- 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 late 1997, the Bentley Turbo RT was a prestige saloon. Manufactured in Crewe, England, the Turbo RT was powered by a 6.75-litre turbocharged V8 petrol engine that was mated to a four-speed automatic transmission.
The Turbo RT was introduced to replace the Turbo R and incorporated some of the features of the Continental T. Visual cues for the Turbo RT included a mesh radiator grille and colour-coded bumpers with mesh inserts.
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.
Dimensions and suspension
The Turbo RT was 5268 mm long, 2110 mm wide, 1485 mm wide and had a 3161 mm long wheelbase. Furthermore, the Turbo RT 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turbo RT | 6.75-litre turbo petrol V8 | 4sp auto | 1997-99 | 298 kW at 4000 rpm | 800 Nm at 2000-3450 rpm |
| Turbo RT Mulliner | 6.75-litre turbo petrol V8 | 4sp auto | 1997-99 | 313 kW at 4000 rpm | 881 Nm at 2200 rpm |
Safety equipment
Standard safety equipment for the Bentley Turbo RT included dual front airbags, ABS and traction control.
Features
Standard features for the Bentley Turbo RT included 17-inch alloy wheels with Avon 255/55 ZR17 102W tyres, a ten speaker sound system with a CD player and six-disc CD stacker, leather upholstery, heated front seats, climate control air conditioning, cruise control, remote central locking, push-button start, power windows, power mirrors and a tilt-adjustable steering wheel.
Bentley Turbo RT Mulliner
Introduced in late 1997, the Bentley Turbo RT Mulliner was solely available by special order. Compared to the standard Turbo RT, the Turbo RT Mulliner had a more powerful engine due to its revised air intake, new compressor for the turbocharger and remapped engine management system. Visually, the Turbo RT Mulliner could be identified by its rounded bumpers with venting and flared fenders due to the wider track and larger 18-inch alloy wheels with 255/55 tyres.
Only 56 Turbo RT Mulliners were produced – seven with the standard length wheelbase and forty-nine with the long wheelbase (3162 mm). Common options for the Turbo RT Mulliner included side and bonnet vents and a smaller rear window.
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