)
body style	2-door 2+2 coupé (Continental R, S, T) 2-door 2+2 Targa top (Continental SC)
layout	Longitudinal front engine, rear-wheel-drive
related	Bentley Mulsanne Bentley Azure Bentley Turbo R
engine	6.75 L turbocharged Bentley V8
transmission	4-speed GM 4L80-E automatic
production	1991–2003 1,854 produced
length	Continental R: 210.3 in Continental T: 206.3 in
width	80.5 in
height	57.6 in
wheelbase	Continental R: 120.5 in Continental T: 116.5 in
weight	5340 lb
sp	uk

The Bentley Continental R is a luxury coupé manufactured by British automobile manufacturer Bentley Motors from 1991 to 2003. It was the first Bentley to feature a body not shared with a Rolls-Royce model since the 1965 S3 Continental and was the first to use the GM 4L80-E transmission. The Continental R was the fastest, most expensive, and most powerful Bentley automobile of its day. It was also the most expensive production car in the world at its introduction. A convertible derivative, called the Bentley Azure, was launched in 1995.

Origin and the Bentley revival

As managing director of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars in the early 1980s under the Vickers ownership, David Plastow could see the potential in the Bentley brand.[1] It had been neglected for the previous 15 years and made up only a very small percentage of the company's sales at that time, particularly outside the UK in important markets such as the USA.[2] The first move in reshaping the brand was to introduce a turbocharged model of the standard Bentley 4-door saloon: as a result, the Bentley Mulsanne Turbo

Models

Continental S

The Continental S was a limited-edition performance model introduced in 1994 and 1995 with a liquid cooled chargecooler added. Only thirty seven were produced and offered to established Bentley customers. The late Alan Clark MP was one such owner. This engine had an estimated output of 385 hp, and acceleration time improved to 6.1 seconds.

Continental R California Edition

The Continental R California Edition was a limited edition of 6 wide body coupés produced in 1998. Other than the California Editions one other wide body car was made in 1998. Number six was fitted with the full-spec Continental T engine that just became available in 1998 with a power output of 420 hp and a maximum torque of 650 lbft. This car was the first Continental R model to be fitted with this engine. The larger dual-caliper brakes were also fitted to number six as well as numerous other features that later were incorporated into the 2000 2003 Continental R420 including push button start, eight gauges, and other unique features. There is speculation there were actually seven, and it is the 7th that had the description above for the "6th" car.

Continental R Mulliner

The Continental R Mulliner model range, offered from March 1999, was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show. The Bentley Continental R Mulliner was equipped with the same engine as the Continental T. This engine had a power output of 420 hp and a maximum torque of 650 lbft. The car has an estimated top speed of 170 mph. The acceleration time dropped to 5.6 seconds. One of the reasons the Continental R Mulliner came into existence, were the customers who wanted the power of the Continental T in the longer wheelbase R. The T was 4 in shorter than the R, fully at the expense of space for the rear passengers.

Continental T

Launched in 1996, the Bentley Continental T was a short wheelbase version of the Continental R offering more power, torque and responsive handling, at the expense of rear passenger leg room.

At its launch, the Bentley Continental T offered an additional 15 hp over the 1996 Continental R, at 400 hp, and an additional 40 lbft of torque at 590 lbft. For the 1998 model year, this was increased to 420 hp and 650 lbft of torque available at only 2,200 rpm. The Continental T has a more athletic outward appearance due to a 4 in shorter wheelbase and extended front and rear wheel arches. The T had larger brake discs and full front brake calipers. It was also equipped with ABS brakes.

The interior featured a turned-metal dashboard with chrome-finished instruments (as opposed to the wood finish in the Continental R), lambswool carpets and a polished aluminium trim, although some cars were specified with traditional wood trim. The Continental T's engine responded to a separate push-button starter. Performance, due to 200 lb less weight, was slightly better than the Continental R cars with the same engine.[14] Due to its shorter wheelbase and compact interior, the Continental T was classified as a subcompact car by the EPA.

Performance figures included a time of 6.2 seconds and a quarter-mile time of 14.5 seconds at 98.3 mph along with a slalom speed of 62.2 mph while the top speed was an estimated 170 mph.[15]

It was at least 21 percent more expensive than the R, and 7 percent more expensive, than the

Continental Sedanca Coupé (SC)

The Continental SC 'Sedanca Coupé' was a 1999 limited production version of the Continental T with a removable roof panel over the front seats. A total of 79 cars were built with 6 being completed with the Mulliner package and 48 being left hand drive.[17]

Continental R Final Series

Near the end of production of the Continental R, Bentley built the last eleven cars under the "Final Series". Six of which being LHD, all under the 2003 model year.