In
about a week at the Frankfurt Motor show Bentley will unveil its
third-generation Continental GT.
“The new,
third-generation Continental GT is the pinnacle of our design and engineering
achievements and marks the next step in Bentley’s journey,” Wolfgang Dürheimer,
Bentley Motors chairman and CEO, said in a statement.
The new GT features a 6.0-liter W12
engine putting out 626 horsepower and 664 foot-pounds of torque.
“We are the world leader in luxury
mobility and our products and services define new luxury in the automotive
world. The new Continental GT encapsulates our desire to innovate as well as
celebrate our heritage and take the Bentley ownership experience to the next,
unparalleled level,” Wolfgang Dürheimer
stated.
With a new
6.0-liter W12 engine putting out 626 horsepower, 664 pound-feet of torque, the
GT races 0 to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds. If this is not enough maybe Wolfgang
Durheimer can offer the 700 horsepower and 750 foot pounds of torque in
their Bentley Superspots that allows you to propel the 60mph in
just 3.4 seconds. Bentley with top speed of 208.
The GT will
handle better due to the new W12 engine being 24% shorter than its predecessor
helping with weight distribution on the car.
As stated
before thanks to the new 9-speed transmission that delivers extremely quick
shifts plus a weight reduction of 176 pounds from the new model the GT handles
superbly.
The Continental GT is the first Bentley to introduce
an all-new three-chamber air spring system to provide the foundation for the
chassis. The three-chamber setup contains 60 per cent more air volume than the
previous single-chamber springs, with the ability to switch chambers in and out
of use, thus giving a range of spring stiffness – either softer or harder than
the previous passive system. This gives a chassis setup to suit every occasion
- from true limousine ride comfort to sporting levels of body control and
stiffness.
The set-up of the chassis (ride height, damping, roll
control and torque distribution, together with the settings for the engine and
drivetrain) is commanded centrally through one rotary control – the Bentley
Drive Dynamics selector. This includes four driving modes:
- Sport - for maximum body control and dynamic response
- Comfort - for optimized comfort and refinement
- Bentley - a careful blend of Sport and Comfort settings as recommended by our engineers
- Custom - which allows the driver to pick and choose individual settings for various systems
Front suspension is double wishbone, while rear
wheels are controlled by a multilink design connected to the body via a
lightweight subframe in a hollow aluminum casting with an extremely compact
package. The suspension kinematics and compliance of the mounts of both axles
have been carefully optimized in order to deliver best-in-class ride comfort
and refinement without compromising vehicle handling.
The Continental GT is the second model to incorporate
Bentley Dynamic Ride – Bentley’s electric active roll control technology with a
class-leading 48-volt system. Steering feel and response, chassis response,
handling balance and overall grip are all improved by this innovative system.
- A dedicated control computer detects wheel inputs and instantaneously adjusts the position of electric rotary actuators built into the front and rear anti-roll bars, meaning minimal body roll under hard cornering but a soft, compliant and refined setup for relaxed driving. The system works with the three-chamber air springs to provide a chassis that is both dynamically capable and exceptionally comfortable.
- The actuators can deliver up to 1,300 Nm (959 lb.ft.) of torque to resist roll, able to reach this peak figure in 0.3 seconds.
- The system is tuned to maximize ride comfort.
- The use of a 48-volt system to power the actuators means silent, instantaneous response – making pre-sensing of road conditions irrelevant.
Electric Power-Assisted Steering (EPAS) is also
featured on the Continental GT. The new system improves feedback to the driver,
while providing isolation from unwanted road disturbances. The steering system
features a variable rack ratio, allowing increased response with higher
steering angles to aid maneuverability whilst maintaining excellent stability
at high speeds. The level of steering feedback stays the same in all driving
modes but can be set individually by the driver as part of the Custom chassis
mode.
The all-wheel drive strategy for the new Continental
GT is also all-new. Torque delivery between the front and rear axles is
actively controlled by a dedicated traction management system working in
harmony with Electronic Stability Control (ESC). In normal conditions, the
maximum available power is sent to the rear axle, with torque distributed more
towards the front axle when the system detects that additional traction is required.
This results in reduced ESC intervention, while the car will also permit
controlled oversteer when in Dynamic mode.
In the lateral direction, torque is managed across
each axle by the torque-vectoring-by-brake system first introduced on the
Continental GT3-R and Supersports models. By braking the inside rear wheel
during cornering, the nose of the car is able to turn in harder and faster,
improving front-end response and agility. On acceleration out of a corner, the
car can lightly brake the inside front wheel to move torque across the front axle
to the outside wheel, optimizing traction for best possible performance. The
new development of the system intervenes less frequently than before, thanks to
the newly developed hardware and inherently better vehicle balance.
The powertrain mounting system complements the
chassis as it is optimized to deliver the best balance between ride comfort,
vehicle dynamics and powertrain NVH. The W12’s unique Active Engine Mounts
allow for high mount stiffness which leads to optimum dynamic engine-mass
control and resultant ride comfort, whilst still delivering uncompromised
refinement by cancelling the undesired noise and vibrations from the
powertrain. A new torque reaction strut works in combination with the powertrain
mounting to resist engine roll and lateral movement – meaning a sharper, more
linear and controlled turn in.
The braking system is the most powerful iron system
ever fitted to a Bentley, with a total of 28 pistons. Front brake discs
measuring 420 mm are a two-piece construction utilizing a cast-iron friction
ring and aluminum mounting bell. Front calipers feature ten pistons each, while
rear calipers contain four pistons each that clamp 380 mm single-piece discs.
