Performance Review: Bentley Continental GT Speed - [2012]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Bentley Continental Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Bentley Continental GT Speed is the 8 speed / Auto version and was first brought out in 2012. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2012 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse and the 2013 Caterham 7 620 R 2.0 L Supercharged.This particular Bentley Continental has a 5998cc Turbo Petrol powerplant with 8 cylinders in a V formation.

Alternative Petrol V8's includes the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170

The Continental shares its Petrol V8 engine configuration with the likes of the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 and the 2023 Ferrari SF 90 XX Spider 4.0 V8 Turbo. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the Continental's All Wheel Drive, Coupe combination then how about the or the .

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 2320 kgs (5114 lbs) this makes the Bentley Continental GT Speed in the same weight category as the 2021 Porsche Taycan Turbo or the give or take 50kg.

The Bentley Continental shares the same bhp with the 2023 Ferrari Roma Spider 3.9 V8 Turbo (611 bhp)

In terms of power the 5998cc 48V V8 engine produces 616 bhp (459 kW) @ 6000 rpm similar to the 2023 Ferrari Roma Spider 3.9 V8 Turbo (611 bhp) or the 2023 BMW X5 M Competition 4.4 Turbo F95 (616 bhp).

The Turbo V8 throws out 590 lb-ft (799.9 Nm) @ 2000 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 3996 Bentley Continental GT 4.0 V8 Turbo Convertible (568 lb-ft) or the 2023 McLaren 750S 4.0 V8 Twin Turbo (590 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Bentley Continental you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 2020 Maserati Ghibli Trofeo 3.8 V8 Twin Turbo (290.5 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Bentley Continental.

The Bentley Continental has a Power to weight ratio of 265.5 bhp per ton and 254.3 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2012 Continental competing with the 2020 Maserati Ghibli Trofeo 3.8 V8 Twin Turbo (290.5 bhp per ton) or the 1966 Chevrolet Corvette C2 Stingray 427 425hp (290.4 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Bentley Continental generating around 254.3 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 2015 Mercedes C Class 63 AMG (279.3 lb-ft per ton) or the 2013 BMW 5 Series M550d xDrive F10 (279.2 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 4.00 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 4.1 secs, this made the Bentley Continental GT Speed as fast as the 3996 Bentley Continental GT 4.0 V8 Turbo Convertible (4.00 secs) the 2022 Lotus Emira First Edition 3.5 V6 Supercharged Auto (4.00 secs) the 2021 Audi e-tron GT Quattro (4.00 secs) the or the 2020 Lotus Evora GT410 Sport 3.5 V6 Supercharged (4.00 secs). This Bentley Continental GT Speed is also faster than the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse 5.0 V8 (4.10 secs) the 2022 BMW XM 4.4 V8 Twin Turbo G09 (4.10 secs) the 2022 BMW 2 Series M2 3.0 Twin Turbo G87 (4.10 secs) the and the 2022 Lotus Emira First Edition 3.5 V6 Supercharged (4.10 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Continental and the 2008 Pontiac G8 GXP 6.2 V8

When talking about the performance of the Bentley Continental on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 12.31 secs @ 111.1 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 2008 Pontiac G8 GXP 6.2 V8 (12.26 secs), the 1995 Honda NSX R 3.0 V6 (12.27 secs), and the 1994 Subaru Impreza WRX STI V1 - Classic JDM (12.27 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2012 version of the Bentley Continental GT Speed has a maximum speed of 205mph.

Top Speed of the 2012 Continental equals the 2017 Ford GT 3.5 V6 Bi-Turbo (216 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 2012 Bentley Continental GT Speed then how about the 2017 Ford GT 3.5 V6 Bi-Turbo (216 mph), the 2023 Lamborghini Revuelto 6.5 V12 Petrol Hybrid (217 mph), or the 2020 McLaren Sabre 4.0 V8 Twin Turbo (217 mph).

Related Links:

2012 Continental Rivals List.

A Brief History of Bentley

Car Comparison