1996 Bentley Continental R

Bentley automobiles of the 1980s relied exclusively on models whose basic architecture was shared with other Rolls-Royce products, a tradition followed since the 1965 S3 Continental. When Bentley displayed its Project 90 at Geneva in 1985, it was in defiance of tradition as the company looked to offer a high-performance car unique to the marque. The car on display was just a mock-up intended to gauge public reaction. With a positive response, the real thing was unveiled six years later wearing both the 'Continental' and 'R' name, both of which have deep roots in Bentley's history. Styling of the Continental R was done with the assistance of consultants International Automotive Design, and its shape was honed with assistance from computer-aided design and wind tunnel testing.

Bentley produced 1,854 examples of its Continental R from 1991 through 2003, and during its existence, it was the company's most expensive, most powerful, and fastest production automobile. It was also the most expensive production car in the world at its introduction.

The first individually-styled Bentley since the Sixties, the Continental R was an ultra-exclusive luxury coupe powered by a 6.75-liter Garrett-turbocharged V8 engine paired with a four-speed GM 4L80-E automatic transmission. Initially, the engine produced 325 horsepower at 4,000 RPM and 450 lb-ft of torque at 2,000 RPM. At the time of its introduction, the Continental R had an advertised top speed of 145 mph and a 0-60 mph acceleration time of 6.6 seconds.

Ongoing improvements to the Continental R resulted in another increase in engine output for the 1996 model year. A liquid-cooled chargecooler was now standard, and an improved Zytek EMS3 engine management system brought better fuel economy and throttle response. Output increased to 385 horsepower at 4,000 RPM and torque to 550 lb-ft at 2,000 RPM. The 17-inch alloy wheels were revised and steering wheel tilt adjustment for the first time. This feature was electrically adjustable, allowing it to be incorporated into the memory settings for both the seat and the wing mirrors. Examples built near the close of the 1996 model year received an Electronic Traction Assistance System.

Further revisions for 1998 included a laser-cut mesh radiator grille, revised alloy wheels, small mesh vents below the headlights, and front seats sourced from the convertible Azure.

The Continental R rested on a 120.5-inch wheelbase and had an overall length of 210.3 inches, a width of 80.5 inches, and a height of 57.6 inches.

As the sun began to set and before the Continental R was put out to pasture, the company bid farewell by offering a variety of special customized cars under their Personal Commission programme.

Six examples of the wide body Continental R California Edition were built in 1998, with the final example receiving the 420 horsepower/650 lb-ft engine and larger dual-caliper brakes.

Bentley introduced the world to the Continental R Mulliner in March 1999 at the Geneva Motor Show. It had the 420 hp engine of the Continental T in the longer wheelbase R. The Continental T was the short wheelbase version of the Continental R, resting on a 4-inch shorter platform. When introduced, the Continental T was equipped with a 400 horsepower engine that produced 590 lb-ft of torque. That figure rose in 1998 to 420 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque. The Continental T also had ABS and larger brake discs and full front brake calipers.

The Continental R Final Series was built in 2003, just before the close of the Continental R production. A total of eleven examples were built including six with left-hand drive configuration.

By Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2024