2008 Bentley Continental GT Speed
The 2008 Bentley Continental GT Speed adds more onto the genuine appeal of Bentley’s symbolic GT coupe line, as the car is allowed to reach higher and purer speeds. It was first launched on the 1
>st of August 2007
, and is the most powerful production car Bentley has ever created to achieve optimum speeds with high-end performance. Bentley was inspired to create the car from the ultimate success of the Continental GT coupe, and the renowned Speed models from the iconic era of the 1920s. The result is a beast full of powerful response and handling that keeps the Bentley name in spite of its edgier, hardcore look and feel. It is a complete piece of the Continental series, and a potent piece of machinery.
The Continental GT Speed’s objective was to communicate all the possibilities of its design but still holding firm with everything that made the Continental GT coupe model successful. The exterior design of the new Speed is similar to its predecessor, but has a few subtle variations to it, as it is defined by a chrome matrix grille to assist in the airflow to the more powerful engine. It also has wider and lowly positioned air intakes as well, as the engine needs excellent ventilation. The very vertical grille also helps in intensifying the unique Continental look with a more prominent square edge, plus the new lower bumper positioning that has a wider air intake centrally located to create a very sporting look and hold of the Speed. There are also chromed bezels situated around the headlamps to complete the sporty design. The customer can specify the interiors from a wide range of veneers including Piano Black, and Burr Walnut with diamond quilted hide seats along with embroidered Bentley logo, three spoke multi purpose sports steering wheel, Speed logos on the tread-plates, proposed hide headlining, drilled alloy foot pedals, and a sports alloy gear lever.
The Continental GT Speed carries an impressive 6.0 litre W12 engine that has been improved substantially from its predecessors in the Continental line with aspiration consisting of twin turbochargers. The engine outputs a horsepower of 600bhp (610PS or 449kW), which is a 9% increase from the Continental GT coupe, and a torque of 750Nm (553ft-lb) at 1750rpm, a 15% increase from the coupe. The engine itself is crafted out of light weight components combined with lower friction and a new engine management system, therefore the car optimized its potential and achieved a top speed of 202mph (326km/h). It also achieved acceleration of 0-60mph in 4.3 seconds and 0-100mph in and astounding 10.3 seconds with seamless overtaking performance with 50-70mph in an eye blink of 2.3 seconds.
The car weighed in at 5180lbs with a stiffer, enhanced chassis to make the drive sportier, as the stance of the car became lower with upgraded spring and damper framework, anti roll bars for tauter body control, handling and agility. The alloy wheels that measure 9.5J x 20 is bespoke Pirelli P-Zero high performance tyres as standard. The braking system consists of fade resistant carbon ceramic brakes, with modified steering response through revamped speed sensitive Servotronic system on a solid front positioned subframe and harder rears bushings. The car is also outfitted with extended rifled sports exhaust pipes.