- Powerful 6.75-litre V8 engine
- Comfortable ride
- Sumptuous interior
- Well-insulated cabin
- Weight blunts agility
- Horrendous fuel efficiency
- High maintenance costs
Overview
Released in October 1992, the Bentley Continental R was a 2+2 coupe. Manufactured in Crewe, England, the rear-wheel drive Continental R was powered by a 6.75-litre turbocharged V8 petrol engine that was mated to a four-speed automatic transmission.
V8 engine
The 6.75-litre pushrod V8 engine had an exhaust-driven Garrett turbocharger, two valves per cylinder, a compression ratio of 8.7:1 and Bosch K Motronic fuel injection and ignition. From 1995, however, the engine had a liquid-to-air intercooler and Zytek EMS3 digital engine management (originally introduced in the 1994 Bentley Continental S). Supplied by General Motors, the four-speed 4L80-E automatic transmission was used due to its high torque capacity.
Dimensions
Compared to the related Turbo R, the Continental R 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 R 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.
| Engine | Trans. | Years | Peak power | Peak torque | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental R | 6.75-litre turbo petrol V8 | 4sp auto | 1992-95 | 242 kW (est.) | 610 Nm (est.) |
| 1995-03 | 286 kW at 4000 rpm | 750 Nm at 2000-3450 rpm | |||
| Continental R Mulliner | 6.75-litre turbo petrol V8 | 4sp auto | 1999-03 | 313 kW at 4000 rpm | 881 Nm at 2200 rpm |
Safety equipment
Standard safety equipment for the Continental R included dual front airbags and ABS. From 1996, the Continental R was also fitted with traction control.
Features
Standard features for the Continental R included 17-inch alloy wheels with 255/55 R17 102W 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.
In 1998, the Continental R interior was updated and these models could be identified by their revised front masks which included a mesh radiator grille, mesh lower grille and mesh under the quad headlights.
Continental R Mulliner
Released in March 1999, the Continental R Mulliner was fitted with a more powerful engine due to the fitment of a modified air intake was introduced, a new compressor for the turbocharger and a remapped engine management system.
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