- 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 1996, the Bentley Continental T was a performance coupe. Manufactured in Crewe, England, the rear-wheel drive Continental T 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 with a liquid-to-air intercooler, two valves per cylinder, Zytek EMS3 digital engine management and a compression ratio of 8.7:1. The four-speed 4L80-E automatic transmission was produced by General Motors and used due to its high torque capacity. In 1997, a modified air intake was introduced, the turbocharger was fitted with a new compressor and a remapped engine management system was introduced – these changes resulted in peak power and torque increasing to 313 kW and 881 Nm, respectively.
Dimensions
Compared to the Continental R on which it was based, the Continental T was 120 mm shorter (at 5222 mm), the same width (2058 mm), the same height (1462 mm) and had a 102 mm shorter wheelbase (2959 mm); kerb weight was 2450 kg. Visually, the Continental R was also distinguished by its extended front and rear wheel arches.
Suspension
The Continental T 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 T | 6.75-litre turbo petrol V8 | 4sp auto | 1996 | 298 kW at 4000 rpm | 800 Nm at 2000-3450 rpm |
| 1997-02 | 313 kW at 4000 rpm | 881 Nm at 2200 rpm |
Safety equipment
Standard safety equipment for the Continental T included dual front airbags, ABS and traction control.
Brakes
The Continental T had 340 mm brake discs front and rear.
Features
Standard features for the Continental T initially included 17-inch alloy wheels with 285/45 ZR17 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, two-tone leather upholstery, cruise control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, central locking, push-button start, power mirrors and power windows.
In 1998, the Continental T was updated and fitted with 18-inch alloy wheels and 285/45 ZR18 tyres. Visually, 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.
Bentley Continental T Mulliner (1999-02)
Released in 1999, the Continental T was fitted with modified shock absorbers and stiffer torsion bars (40 per cent stiffer at the front and 20 per cent stiffer at the rear).
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