Flair Magazine Where luxurious power meets efficiency
An icon of motoring, Bentley has single handedly changed the world’s understanding of motors and has set new standards of the highest caliber. The new 2013 Bentley Continental GT is a stunning coupe masterpiece that infuses both the beauty of the classic Bentley and extraordinary handcrafted luxury with the modern technology and design of a super car.
By Farah Amin
Even though the new 2013 Continental GT two-door, four-passenger model motor has been trimmed down from a 6.0-liter, twin-turbocharged W12-cylinder engine and horsepower at 552 to an all-new economy car engine to improve fuel economy and minimize carbon emissions to keep to the government regulations.
The new engine is a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 and maximum horsepower of 500, that has a direct fuel injection feature and cylinder deactivation technology that allows the engine to turn into a V4 when needed.
Don’t be fooled or discouraged because the power of the motor is quite lethal, with the added bonus of saving fuel consumption that can reach up to $1000 a year. If anything, this is the main idea of the new model. The efficiency for fuel comes from the 8-speed automatic transmission, lower rolling resistance tires and the tweaked aerodynamics. This makes it 25% more efficient than a W12 model.
The Bentley Continental GT prices start from $176,275; a cool $20,00 less than the W12 model.
This model is an all-wheel-drive and rides on active air suspension and its weight has been decreased to 80 pounds that improves the distribution for a better ride. An asymmetric exhaust system helps keep the roar and burble of the firing cylinders to a very quiet sound. It goes from zero to 60 mph in just 4.6 seconds and you will not feel the engine’s presence, but maybe in the convertible version with the top down the sound is more detected for your thrill.
From the inside the cabin is covered with exquisite buttery leather in its entirety, with contrasting touches of wood veneers, cool-touch metals and deep-pile carpets.
The dashboard and instrument panel reflects the design of the flying wings of a Bentley, where leather covers it and ‘blood orange’ lit analogue dials illuminate at night. The cockpit area rises from the center console housing a touch screen, chrome-bezeled dial and a veneer removable storage area.
The seats are made from materials that support the body and are designed in their distinctive ‘cobra’ design with front-seat ventilation and a state-of-the-art massage system.
The car’s exterior design echoes the original 1950s R-Type Continental but with a crisp modern edge to it that is shown in its sharper radii and contemporary lines, resulting in a wider and longer surface. With the classic matrix radiator grille, the Continental GT looks stronger, yet beautiful with the jewel like headlights. The rear of the car is wrapped around with distinctive signature floating LED lamps and the boot lid holds the ‘double horse-shoe’ motif.
2013 Bentley Continental GT V8
Base Price: $176,275
Type: 2-door, 4-passenger coupe or convertible
Engine: 4.0L twin-turbocharged V8
Power: 500 hp, 487 lb-ft torque
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
MPG: 15 city/24 hwy (coupe)
