DRIVER-FOCUSSED, ELEGANT AND EXQUISITELY HAND-CRAFTED: NEW CONTINENTAL GT V8 AND GT V8 CONVERTIBLE

•Third generation GT V8 Coupe and Convertible most agile ever

•4.0-litre, twin-turbocharged V8 petrol engine develops 542 bhp

(550 PS) and 568 lb.ft (770 Nm) of torque

•0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds (0-100 km/h in 4.0 seconds); top speed

of 198 mph (318 km/h)

•Grand Touring range of more than 500 miles*

•Unparalleled levels of luxury and cutting-edge technology

•V8 distinguished by a characterful, burbling exhaust note

•20-inch, 10-spoke painted alloy wheels and quad exhaust pipes

•Designed, engineered and handcrafted in Great Britain

•Customer deliveries begin in US in Q3; rest of world from Q1 2020

(Crewe, 18 March 2019) Bentley is introducing two new versions of its third generation Continental GT and GT Convertible models this year. The definitive luxury Grand Tourer is now available for US customer order with a powerful V8 petrol engine, ensuring a lively and engaging drive that complements the unparalleled levels of luxury and cutting-edge technology.

Both V8 models are equipped with a new-generation 4.0-litre, twin-turbocharged engine developing 542 bhp (550 PS) and 568 lb.ft (770 Nm) of torque. It combines immense power with greater range, plus a characterful V8 burble though the stylish quad exhaust pipes.

Designed, engineered and handcrafted in Crewe, Great Britain, the Continental GT V8 and GT V8 Convertible combine driver-focussed performance with exquisite refinement and cutting-edge technology. Both cars feature 20-inch, 10-spoke painted alloys wheels, subtle V8 badging and a sublime, handcrafted interior.

Bentley created the modern luxury Grand Tourer segment in 2003, with the launch of the first generation Continental GT and, sitting at the core of the ground-breaking Continental GT line-up, the new V8 models offer customers a unique breadth of Grand Touring abilities.

Customer deliveries will commence in the US in Q3, with availability for other regions to be scheduled from Q1 2020.

Thrilling Performance – Even Greater Efficiency

The new V8 versions of the ultimate Grand Tourer combine immense power with impressive fuel efficiency. Excellent weight distribution makes the dynamic V8 feel even more agile and responsive with a distinctive, higher revving engine personality of its own.

The new-generation 4.0-litre, 32-valve V8 petrol engine develops 542 bhp (550 PS) and 568 lb.ft (770 Nm) of torque. It also features dual twin-scroll turbochargers located inside the 'V' of the engine, together resulting in a top speed of 198 mph (318 km/h) and 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds (0-100 km/h in 4.0 seconds) for the Coupe; and 0-60 mph in 4.0 seconds (0-100 km/h in 4.1 seconds) for the Convertible.

Spirited performance from both eight-speed V8 models is complemented by refined efficiency, stemming partly from the ability of the engine to de-activate four of its eight cylinders in suitable conditions, without compromising the drive. The seamless change happens in just 20 milliseconds and is imperceptible to customers. Stop-Start technology, which operates at 'near-to-stop' speeds, is also available.

Muscular Exterior Design – A Statement of Intent

A statement of true luxury, the third generation Continental GT and GT Convertible represent the pinnacle of Bentley's design and engineering achievements. Effortlessly elegant and more sculpted and sharply defined, the body and materials combine to create truly breath-taking cars.

The new V8 models feature 20-inch, 10-spoke painted alloy wheels and the option to choose from nine other designs measuring up to 22-inches. Bentley offers seven standard exterior bodywork colours, with an extensive palate of additional paint choices available. Both GT V8 and GT V8 Convertible are distinguished by quad exhaust pipes and subtle V8 badging to the front wings.

