2013 Bentley Continental GTC V8: Quicker and Less Expensive? How Silly - Car and Driver
For entry-level—but hardly base—versions of its Continental GT line, Bentley installs a V-8 in place of the usual W-12. Big B says excising four cylinders improves fuel economy, but we suspect its aim is mostly to sell more very expensive cars to... La Bonnotte po- tay -toes, La Bonnotte po- tah -toes. Like the 12-cylinder, the Audi-derived eight-holer is strapped with two turbos, packs the output of a nuclear sub (500 horsepower and 487 pound-feet), and shoves you in the back like a schoolyard bully. “Distinctive V-8 growl” is listed as standard, but that sells it way, way short. Note, though, that the tune here leaves something on the shelf: The same basic engine makes 520 horses in the Audi S8. When it’s not proclaiming itself aloud, a black grille and red Bentley badges announce the V-8 model. The V-8 GTC could deposit a person a quarter-mile away in 12. 7 seconds, were that person cool with being chucked from a car going 113 mph. Fuel economy indeed improves, meaning 15 mpg in this GTC versus the 14 we saw from the W-12 coupe. Outside the engine room, this Bentley Continental. Source: www.caranddriver.com
