Performance Review: Bentley Continental R 6.8 V8 Turbo - [1991]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Bentley Continental Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Bentley Continental R 6.8 V8 Turbo is the 4 speed / Auto version and was first brought out in 1991. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 1991 Jaguar XJ R-15 6.0 V12 and the 1992 Bugatti EB110 SuperSport.This particular Bentley Continental has a 3750cc 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 Rear Wheel Drive, Coupe combination then how about the 1982 Fiat X1/9 1.5 8V or the 1965 Aston-Martin DB6 1965.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 2423 kgs (5341 lbs) this makes the Bentley Continental R 6.8 V8 Turbo in the same weight category as the 2020 Bentley Bentayga 4.0 V8 Turbo or the give or take 50kg.

The Bentley Continental shares the same bhp with the 2024 Mazda CX-90 S 3.3 Turbo (340 bhp)

In terms of power the 3750cc 16V V8 engine produces 315 bhp (234 kW) @ 4500 rpm similar to the 2024 Mazda CX-90 S 3.3 Turbo (340 bhp) or the 2023 Toyota Corolla GR Morizo Edition 1.6 Turbo (300 bhp).

The Turbo V8 throws out 485 lb-ft (657.5 Nm) @ 2250 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray 6.2 V8 Petrol Hybrid C8 (470 lb-ft) or the 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 5.5 V8 C8 (460 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 1974 Aston-Martin Lagonda Series 1 5.3L V8 (155.0 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Bentley Continental.

The Bentley Continental has a Power to weight ratio of 130.0 bhp per ton and 200.1 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 1991 Continental competing with the 1974 Aston-Martin Lagonda Series 1 5.3L V8 (155.0 bhp per ton) or the 1980 Audi Quattro UR-Quattro (155.0 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 200.1 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 2022 BMW Z4 M40i 3.0 Turbo (225.0 lb-ft per ton) or the 2015 Mercedes A Class 45 AMG 4Matic 2.0 Turbo (225.0 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 6.90 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 7.1 secs, this made the Bentley Continental R 6.8 V8 Turbo as fast as the 2015 Audi TT 1.8 TFSI Coupe (6.90 secs) the 2013 Land-Rover Range Rover Sport 3.0 V6 Supercharged (6.90 secs) the 2012 Ford Fiesta ST 1.6 Turbo (6.90 secs) the or the 2009 Ford Fiesta ST185 (6.90 secs). This Bentley Continental R 6.8 V8 Turbo is also faster than the 2020 Alfa-Romeo Giulia 2.2 16v Turbo Diesel (7.00 secs) the 2015 Mazda MX5 2.0i Roadster Coupe (7.00 secs) the 2013 Seat Leon SC 1.8 FR Start-Stop DSG (7.00 secs) the and the 2012 Volkswagen-VW Golf GTi Cabriolet DSG (7.00 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Continental and the 2008 Audi TT Roadster 2.0T FSI 200

When talking about the performance of the Bentley Continental on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 16.22 secs @ 84.3 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 2008 Audi TT Roadster 2.0T FSI 200 (16.15 secs), the 1992 Porsche 968 3.0 Turbo (16.16 secs), and the 2007 Volvo C30 2.5T 230bhp R Design (16.17 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 1991 version of the Bentley Continental R 6.8 V8 Turbo has a maximum speed of 145mph.

Top Speed of the 1991 Continental equals the 2007 Lotus 2-Eleven 1.8 Supercharged (156 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 1991 Bentley Continental R 6.8 V8 Turbo then how about the 2007 Lotus 2-Eleven 1.8 Supercharged (156 mph), the 2003 Ford Mustang Mach 1 (156 mph), or the 1999 Nissan Skyline R34 GTR (156 mph).

Related Links:

1991 Continental Rivals List.

A Brief History of Bentley

Car Comparison