Performance Review: Bentley Continental T 6.8 V8 Turbo - [1998]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Bentley Continental Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Bentley Continental T 6.8 V8 Turbo is the 4 speed / Auto version and was first brought out in 1998. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the and the .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 2450 kgs (5401 lbs) this makes the Bentley Continental T 6.8 V8 Turbo in the same weight category as the 2023 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid 3.0 V6 Turbo or the give or take 50kg.

The Bentley Continental shares the same bhp with the 2022 Lotus Emira First Edition 3.5 V6 Supercharged (395 bhp)

In terms of power the 6750cc 16V V8 engine produces 420 bhp (313 kW) @ 4000 rpm similar to the 2022 Lotus Emira First Edition 3.5 V6 Supercharged (395 bhp) or the 2022 Lotus Emira First Edition 3.5 V6 Supercharged Auto (395 bhp).

The Turbo V8 throws out 645 lb-ft (874.5 Nm) @ 2100 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2023 Aston-Martin DBS 770 Ultimate Volante 5.2 V12 Twin Turbo (664 lb-ft) or the 2023 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 6.2 V8 Convertible (650 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 2016 Volkswagen-VW Golf R 2.0 Turbo (196.1 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Bentley Continental.

The Bentley Continental has a Power to weight ratio of 171.4 bhp per ton and 263.2 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 1998 Continental competing with the 2016 Volkswagen-VW Golf R 2.0 Turbo (196.1 bhp per ton) or the 1965 Ford Mustang Hardtop 289 4.7 V8 (195.9 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 263.2 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 2013 Alfa-Romeo 4C 1.8 Turbo (288.2 lb-ft per ton) or the 2009 Lamborghini Reventon Roadster 6.5L V12 (288.1 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 5.80 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 6.0 secs, this made the Bentley Continental T 6.8 V8 Turbo as fast as the 2021 KIA K5 GT 2.5 Turbo (5.80 secs) the 2020 Toyota Camry TRD 3.5 V6 (5.80 secs) the 2017 Seat Leon ST Cupra 300 DSG (5.80 secs) the or the 2017 Renault Megane RS 1.8 Turbo 280 (5.80 secs). This Bentley Continental T 6.8 V8 Turbo is also faster than the 2019 Ford Focus ST 2.3 EcoBoost Automatic Wagon (5.90 secs) the 2019 Ford Focus ST 2.3 EcoBoost Automatic (5.90 secs) the 2017 Hyundai i30 N Performance 2.0 Turbo (5.90 secs) the and the 2015 Seat Leon ST Cupra 280 (5.90 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Continental and the 2004 Honda S2000 2.2i

When talking about the performance of the Bentley Continental on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 14.79 secs @ 92.5 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 2004 Honda S2000 2.2i (14.72 secs), the 1986 Ford Sierra RS Cosworth (14.74 secs), and the 2006 Porsche Cayman 2.7 (14.74 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 1998 version of the Bentley Continental T 6.8 V8 Turbo has a maximum speed of 168mph.

Top Speed of the 1998 Continental equals the 2020 Porsche Boxster GTS 4.0 PDK 982 (179 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 1998 Bentley Continental T 6.8 V8 Turbo then how about the 2020 Porsche Boxster GTS 4.0 PDK 982 (179 mph), the 2017 Maserati GranCabrio Sport 4.7 V8 (179 mph), or the 2017 Maserati Quattroporte S Q4 3.0 V6 Twin Turbo (179 mph).

Related Links:

1998 Continental Rivals List.

A Brief History of Bentley

Car Comparison