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 Daniel Vaughan | Aug 2019