Automotive

521 bhp Bentley Continental GT V8 S makes debut

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Acceleration for the convertible is 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds
The Continental GT V8 S convertible
Continental GT V8 S convertible has a mileage of 35.3 mpg (8 l/100 km)
The infortainment system has a 30GB hard drive
The interior of the Continental GT V8 S is marked by asoft-touch leather
The Continental GT V8 S made its debut at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show
The Continental GT V8 S takes its style cues from older Bentley models
The exhaust system provides the Continental GT V8 S with a "soundtrack" for the V8 engine
Cockpit of the Continental GT V8 S convertible
The Continental GT V8 S sports an uprated V8 engine
The Continental GT V8 S has a front splitter for better aerodynamics
The Continental GT V8 S will be available in early 2014
The Continental GT V8 S has 20-inch five-spoke wheels
The Continental GT V8 S is lower than previous Continentals
The Continental GT V8 S coupe
Bentley made a show of the Continental GT V8 S's debut
Dr Wolfgang Schreiber revealing the Continental GT V8 S
Dr Wolfgang Schreiber discussing the design philospophy behind the Continental GT V8 S
Dr Schreiber and the Continental GT V8 S
The Continental GT V8 S being revealed to the public
Dr Schreiber talking to the media
The Continental GT V8 S and the rest of the 2014 Bentley line up
The Continental GT V8 S logo
The Continental GT V8 S's Bentley badge
The Continental GT V8 S coupe
The Continental GT V8 S convertible
Front of the Continental GT V8 S coupe
Rear detail of the Continental GT V8 S convertible
The Continental GT V8 S coupe at the Frankfurt Motor Show
The Continental GT V8 S coupe at the Frankfurt Motor Show
Other Bentley models at the Frankfurt Motor Show
The V8 engine can cut out four cylinders while cruising
The suspension has been stiffened and lowered
The 20-inch wheel of the Continental GT V8 S
The logo of the Continental GT V8 S
LED headlamps on the Continental GT V8 S
Exhaust detail of the Continental GT V8 S
The V8 engine puts out 521 bhp (388 kW)
Acceleration for the convertible is 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds
Top speed for the convertible is 191 mph (308 km/h)
The gearbox is a flappy paddle ZF 8-speed automatic
The GT V8 S boasts a lowered four-link aluminium double-wishbone, computer-controlled, self-levelling air front suspension with anti-roll bar
The range of the Continental GT V8 S is 533 miles (857 km)
Interior of the Continental GT V8 S convertible
The price of the GT V8 S is £139,000 (US$220,000)
The Continental GT V8 S coupe
The Continental GT V8 S was designed as a luxury performance car
The interior of the Continental GT V8 S coupe
The Continental GT V8 S logo
The Continental GT V8 S coupe has a curb weight of 2,295 kg (5,060 lb)
The front of the Continental GT V8 S shows balanced style proportions
The GT V8 S comes in a choice of 17 colors
The GT V8 S has a "soundtrack" for the V8 engine
The Continental GT V8 S coupe out for a spin
The Continental GT V8 S coupe interior
Footplate of the Continental GT V8 S coupe
Cockpit of the Continental GT V8 S coupe
Dr Wolfgang Schreiber, Chairman and Chief Executive, Bentley Motors
The Continental GT V8 S coupe and convertible
The Continental GT V8 S coupe and convertible rolling out at the Frankfurt Motor Show
View gallery - 59 images

They say that a Rolls Royce is for being driven in, but a Bentley is for driving. Seemingly intent on proving this true, Bentley has unveiled the Continental GT V8 S: a luxury grand tourer that comes in a coupe and convertible versions and puts the accent squarely on performance by virtue of its twin-turbocharged, 521 bhp (388 kW) V8.

"The V8 S is a car for our V8 customers who want more," says Dr Wolfgang Schreiber, Chairman and Chief Executive of Bentley Motors. "It is more agile with a lower and uprated suspension. It is faster with more power and visually, has its own styling."

The GT V8 S takes a lot of "S" cues from older Bentleys and is built around a chassis intended by Bentley engineers to make the GT V8 S more agile without reducing the comfort factor. Its exterior is understated and wonderfully balanced. The black gloss radiator grille with single chrome divider bar is nicely offset by the front splitter and the air scoops and the front blends into the bonnet.