The GT V8 Convertible's tailored roof can be deployed or stowed in just 19 seconds, with the car travelling at speeds of up to 30 mph (50 km/h). This transforms it from a luxurious coupe into an open-top Grand Tourer at the touch of a button. Seven different fabric hood colours are available, including an authentic tweed finish for the first time.

A newly designed neckwarmer (which is both warmer and quieter than in the previous generation model), is seamlessly integrated into the heated and vented Comfort Seats, optimising efficiency and airflow around the electrically adjustable headrests. The styling highlight of the new neckwarmer is a chrome centre vane that stretches the full width of the duct, echoing Bentley's famous 'bullseye' vents. Combined with a heated steering wheel and new heated armrests, these sophisticated comfort features create a luxurious driving experience in all environments.

The V8 models also employ the latest LED Matrix technology, while the design of the headlamps is inspired by the finest cut-crystal glasses. The result is similar to that of an illuminated cut gem, an effect which is magnified when the optional welcome sequence gradually illuminates the headlights as you approach the car.

A Cabin of Handcrafted Luxury

The Continental GT V8's innovative, luxurious interior offers unrivalled Grand Touring refinement. It seamlessly integrates natural materials such as the highest quality leathers and rare, sustainably sourced veneers into the finest handcrafted cabin.

Twenty-way adjustable leather seats set new industry standards in comfort and refinement, and are available in a monotone colour split on the GT V8 and GT V8 Convertible. Four further colour split options are available, together with Contrast Stitching, Piping and Hand Cross Stitch.

New Crown Cut Walnut adorns the V8 fascia and other areas, with the option of a variety of exquisite wood veneers. V8 models also feature a 10-speaker Bentley Audio system as standard pumping out a powerful 650 watts of entertainment.

At the heart of both the GT V8 and GT V8 Convertible dashboards are an advanced, fully digital, driver-focussed instrument panel and the optional Bentley Rotating Display. The latter features a 12.3-inch touchscreen housed in a three-sided unit, which revolves the veneer to reveal the touchscreen, as well as three elegant analogue dials.

Inside the new GT V8 Convertible, the ultimate Grand Tourer for all seasons, customers can choose from a range of eight roof lining colours.

Unrivalled Ride and Handling

The driving dynamics of the Continental GT V8 and GT V8 Convertible offer the driving character expected of a class leading Grand Tourer, along with the opportunity to explore the range of performance the car has to offer via the Bentley Drive Dynamics selector.

The different modes available offer the customer the full breadth of performance, from class-leading refinement and comfort to focussed handling in Sport mode.

The Continental GT V8 and GT V8 Convertible are both equipped with front and rear hollow, lightweight anti-roll bars for exceptional handling while the technically advanced, adaptive chassis created for Bentley's intelligent Dynamic Ride System is also available as an option.

The Dynamic Ride System controls ride comfort and lateral roll, cushioning passengers from excessive movement, as well as making the Continental GT V8 models feel effortlessly precise.

The air suspension uses three-chamber air springs which further improve ride comfort and the dynamic character. It has the scope to vary from sporting spring stiffness to luxury limousine refinement, depending on which mode is selected.

An Active All-Wheel Drive System varies the front-to-rear torque split dependent on the driving situation. The Continental GT V8 will use rear-wheel drive as much as possible during normal driving for optimum efficiency and dynamic performance.

Electric Power-Assisted Steering provides excellent feedback to the driver. It utilises a variable rack ratio, allowing increased response with higher steering angles to aid manoeuvrability whilst maintaining excellent stability at high speeds. The V8 models are offered with a wide range of driver assistance features, such as Active Lane Assist, Traffic Jam Assist and Park Assist.

Continuous Damping Control optimises comfort and handling, by constantly adjusting the damper forces in response to road inputs, vehicle movement and driver demand. It does this by continuously measuring the velocity and distance between the wheels and the body at each corner and adjust to optimise comfort and handling.

Bentley's Centenary – 100 Years of Extraordinary

In 1919 Walter Owen (W.O.) Bentley created a company with a simple objective: to build 'a fast car, a good car, the best in its class'. This guiding principle has driven Bentley ever since, pushing the brand forward and making it the leader in automotive luxury around the world today.