Brakes of this scale provide the reliable, repeatable stopping performance
inherently important to a 200+ mph sporting Grand Tourer.
Bentley has worked together with Pirelli to create
bespoke tyres for the new Continental GT right from the very beginning of the
design phase.
- The car runs exclusively on Pirelli P Zero tires, using a different tyre size between front and rear axles for the first time, to enhance dynamic ability. During the development process, Pirelli’s engineers sat alongside their counterparts from Bentley, driving and refining the car-tyre package until the perfect balance was reached between performance and comfort.
- The latest material compounds help the tyre respond more directly to driver inputs, ensuring a dynamic experience that is balanced and communicative.
- The P Zero tire fitted to the Bentley also has Pirelli’s Noise Cancelling System which reduces road noise coming into the cabin. At the same time, rolling resistance is also improved on the latest P Zero tires, creating less friction against the road without compromising grip. As a result, both wet and dry grip represent a step forward, with a noticeably reduced risk of aquaplaning.
-
The front subframe is
unique for the W12 and manufactured via an aerospace technique new to Bentley –
Thixocasting. This innovative semi-solid casting method provides a component
optimized for weight, stiffness, strength and durability. The front subframe is
also an integrated part of the front vehicle body structure. Its design maximizes
its contribution to the whole body torsional stiffness as well as providing
optimum suspension and engine attachment point stiffnesses to minimize the
noise and vibration transfer into the cabin from the engine and road inputs.
Thanks to the
newest and smaller electronic components
the GT offers the customers the best Bentley can offer. The third
generation Continental GT now offers an amazing all new 12.3-inch center
console that controls the vehicle's infotainment functions.
Some of that
technology helps make it a more efficient vehicle, shutting down half the
cylinders when max power isn’t necessary. This cuts fuel consumption and lowers
vehicle emissions. The company plans to offer a plug-in hybrid version of the
Continental for more eco-friendly owners. This will also help Bentley adapt to
ever-toughening emissions regulations around the world.
· The main Infotainment display is a 12.3” high-resolution
touchscreen, with a user interface designed to be akin to a modern mobile
phone. Menus are structured to be instantly intuitive. The system features a configurable
home screen containing three windows which can display the driver’s prefferred
functions (navigation, media and telephone, for example). Menus pop up
automatically as the user approaches the screen through the use of an in-built
proximity sensor.
· The driver’s instrument panel is now fully digital – a first
for Bentley. Configurable by the driver, the display can show information from
across the infotainment system including satellite-navigation information. The
graphics of the display have been designed with the same attention to detail as
the physical components, maintaining precise tolerances in how graphics appear
and function. For example, digital chrome bezels have been mastered to appear
to “shine” exactly as a real bezel would.
A key interior feature is the new Bentley Rotating Display –
a three-sided information unit housed in the dashboard, that can switch between
the main 12.3” touchscreen, a set of three analogue gauges (outside air
temperature, a compass and a chronometer) or a book-matched piece of veneer.
40 moving components make up the mechanism, which is
bespoke to Bentley, including custom rotational and linear gearbox drive units
mated to high-refinement drive motors with a dedicated Bentley ECU. The unit
has dedicated cooling fans built in to manage motor and screen temperatures.
To provide the rotation whilst maintaining extremely
tight tolerances (less than 0.5 mm for each of the sides), three separate but
linked motions are required. The first moves the unit in to the dashboard to
provide clearance for the second stage – rotation – before the unit is then
moved back in to a flush position.
To maintain tolerances, the drive system is
self-teaching – the controlling ECU not only learns the mechanism’s physical
extents in all deployment positions but also uses intelligent speed control to
vary input speed at the motors to adjust for variances in mechanical friction
and impact of battery voltages and temperature.
Three audio
systems are available on the new Continental GT:
The standard system features 10 speakers and 650 Watts of
total system power.
Bang & Olufsen supply the second system,
featuring 16 speakers with illuminated grilles, four DSP sound modes, a
16-channel 1,500 W amplifier and the first automotive application of the
BeoSonic control interface.
For the audiophile customer, the top of the range
system is provided by Naim and includes 18 speakers and two Active Bass
Transducers, a 2,200 W 20-channel amplifier, eight DSP sound modes with Active
Bass, and illuminated speaker grilles.
Matrix beam headlamps are fitted as standard where legally
permissible. A specifically calibrated forward-facing camera detects the
surrounding environment and oncoming traffic, enabling the all-LED lamps to
individually adapt the main beam from each lamp by activating or deactivating
individual LEDs to optimize the beam pattern and prevent dazzling other road
users. This allows the use of main beam illumination at all times.
The satellite-navigation system is inherently
intelligent in its operation, responding instantly to live traffic conditions.
The system also feeds data to the radar-guided Autonomous Cruise Control (ACC)
software, meaning that the car knows to slow for c
Bentley’s are known for exceptional and comfortable
interiors. What we love is that their wood is the worlds finest. In addition
leather will be abundant.
With more than
100 square-feet of sustainably-sourced wood, 20-way adjustable leather seats
with heating, cooling, and massage functions, and a “diamond in diamond” quilt
stitching effect, helps make
Bentley one of the worlds finest ultra luxury brands. Bentley designers state that
over 1000 man hours are spent on each Continental GT before ready for delivery.
Pricing should
be released soon or even possibly at the Frankfort Auto show.
BRUCE HUBBARD
BRADLEY HUBBARD
BONNIE LYNCH
AUTO ADVISOR GROUP
MOTORING TIMES
BEST DRIVES
BEST DRIVES
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