The Continental GT V8 S made its debut at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show

On the downside we are not quite as sold on the design of the LED headlamps, which give the GT V8 S a slightly startled look, and the the passenger cabin appears a bit cramped. It isn't a car that looks like it will try to kill you on a track day, but it is one where the styling serves as the wrapping for the performance inside.

The GT V8 S is no lightweight though. The coupe comes in with a curb weight of 2,295 kg (5,060 lb) while the Continental GT V8 S Convertible tips the scales at 2,470 kg (5,445 lb).

Part of that weight is the four-liter twin-turbocharged, high-pressure direct injection V8 with cylinder deactivation, which cuts out four of the eight cylinders when cruising to reduce fuel consumption. There are also low friction bearings, an advanced thermal management, and energy recuperation using an electrical charging system. Going flat out, it punches 521 bhp (388 kW) with 502 lb-ft (680 Nm) of torque.

Bentley has even designed a "soundtrack" for the uprated V8 engine to provide a distinctive growl even in four-cylinder mode, so presumably pressing the accelerator makes it sound like you've stomped on a lion’s tail. There’s also a sports exhaust option for those who want the “full-blooded V8 sound track.”

The infortainment system has a 30GB hard drive

The gearbox is a flappy paddle ZF 8-speed automatic with Quickshift, Block Shifting, a 40:60 rear-biased power split and sharpened throttle response, where the gears are held for longer with faster shifting. Put all this together and you get a top speed for the coupe of 192 mph (309 km/h) and 191 mph (308 km/h) for the convertible. Acceleration is 0 to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds for the coupe and 4.5 seconds for the convertible.

Riding 10 mm lower than previous Continentals, the GT V8 S boasts a lowered four-link aluminum double-wishbone, computer-controlled, self-leveling air front suspension with anti-roll bar. The rear gets trapezoidal multi-link, computer-controlled, self-leveling air suspension with anti-roll bar. The springs and rear anti-roll bar have also been stiffened for improved body control and turn-in. According to Bentley, the Continuous Damping Control system has been recalibrated to maintain comfort without impairing performance and the Electronic Stability Control has been retuned to allow increased wheel slip at higher speed with faster engine torque reinstatement when the system takes over from the driver.

Brakes are ventilated carbon silicon carbide cross-drilled with red-painted brake calipers to go with the 20-inch open-spoke wheels. Meanwhile there’s rack and pinion, power assisted, speed-sensitive ZF servotronic steering system with improved precision and feedback thanks to changes in the static toe and camber backed up by new software.

The front of the Continental GT V8 S shows balanced style proportions

Not surprisingly, the interior carries over the Bentley design to balance performance and comfort. The rear seats seem a bit cramped, but this isn't a car you’d want to sit in the back in anyway. Hand crafted, the interior is filled with piano-black wood veneer lacquered 18-layers thick, deep-pile carpet and soft-touch leathers. There’s also an advanced infotainment system with a 30GB hard drive and an 8-inch touchscreen for navigation, audio and telephone systems.

In terms of mileage, the GT V8 S does surprisingly well for a performance car with the coupe doing 18.4 mpg (15.4 l/100 km) in town against the convertible’s 17.9 mpg (15.8 l/100 km) and in the country they do 36.7 mpg (7.7 l/100 km) and 35.3 mpg (8 l/100 km) respectively. That gives the 90 liter (20 gal, 24 US gal) fuel tank a range of Range: 533 miles (857 km). As Dr. Schreiber pointed out, it could get you from London to Frankfurt (where it was unveiled last week) with the top down.

The new Continental V8 S starts delivery in early 2014 for a list price of £139,000 (US$220,000).

The Bentley video below introduces the Continental GT V8 S.

Source: Bentley

View gallery - 59 images
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2 comments
The Skud
All those photos, but no description of ease or complication of changing convertible from closed to open. Some soft tops are a pain to drop down or replace, some folding metal tops are moveable only at low speeds, an operation example would have been good.
warren52nz
I wonder how fast The Stig can get it around the Top Gear track. 0-100 in 4.5 is pretty impressive for such a big car!