Overview: Bentley Continental GT3-R

Cars, Reviews I By Winding Road Staff I January 01, 2014
This is the overview page for the Bentley Continental GT3-R. Rumors, news, reviews, road tests, specifications, videos, awards, and other relevant information will all be included here as they become available.
 
 
PREVIEW
 
Until very recently, it’d been quite a while since a factory-entered Bentley had taken the victory in a top tier racing event in the UK. Eighty four years, to be exact. But when a Continental GT3 secured the top spot in the second round of the Blancpain Endurance Series at Silverstone, it was certainly cause for celebration. For Bentley, that meant taking this winning formula to the street in the form of a hardcore, limited edition road-going version of the GT3 race car, dubbed the Continental GT3-R, which is now the fastest accelerating Bentley ever made for the street. 
 
What is the basic idea behind the Bentley Continental GT3-R — how is it special?
 
Limited to just 300 examples worldwide, the GT3-R starts off life as a standard, hand-built Continental GT from Bentley’s Crewe, UK factory, and is then sent on to Bentley Motorsport for a thorough warming-over to boost power, reduce weight, and improve handling.
 
How is the Bentley Continental GT3-R different from the GT V8 S?
 
No one has ever accused the Continental GT of being a featherweight coupe. Bentley Motorsport is well aware of that, so they set out to put the GT on a comprehensive diet, cutting more than 200 pounds off the car’s curb weight in the process. Part of that diet included ditching the rear seat and fitting a pair of bespoke, carbon fiber racing seats up front, along with a set of lightweight 21" forged wheels, carbon fiber aero pieces, and an all-new titanium exhaust, the latter of which provides the GT3-R with a wholly unique baritone roar. The GT3-R version of the Continental weighs in at approximately 4839 pounds. 
 
The 4.0-liter, biturbocharged V8 sees increased boost and revised engine mapping, bringing it to 572 horsepower and 516 foot-pounds of torque, up 51hp and 18lb-ft from the GT V8 S. Power is sent to all four wheels via an eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox with revised gearing aimed at improved acceleration. These revisions equate to a 0-60 sprint of 3.6 seconds – seven-tenths of a second faster than the V8 S – although the top speed has been reduced to 170mph as a result of both the gearing and aero tweaks.
 
 
In terms of handling, torque vectoring makes its debut in a Bentley road car for the first time, along with a revised electronic stability control system which has been updated to take advantage of the GT3-R’s new sport-tuned air springs and dampers that have been honed to a high performance spec from their use in V8 S. Bentley promises a "whole new level of handling dynamics and turn-in agility" from the GT3-R.
 
Stopping power is also uprated, with 420mm discs clamped by eight piston calipers are equipped in front, while 356mm units are found in the rear. 
 
 
All 300 of the Continental GT3-R models built will get Glacier White paint with green accents, along with an interior which sports a center console and dashboard made of carbon fiber and the requisite slathering of Alcantara and leather appointments befitting a Bentley. 
 
How is the Bentley Continental GT3-R priced?
 
Pricing is expected to be announced at the Goodwood Festival of Speed later this week, but it’s safe to assume that the GT3-R will command a fairly hefty premium above and beyond the $236,000 price tag V8 S, though prospective buyers will be glad to hear that Bentley includes four years/30,000 miles worth of free service with the car.
 
Check out the press release below for more details on the Continental GT3-R, and keep an eye on the Bentley Continental GT3-R overview page for more details as we have them.
 
 
BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT3-R DEFINES A NEW CHAPTER IN PERFORMANCE-FOCUSSED LUXURY
 
• Inspired by the Continental GT3, the ultimate GT: Two seats, 580 PS, 700 Nm and 100 kg lighter than a GT V8 S
• Limited to just 300 examples for guaranteed exclusivity
• Torque vectoring combines with shorter gearing for the most dynamic Bentley road car in history
• Hand built in Crewe and finished by Bentley Motorsport
 
(Crewe, 17th June 2014) Bentley announces the rarest and most dynamic member of the esteemed Continental family of Grand Tourers with the arrival of the new Continental GT3-R. It is inspired by the new Continental GT3 race car that stormed to victory at the second round of the Blancpain Endurance Series at Silverstone, the first UK race for Bentley for 84 years. Blending proven track and road credentials, the Continental GT3-R is a highly exclusive and unique interpretation of performance-focussed luxury, limited to just 300 examples.
 
All 300 examples of the Continental GT3-R will be hand-built in Crewe and finished in Bentley’s Motorsport division, while a range of exclusive experiences will be available to all customers of the GT3-R.
 
Bentley engineers have developed a retuned version of Bentley’s race-proven, high performance 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 for this new two-seater GT. Developing 580 PS (572 bhp / 426 kW) and 700 Nm of torque, together with a 100 kg weight reduction and shorter gearing, the Continental GT3-R is the fastest-accelerating Bentley ever. Capable of reaching 60 mph from a standstill in just 3.6 seconds (0-100 km/h in 3.8 secs), the GT3-R is a Grand Tourer with the performance of a racer.
 
Complementing the revised powertrain is a further development of Bentley’s renowned all-wheel drive system, which now features torque vectoring for the first time. Together with modified Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and a chassis tune optimised for outright cornering ability, the Continental GT3 R is the most dynamic, responsive and involving Bentley road car ever.
 
Wolfgang Dürheimer, Chairman and Chief Executive of Bentley Motors, comments:
"The experience of driving a Continental GT3-R is awe-inspiring, and takes the dynamic abilities of our Grand Tourer to new heights. We were inspired to create something extremely special for the road by the performance of our Continental GT3. It is a celebration of the Bentley passion for building outstanding drivers’ cars. To be a true Bentley, the GT3-R had to be the most luxurious track-inspired Grand Tourer ever, and this car pushes our trademark combination of luxury and performance to a new level."
 
