Performance Review: Bentley Continental R 6.8 V8 Turbo - [1995]

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 1995. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 1996 Ferrari F50 GT1 4.7l V12 and the 1995 McLaren F1 LM 6.1 V12.This particular Bentley Continental has a 6750cc 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 2402 kgs (5295 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 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray 6.2 V8 Petrol Hybrid C8 (369 bhp)

In terms of power the 6750cc 16V V8 engine produces 385 bhp (287 kW) @ 4000 rpm similar to the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray 6.2 V8 Petrol Hybrid C8 (369 bhp) or the 2023 Lotus Emira First Edition i4 2.0 Turbo (360 bhp).

The Turbo V8 throws out 553 lb-ft (749.7 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 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 2022 Mini Cooper Clubman John Cooper Works 2.0 Turbo ALL4 (185.2 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Bentley Continental.

The Bentley Continental has a Power to weight ratio of 160.2 bhp per ton and 230.2 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 1995 Continental competing with the 2022 Mini Cooper Clubman John Cooper Works 2.0 Turbo ALL4 (185.2 bhp per ton) or the 2013 Lexus RC 350 3.5 V6 (185.2 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 230.2 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 2018 Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD Performance (255.0 lb-ft per ton) or the 2014 Audi A6 RS6 Avant 4.0 Turbo (254.8 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 6.10 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 6.3 secs, this made the Bentley Continental R 6.8 V8 Turbo as fast as the 2017 Hyundai i30 N 2.0 Turbo (6.10 secs) the 2017 Land-Rover Velar 3.0 SDV6 300 (6.10 secs) the 2017 Maserati Ghibli 3.0 V6 Diesel (6.10 secs) the or the 2016 Volkswagen-VW Golf GTI 2.0 Turbo DSG (6.10 secs). This Bentley Continental R 6.8 V8 Turbo is also faster than the 2019 Toyota Supra SZ-R 2.0 Turbo (6.20 secs) the 2019 Toyota Supra SZ 2.0 Turbo (6.20 secs) the 2017 Volkswagen-VW Arteon 2.0 TDi SCR 4Motion (6.20 secs) the and the 2014 Peugeot 208 Gti 1.6 Turbo 30th (6.20 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Continental and the 2004 Audi TT 3.2 V6 Quattro

When talking about the performance of the Bentley Continental on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 15.13 secs @ 90.4 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 2004 Audi TT 3.2 V6 Quattro (15.06 secs), the 2013 Lexus IS 350 (15.07 secs), and the 2014 Peugeot 208 Gti 1.6 Turbo 30th (15.07 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 1995 version of the Bentley Continental R 6.8 V8 Turbo has a maximum speed of 151mph.

Top Speed of the 1995 Continental equals the 2022 Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato (162 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 1995 Bentley Continental R 6.8 V8 Turbo then how about the 2022 Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato (162 mph), the 2021 Porsche Taycan Turbo (162 mph), or the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo (162 mph).

Related Links:

1995 Continental Rivals List.

A Brief History of Bentley

Car Comparison