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2003 Bentley Continental R

Bentley produced the Continental R luxury coupe from 1991 to 2003. It was a monumental vehicle for the Bentley Company as it was the first to feature a body which it did not share with a Rolls-Royce model since the 1965 Bentley S3 Continental. Additionally, it was the first Bentley to be fitted with the GM 4l80-E transmission. At the time of its introduction, it was the most expensive, most powerful, and fastest Bentley in the lineup. It was also the most expensive production car in the world at its introduction. In 1995, Bentley introduced a convertible version which was dubbed the Bentley Azure.

With production coming to a close in 2003, Bentley began offering customers with various ways to customize their cars under the Personal Commission Programme. 194 examples of the Continental R were fitted with the 426 PS engine. 6 wide body Continental R California Edition were built in 1998. One other wide body car was made in 1998. At the 1999 Geneva Motor Show, Bentley introduced the Continental R Mulliner which came equipped with the same engine as the Continental T. The Continental T, launched in 1996, was a short wheelbase version of the Continental R and came with slightly more power and torque.

By the time production at the original Crewe factory in England had come to a close, just 833 2 door Continentals were produced by hand, including the SC or Sedanca Targa top version. The final 5 cars produced were known as the 'Final Series' and came with all the upgrades and improvements offered during the car's life.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe

The Continental R was conceived as a Bentley super-coupe, distinct from any Rolls-Royce offering. The body and interior were designed by Graham Hull, John Heffernan and Ken Greenley, with a powerplant from the Turbo R. The iconic design was first shown at Geneva in 1991 and released to the public the following year. It remained Bentley's flagship coupe until 2003, when it was retired to make way for the all-new Continental GT.

This was a most exclusive vehicle, coachbuilt and priced at $336,000. Regular production ended in 2002, but between January and June of 2003, Bentley made a Final Series of eleven unique Continental R motorcars. This example is the first of that series, and one of just four known to remain in the United States.

This car currently has only 5,000 miles and represents the last of the pre-VW Bentleys.

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