A Revised Powertrain Developed For Acceleration
For the GT3-R, Bentley’s powertrain division set about developing a special combination of engine, driveline and exhaust to create an evocative, powerful yet efficient system. Bentley’s popular and widely acclaimed 4.0-litre twin turbo V8 engine, now race proven by the Continental GT3, has been fitted with precision-honed high-boost turbochargers and developed with new engine control software to liberate 580 PS at 6,000 rpm and 700 Nm of torque from 1,700 rpm.
 
This increased power is fed through the Continental’s eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox, now with shorter output gearing to enhance acceleration, to Bentley’s renowned all-wheel drive system. For the first time for a Bentley, the drivetrain has the ability to control the torque at each of the rear wheels through the use of torque vectoring. Recalibrated control software means that Drive and Sport modes are moved further apart, each with different characteristics and with Sport mode designed for more spirited driving. Maximum driver control is provided by completely recalibrated paddle shift functionality.
 
A soundtrack appropriate to the new levels of performance is provided by an all-new titanium exhaust, which not only provides a weight saving of 7 kg but also has allowed Bentley’s acoustic engineers to give the GT3-R a unique baritone roar.
 
A Chassis System For Ultimate Driver Engagement
To provide a dynamic capability unmatched in the Grand Touring sector, the GT3-R receives a chassis system focussed on performance whilst retaining a cossetting level of refinement for everyday use. Air springs and dampers use a development of the sports-tuned setup from the Continental V8 S, already recognised as the best-handling Bentley ever, while lightweight forged 21" wheels and high-grip Pirelli tyres deploy the torque-vectored power output of the engine.
 
This combination, together with a sport-focussed Electronic Stability Control programme, offers a Continental with a new level of handling dynamics and turn-in agility, while both the chassis and powertrain respond immediately to throttle inputs.
 
Deceleration is via Bentley’s record-holding Carbon Silicon Carbide (CSiC) braking system. 420 mm front discs are slowed by 8-piston calipers finished in eye-catching green paint, while 356 mm discs are fitted to the rear axle. With the ability to absorb up to 10 megajoules of energy (enough to power a family home for six hours) in a single stop yet remain fade resistant, Bentley’s CSiC brakes are an engineering masterpiece in their own right.
 
Commenting on the performance of the new Continental GT3-R, Bentley’s Member of the Board for Engineering, Rolf Frech, comments:
"We wanted to develop our powertrain and chassis systems further than ever before for the GT3-R project. The result is a Continental GT that is more dynamic than ever, with a torque vectoring system that neutralises understeer and a chassis tune that is both direct and forgiving. We’ve differentiated the Drive and Sport modes further to give the driver a choice between a relaxed and refined Grand Tourer and a sharp supercar with instant responses. The reflexes of the car are matched by the throttle response from our redeveloped V8 engine, and the new turbochargers eliminate turbo lag. Bentleys are rewarding drivers’ cars – but dynamically, the GT3-R is our finest hour yet."
 
Delivering Luxury Together With Extreme Performance
All Bentleys are a combination of luxury and performance, and the Continental GT3-R is no exception. Featuring a unique two-seat cabin handcrafted from carbon fibre, Alcantara® and the finest leather, the GT3-R is as breathtaking in its approach to interior design as to its dynamic ability.
 
The two-seat configuration includes a pair of new bespoke sporting seats with additional side support through deeper bolsters, including newly designed foam layers for comfort and finished in Beluga black leather with diamond-quilted Alcantara®. This exquisite material is also hand-trimmed to the steering wheel and gear shifter, while the centre console and fascia panels are handcrafted in carbon fibre. Carbon fibre is also used to create beautifully sculpted door casings that also include diamond-quilted Alcantara® inner panels. In place of the rear seats is a new uniquely trimmed rear cabin, complete with a carbon fibre surround and finished in leather and Alcantara®.
 
Contrasting the Beluga leather and motorsport-inspired materials is a vivid accent green, used as a hide colour on the seats, instrument panel and door panels and in contrast stitching throughout the seats and diamond-quilted areas. GT3-R badging adorns the centre console, passenger-side fascia panel and sill treadplates, while the seats receive GT3-R stitching to the headrests in contrast-green thread.
 
Dramatic and Purposeful Exterior Style Statements
For the exterior of the GT3-R, Bentley’s Design team was tasked with creating a more purposeful stance than ever before. A new front splitter provides an assertive look to the front of the car, balanced by a new fixed rear wing fitted to the boot lid – both finished in exquisite carbon fibre. The bonnet incorporates two vents to improve the cooling capacity of the powertrain system for repeated accelerations while also invoking the shape of the Continental GT3 racer in a styling element where form follows function.
 
The gloss carbon fibre contrasts with the Glacier White paint that all 300 cars will be finished in, and the inspiration of the Continental GT3 race car is highlighted by the use of two-tone green graphics that trace the two power lines to the side profile of the car – one leading backwards from the front wheel, the other tracing the shape of the Continental GT’s iconic rear haunch.
 
Further inspiration from the Continental GT3 is reflected in the finishing touches to the exterior – the headlamp bezels, radiator shell and matrix grille, window surrounds and bumper strips – all finished in stylish gloss black.
 
The visual appeal of the Continental GT3-R is completed by an all-new lightweight 21" wheel, machine-forged from high-strength alloy and finished in gloss black.
 
Purchase of the car also includes free standard servicing for four years (at the 10,000, 20,000 and 30,000 mile marks). Order books for the Continental GT3-R are open now, with deliveries to start late in 2014.

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