Review: Bentley Continental S (1994-95)

Overview

Released in 1994, the Bentley Continental S was a 2+2 coupe. Manufactured in Crewe, England, the rear-wheel drive Continental S was powered by a 6.75-litre turbocharged V8 petrol engine that was mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. Based on the Continental R, the Continental S was a limited-run model that was distinguished by its intercooled engine and engine management system.

V8 engine

The 6.75-litre pushrod V8 engine had an exhaust-driven Garrett turbocharger with a liquid-to-air intercooler, two valves per cylinder, Zytek EMS3 digital engine management and a compression ratio of 8.7:1. Supplied by General Motors, the four-speed RL80-E automatic transmission was used due to its high torque capacity.

Dimensions

Compared to the related Turbo R, the Continental S was 53 mm shorter (at 5342 mm), 50 mm wider (2058 mm), 23 mm lower (1462 mm) and had a 101 mm shorter wheelbase (3061 mm); kerb weight was 2450 kg.

Suspension

The Continental S had independent front suspension with lower wishbones and independent rear suspension with semi-trailing arms. Both the front and rear suspension featured electronically-controlled dampers and adaptive ride control.

Safety equipment

Standard safety equipment for the Continental S included dual front airbags and ABS.

Features

Standard features for the Continental S included 17-inch alloy wheels with 255/55 R17 102Z tyres, a ten speaker sound system with a CD player and six-disc CD stacker, climate control air conditioning, power adjustable and heated front seats with memory settings, leather upholstery, cruise control, central locking, push-button start, a tilt-adjustable steering wheel, power windows and power mirrors.

Related links

• Rolls-Royce and Bentley: Bentley Continental S
• Wikipedia.org: Bentley Continental S