The Bentley Continental has helped reestablished Bentley as one of the best producers of luxury sports cars in the world. The Continental line, with the GT coupe, the GTC convertible and the Flying Spur sedan, has been selling in high numbers, thanks to their superb combination of hand-built excellence with bone-crushing performance. In 2012, a new generation of this best-selling car has been released. But can it live up to the hype?
Specifications
| Vehicle Type: Coupe | Base Price: NA |
| Engine: 4.0 TFSI 32-valve V8 DOHC | Displacement: 3993 cc |
| Horsepower: 500 HP | Max RPM: 6000 RPM |
| Torque: 487 lb-ft @ 1700 rpm | Transmission: 8-Speed Automatic |
| 0-60 mph: 4.9 seconds | Maximum Speed: 180 mph (290 km/h) |
Interior & Exterior
The styling of the new Continental is still that same unmistakable one that people love. Smooth yet muscular, the new model is still the epitome of both power and finesse. The interior meanwhile still receives the customary Bentley treatment. Hand made to suit the tastes of even the most demanding of clients, its components are made of nothing but the finest materials.
Performance
As for the powertrain, the vaunted W12 twin-turbo engine producing over 600 horsepower remains. But for 2012, a new powerplant option steals the thunder, and deservingly so.
The new engine option is a 4.0 liter twin-turbo V8. But if you think that this engine is a downgrade, think again. Sure, the power is down to 500 horsepower, but that is still more than formidable numbers. In fact, a sub 5 second zero-to-100 km/h time is still accomplished and it can still hustle up to a top speed of 300 kilometers per hour.
Efficiency
But what sets this engine apart is its efficiency. For the first time, the Continental can travel more than 800 kilometers in a single tank of gas. And if that’s not all, a 40 percent reduction of CO2 emissions has been attained with this car. With the 2012 Bentley Continental, the best just got even better.
