Better known for its opulent levels of luxury, Bentley's latest model shows that it still knows how to do serious performance. The Continental GT3-R not only adopts more of a race car image, Bentley's engineers have also shaved 100kg of weight from the car and, thanks to shorter gearing, reduced the car's 0-100km/h time.
Exterior
The GT3-R is a bold design, and is one that won't necessarily appeal to every palate. All 300 examples being made will be painted in 'Glacier White' paint, contrasting with the new front splitter and fixed rear wing, which are both finished in lacquered carbon fibre. In a hat-tip to the Continental GT3 racer that served as inspiration, the flanks also feature two-tone green graphics that further accentuate the lines coming off the front wheel and the rear haunch.
Reinforcing the performance image of the GT3-R, new lightweight 21-inch alloy wheels are finished in gloss black, as are other detail features around the car, including the large front grille, headlamp bezels, bumper strips and window surrounds.
Interior
Unlike previous sporting versions of the Continental, this new model is a strict two-seater due to the deletion of the rear seats as part of the 100kg weight-saving exercise. Of course, being a Bentley there is still a hugely luxurious cabin with heavily bolstered sports seats that are finished in Beluga black leather with diamond-quilted Alcantara. They also feature GT3-R stitching in the headrests.
A similar treatment has been applied to the steering wheel and gear selector whilst the fascia panels and centre console are trimmed in carbon fibre. The diamond-quilted material, featuring green accents, has been applied to the door panels and also across the rear area behind the front seats.
Mechanicals
Backing up that racer image Bentley's engineers have retuned the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine to now produce 580hp and a rather substantial 700Nm of torque thanks to a combination of new engine control software and high-boost turbochargers. Complementing the increase in power and decrease in weight, new shorter gearing means that the Continental GT3-R is now the fastest-accelerating Bentley ever with a 0-100km/h time of just 3.8 seconds.
Further fine-tuning has been applied to the all-wheel drive system, which for the first time in a Bentley will feature torque vectoring technology. This ensures that drive is optimised by controlling the amount of torque at each of the rear wheels and is particularly beneficial when it comes to cornering and track driving. Bentley has also modified the software that controls the ESC (Electronic Stability Control) and has tuned the chassis to offer what it claims to be a more responsive and involving drive.
Helping to bring the Continental GT3-R to a stop are 420mm Carbon Silicon Carbide discs at the front gripped by eight-piston callipers painted in a vivid green hue. At the rear, 356mm discs are fitted.
Anything else?
Just 300 examples of the Continental GT3-R will be produced with order books now officially open. The car will also have its dynamic debut at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed in England. And if you needed any further justification for your potential purchase, Bentley is also including four years' free standard servicing with every car.