vB Easy Archive - Bentley GT Coupe

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Sneak Peek: Bentley GT Coupe
June 11, 2002

Volkswagen's answer to the Aston Martin V12 Vanquish, the as-yet-unnamed Bentley GT coupe promises to push the premium marque to new heights of sophistication and performance. Bentley has released basic technical information on its upcoming four-seater, revealing a prestigious coupe that could make James Bond jealous.
Under the hood, a 6.0-liter, twin-turbocharged W12 engine will produce more than 500 horsepower. Torque figures haven't been released, but Bentley has implied it would significantly top 500 lb-ft. Although the engine is derived from the similarly configured powerplant used elsewhere in the Volkswagen group (i.e. Passat W8), this variation was developed by Bentley. Moreover, like the rest of the car, this Bentley powerplant will be built at the brand's traditional hometown, Crewe.

Despite its impressive power, the engine will be relatively understressed in this application, enabling a refined manner expected of a Bentley. The power will be fed through a new, paddle-operated six-speed automatic gearbox and will be delivered to the road via all-wheel-drive -- a first in Bentley's history. Performance claims put 0-60 mph times under five seconds and with a maximum speed in excess of 180 mph.

The suspension will feature a multi-link rear axle, double wishbones at the front, and an electronic damping system. The suspension has been designed and tuned to balance safety, comfort, and an engaging driving feel.

With the final design signed off, work is now concentrated on evaluation and durability testing in some of the most inhospitable regions on the planet. The result promises to be one of the quickest, most advanced cars ever offered for sale to the general public.