Design Bentley GT W12
You’ve just inked your first big-time pro-sports contract, scored your third top-10 single, or finally cracked the seal on that trust fund. You might think you’ve arrived on Easy Street, but now the real work begins Dom or Cristal, Rolex or Breitling, Roller or Bentley?
With a 567-hp, 6.0-liter twin-turbo 12-cylinder (Bentley’s version of the VW Group’s familial W-12) under the hood, the Continental GT turned in a 4.4-second dash to 60 and a 12.8-second quarter-mile.
Our tester noted that it took a cool engine and “major” brake-torquing to extract the quickest acceleration. From outside the vehicle, the exhaust note is pure Chris-Craft, albeit slightly more refined and muted by several decibels; from the cockpit, the underhood ruckus is just brash enough to encourage flat-footing it witness our 14-mpg combined fuel economy.
Column-mounted paddles allow lively drivers to shift the ZF-supplied six-speed automatic transmission manually, and although the gearswaps happen quickly enough, we found no real reason to shift for ourselves beyond the healthful benefits of finger calisthenics.
Engine Bentley GT W12
Although the Conti GT is capable of simulating manual-trans-style rev-matched downshifts and allows for double downshifts (e.g., fourth to second gear), its country-club-like interior encourages one to sit back and let the hired help handle laborious chores such as changing ratios.
Specifications
VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, 4-wheel-drive, 4-passenger, 2-door coupe
ENGINE TYPE: twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 48-valve W-12, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 366 cu in, 5998 cc
Power: 567 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque: 516 lb-ft @ 1700 rpm
TRANSMISSION: 6-speed automatic with manual shifting mode
DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 108.1 in
Length: 189.2 in
Width: 76.5 in Height: 55.3 in
Curb weight: 5264 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS:
Zero to 60 mph: 4.4 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 10.5 sec
Zero to 110 mph: 12.7 sec
Rolling start, 5-60 mph: 5.2 sec
Top gear, 30-50 mph: 2.7 sec
Top gear, 50-70 mph: 3.5 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 12.8 sec @ 111 mph
Top speed (drag limited): 189 mph
Braking, 70-0 mph: 162 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.86 g
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