The 10th of July 2019 marks Bentley's 100th year. This extraordinary milestone – reached by only a special few companies – will be a cause for celebration of the company's history and its global success today.

by Bentley

Rolls-Royce introduced the Project 90 concept car at the 1984 Geneva Motor Show. Many elements of this design would make its way into a new Bentley, which was backed by much enthusiasm and rave reviews of the concept. By 1991 the Continental R was ready and made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show. Again, the response was exceptional and the reviews were enthusiastic. The red show car that made its appearance at Geneva was purchased immediately by the Sultan of Brunei.

The body was designed by Ken Greenley and John Hefernan and was uncommon for a Bentley. It was aerodynamic, curvy, and sleek giving it an impressive 0.73 coefficient of drag. Its sporty image was enhanced by the sixteen-inch alloy wheels that could be found on all four corners. Its modern style was enhanced by the roof-cut door frames and a slight spoiler effect in the rear. This was the first Bentley with a body all its own since the S3 of 1965. Prior to this, it had shared many characteristics and platforms with the Rolls-Royce.

The name 'Continental' draws from the company's heritage and the names that adorned the pre-WWII Bentleys. The 'R' was in honor of the 1950's Bentley Type R models and the Turbo R's of the 1980s. This continued the tradition of a potent powertrain, impressive design, unquestionable elegance, and unrivaled comfort.

Under the sleek bonnet was a 6.75-liter Garrett-turbocharged engine producing an impressive 325 horsepower and 450 foot-pounds of torque. These figures are estimates since the company never actually produced official ratings. Power was sent to the rear wheels through a GM 4L80-E automatic four-speed gearbox. This equation equaled a 145 miles-per-hour top speed with zero-to-sixty taking just 6.6 seconds. Stopping was also impressive, provided by its disc brakes with the front being ventilated. The interior was plush and comfortable with nearly every amenity available at the time and the instruments were finished in wood.

This package came at a price that immediately sent it into the exclusive club that only the well-to-do can afford. In 1992, a Bentley Continental R would set the lucky purchaser back $271,780US.

The Bentley Continental S was produced from 1994 through 1995 with 18 examples being produced. It was a limited-edition model that boosted the performance of the vehicle to a higher level, thanks to the addition of an intercooler. In a similar fashion, the Bentley Continental R Mulliner was another boost to the already impressive vehicle. Horsepower was raised to 420 and the torque lifted to 650 foot-pounds. The top speed was estimated at 170 mph. Bentley introduced the Mulliner at the Geneva Motor Show in 1999 and it was left up to the customers to customize to their exact requirements and specifications. The customers worked closely with the engineers and designers to create a unique vehicle that was up to their desires and expectations. Production lasted until 2003.

The Bentley Continental T was the pinnacle of the Continental series with a heavy emphasis on sporty characteristics while still maintaining a high degree of luxury, though luxury did take a back seat to performance. The Continental T originally produced 590 foot-pounds of torque but by 1997 that figure was raised to 650. With a shortened wheelbase, 2+2 configuration, and extended wheel arches, the Continental T looked very aggressive and undeniably sporty. The customer had the opportunity to specify components such as opting for the modified sock absorbers and stiffer torsion bars. This allowed the driver to take full advantage of the power-plant and propel the vehicles through anything the road had to offer. The press seemed to think differently as they gave the vehicles handling low marks.

The interior featured chrome finish instrumentation and a push-button starter. A gentle touch of the button and the vehicle would roar to life.

Production of the Continental T lasted from 1996 through 2002 with 322 examples being created. In 1999 Bentley offered the Continental T Mulliner, in a similar fashion to the Continental R Mulliner. In total there were 23 examples of the Continental T Mulliner produced. Five Continental T Le Mans vehicles were produced.

by Dan Vaughan