Performance Review: Bentley Continental GTC Speed - [2009]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Bentley Continental Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Bentley Continental GTC Speed is the 6 speed / Auto version and was first brought out in 2009. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2010 Hennessey Venom GT 6.2L V8 and the 2010 Bugatti Veyron 8.0 litre W16 Super Sport.This particular Bentley Continental has a 5998cc Twin Turbo Petrol powerplant with 12 cylinders in a W formation.

Alternative Petrol W12's includes the 2017 Bentley Continental Supersports 6.0 W12 Bi Turbo

The Continental shares its Petrol W12 engine configuration with the likes of the 2017 Bentley Continental Supersports 6.0 W12 Bi Turbo and the 2017 Bentley Continental GT 6.0 W12 Turbo. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the Continental's All Wheel Drive, Cabriolet combination then how about the or the .

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 2485 kgs (5478 lbs) this makes the Bentley Continental GTC Speed in the same weight category as the 2023 Lotus Eletre 603 bhp or the give or take 50kg.

The Bentley Continental shares the same bhp with the 2023 BMW X5 M Competition 4.4 Turbo F95 (616 bhp)

In terms of power the 5998cc 48V W12 engine produces 602 bhp (448 kW) @ 6000 rpm similar to the 2023 BMW X5 M Competition 4.4 Turbo F95 (616 bhp) or the 2023 Ferrari Roma Spider 3.9 V8 Turbo (611 bhp).

The Twin Turbo W12 throws out 553 lb-ft (749.7 Nm) @ 1750 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 Ferrari Roma Spider 3.9 V8 Turbo (561 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 2013 Aston-Martin Vantage V8 SP10 (267.0 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Bentley Continental.

The Bentley Continental has a Power to weight ratio of 242.2 bhp per ton and 222.5 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2009 Continental competing with the 2013 Aston-Martin Vantage V8 SP10 (267.0 bhp per ton) or the 2022 Chevrolet Camaro SS 6.2 V8 Auto (267.0 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 222.5 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 2017 Audi A4 RS4 Avant 2.9 V6 Turbo (247.4 lb-ft per ton) or the 1968 Ford XL XL Fastback 427 (247.4 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 4.50 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 4.6 secs, this made the Bentley Continental GTC Speed as fast as the 2022 BMW i7 xDrive60 (4.50 secs) the 2021 BMW 2 Series M240i xDrive 3.0 Turbo F23 (4.50 secs) the 2021 Rolls-Royce Ghost Black Badge 6.6 V12 Twin turbo (4.50 secs) the or the 2021 BMW 2 Series M240i xDrive Cabrio 3.0 Turbo F23 (4.50 secs). This Bentley Continental GTC Speed is also faster than the 2023 Porsche Cayenne Coupe E-Hybrid 3.0 V6 Turbo (4.60 secs) the 2023 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid 3.0 V6 Turbo (4.60 secs) the 2021 BMW 2 Series M240i 3.0 Cabrio Turbo F23 (4.60 secs) the and the 2020 Audi A3 S3 Saloon (4.60 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Continental and the 1998 Mazda RX7 RZ

When talking about the performance of the Bentley Continental on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 12.68 secs @ 107.9 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 1998 Mazda RX7 RZ (12.64 secs), the 1967 Pontiac Firebird 400 (12.65 secs), and the 2016 Audi A3 S3 Sportback 2.0 Turbo S-Tronic (12.65 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2009 version of the Bentley Continental GTC Speed has a maximum speed of 200mph.

Top Speed of the 2009 Continental equals the 2023 Aston-Martin Valour 5.2 V12 Twin Turbo (211 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 2009 Bentley Continental GTC Speed then how about the 2023 Aston-Martin Valour 5.2 V12 Twin Turbo (211 mph), the 2023 Aston-Martin DBS 770 Ultimate 5.2 V12 Twin Turbo (211 mph), or the 2023 Aston-Martin DBS 770 Ultimate Volante 5.2 V12 Twin Turbo (211 mph).

Related Links:

2009 Continental Rivals List.

A Brief History of Bentley

Car Comparison