The fourth era of the Bentley Continental Velocity has traded its W12 engine for a V8 plug-in hybrid. The consequence? Essentially the most highly effective manufacturing Bentley ever, delivering 575 kW (782 PS) and an enormous 1,000 Nm of torque.
A glance to the long run, with a nod to the previous—this philosophy is nothing new for Bentley. Normally, it’s the names of the fashions that reference the model’s illustrious historical past, however this time the designers have dug deep into the archives and resurrected the look of the Bentley S2, a automotive that after had its personal sporty Continental model. With its cheeky twin headlamps, the S2 has impressed the brand new face of the fourth-generation Bentley Continental.
After all, the entrance finish of this contemporary Continental appears to be like nothing just like the baroque allure of its predecessor. The brand new mannequin’s aggressive stance is highlighted by the sharp “eyelids” over its headlights, giving it a way more purposeful and dynamic look. The truth is, 68% of the elements within the fourth-generation Continental are model new in comparison with the earlier model. Bentley’s designers have labored exhausting to make the automotive sportier, with the slim taillights additional emphasizing this look. If the rear reminds you of an Alpine A110, you’re not alone. To make sure the aggressive styling has the efficiency to again it up, Bentley has borrowed the powertrain from the Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid. The transplant wasn’t tough since each the Bentley and Porsche share the identical underlying know-how.
The engineers in Crewe have performed their greatest to cover the shut household ties, with some success. Nevertheless, on the subject of the Continental GT Velocity’s powertrain, extra energy would have upset Porsche, and fewer energy wouldn’t have been becoming for Bentley. In any case, this automotive prices €293,200 and carries the identify “Velocity.” The center of this beast is a mix of a 4.0-litre V8 engine delivering 441 kW (600 PS) and an electrical motor contributing 140 kW (190 PS). Collectively, the 2 energy sources make this plug-in hybrid essentially the most highly effective manufacturing Bentley ever, with a complete output of 575 kW (782 PS) and a monstrous 1,000 Nm of torque.
This energy completely fits the Continental, which is designed to be extra of an expensive grand tourer than a enterprise sedan constructed for infrequent monitor thrills. In relation to electrical vary, Bentley claims a good 81 kilometers, matching the Panamera. The Bentley does weigh 94 kilograms greater than the Porsche, which is noticeable within the 0 to 100 km/h dash, the place the Continental trails by 0.3 seconds, clocking in at 3.2 seconds. Nevertheless, the highest velocity is the place Bentley flexes its muscular tissues, with the Continental hitting 335 km/h—10 km/h sooner than the Panamera.
A Bentley isn’t about drag races or fast getaways from visitors lights—that will be too peculiar and vulgar. Whereas sizzling hatches thrash their four-cylinder engines to the max, the Continental glides alongside effortlessly. The brand new mannequin encompasses a V8 as an alternative of the W12, which some purists may mourn. Due to the electrical motor compensating for any preliminary lag, the twin-scroll turbocharged V8, working at 350 bar injection strain (150 bar greater than earlier than), doesn’t miss the cylinder deactivation from the earlier era. Cruising is the place the Continental actually shines; it’s not a nervous, tail-happy machine, however relatively a poised, assured cruiser.
However don’t assume the Bentley Continental is a gradual, lumbering beast via the corners. Due to its barely rear-biased weight distribution (49:51), all-wheel drive with rear-axle steering, an electronically managed limited-slip differential, and torque vectoring, the Continental carves via corners with ease. The battery, with a capability of 25.9 kWh, additionally helps with weight distribution. The entrance finish is way extra cooperative than anticipated, offering stunning grip when coming into a flip.
After all, the automotive’s weight can’t be fully hidden—there’s solely a lot even Bentley’s engineers can do. But the suspension, that includes twin-valve dampers and 48-volt energetic roll stabilisation, performs admirably, even when the consolation mode is a bit too delicate, permitting the physique to drift barely over lengthy undulations.
This isn’t a serious flaw, as Bentley’s prospects wouldn’t admire a firmer journey. Curiously, the Continental doesn’t use the hydraulic suspension system discovered within the Panamera, which might have added much more consolation. “Once we designed the suspension in 2019, the hydraulic system wasn’t absolutely developed. We knew the answer with twin-valve dampers and had been assured we may tune it to perfection,” explains challenge supervisor Chris Cole.
We admire the candidness and delight within the luxurious inside. Our take a look at automotive options wealthy wooden accents, although a smooth black chrome end can also be obtainable. The two,200-watt Naim sound system with 18 audio system turns the Continental’s cabin right into a live performance corridor. Whereas the cabin could look acquainted at first look, and we nonetheless love the rotating show, there have been important technological upgrades. The Continental now boasts a very new digital structure, bringing with it a spread of recent driver help techniques. The Bentley can now park itself, and the local weather management system is linked to the navigation, routinely adjusting the air high quality when obligatory, comparable to when passing via a tunnel. Bentley has extra improvements on the best way: quickly, the automotive will be capable to catch the “inexperienced wave” of visitors lights in main cities throughout Europe and the US.
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