Volkswagen took the ailing Bentley under its wing in1998 The British had not developed a totally brand-new cars and truck for years, and with a remarkably costly, underdeveloped and produced in (too) little numbers, it didn’t have long to come. With Volkswagen’s takeover, chances occurred, and the 2 brand names got them with both hands.
Make no error, nevertheless: it’s not that Volkswagen strongly changed the UK car dealership into something entirely various in a brief time period. No, this was considered and time was taken. The bought Bentley invested the years 1998 to 2003 establishing a totally brand-new cars and truck, total with a brand-new source of power. Financing for this advancement came mainly from Volkswagen, and was supplemented by income from the sale of designs such as Brooklands, Arnage and Azure.
Those were still ‘traditional’ Bentleys; hand-built masts and the constantly utilized 6.75- liter V8, a torque-rich block that was just retired with the death of the Mulsanne. The Brooklands, Arnage and Azure were classic-looking cars, developed to the severe and bearing some similarity to Continentals prior to the takeover.
The last ‘old design’ Continental was produced from 1991 to 2002, revealed here as the Continental R.
Revolution
But for that vehicle, the ‘timeless’ Continental, it ended in 2003 after more than 11 years. The brand-new one was completed. And how. The ‘Conti GT’ brought an advanced style coach that might accommodate 4 individuals, freight, W12 and 4×4 and was still clearly ‘Bentley’, albeit totally various from in the past. It was an automobile body that was likewise integrated in an entirely various method: the brand-new Continental GT was a serially constructed automobile, and for that reason not straight put together. This certainly led to earnings, not least in regards to cost. For the traditional Continental series, rates were still kept under covers according to great British custom-made, however it was reported that the Continental T was the most costly vehicle you might purchase in the Netherlands at the time. It was various from the brand-new Continental GT. The vehicle, which shared lots of functions with the famous Volkswagen Phaeton, was ‘currently’ readily available for less than 3 tonnes and therefore happened seen by a lot of the most affluent individuals.
So it truly was a totally various set of cars, although that didn’t suggest all the old worths were exaggerated. In the ‘brand-new design’ Bentley, the leather reached the ceiling and you can discover hand-made interior panels. You connected with essential Volkswagen controls, you had to take that for given.
Original 2003 GT interior.
That wasn’t too challenging, since you can likewise discover Volkswagen impact under the hood of the brand-new Continental design– however in a great way. In the Continental GT, the Volkswagen W12 block was integrated with 2 turbos for the very first time. Currently in the very first model of the cars and truck, the source of power produced 560 hp and 650 Nm of torque, helpful for a leading speed of 318 km/ h and 0 to 100 in 4.8 seconds and an automobile weight of more than 2,300 kg: definitely. severe worths in 2003.
‘ Bentley has actually never ever been this excellent’, we composed throughout the very first test drive that very same year, where it likewise appeared that ‘corners were no issue’ for the really heavy GT. The horizon of the Continent was quickly broadened. There was an open GTC and even a four-door sedan was produced, the Flying Spur. It measured up to its name, due to the fact that thanks to the exact same W12, this was the fastest production sedan worldwide in2005 After numerous updates and facelifts, 2011 was the time for what Bentley calls the next generation Continental GT, although the coupe and convertible are advanced. The Flying Spur lost the ‘Continental’ name and for that reason continued the sidelines, with a totally revamped vehicle. The 2nd generation likewise brought a V8 variation, that made the currently reasonably (really) available Continental a bit more costly by Bentley requirements. At the other end of the spectrum, there was constantly a lot of option, thanks in part to the more effective variations of the W12 Speed.
Above the previous, listed below the latter: entirely various and yet the very same.
It’s more effective than ever
Although we were impressed with the driving habits of the very first Continental GT, it later on ended up being clear that there was still a lot to enhance. The very first Continental GT was on the so-called D1 platform, which has numerous resemblances to the Audi A8 platform. This likewise uses to the 2nd generation, which is in fact an enhancement over the. Third, the present Continental GT, which is generally the like the initial, is various. This vehicle shares its platform with the Porsche Panamera. In part, thanks to the outstanding driving qualities it provides, the Bentley Continental GT might be a lot more essential in 2023 than when it was born. In the Netherlands. Bentley has actually never ever offered as lots of Continentals in one year as it carried out in 2022: 64 systems. That’s 3 more than in 2019, the design’s 2nd most effective year and the very first complete year that a 3rd modern-day Continental was on the marketplace.
This year, 22 systems have actually currently been signed up until now, while the brand name with the Bentayga now likewise has competitors from its house to some degree. Things are working out for Bentley– in the Netherlands and globally. In 2015, the brand name had its finest year worldwide, with really high figures, which the Bentayga and Bara signed, while Bentley likewise tape-recorded sales records in 2022 and 2021.
The brand name is still enjoying the benefits of the time it invested establishing the initial Continental GT in between 1998 and2003 Bentley is commemorating the design’s anniversary in design this year, with a series of occasions and one away from the unique of his present continent. In addition, the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July includes the W12, since that source of power will be retired in2024 The next Continental GT will be all-electric, and we’re ready to wager that regardless of the huge modifications, it will ‘continue’ where the present one ends– and where the 2003 design instantly started.
The very first of the series one away Continental GT variations that Bentley is providing this year.
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