VUE

Debuted in the Bentayga, this W12 motor has not only shed 60 lbs. but has also been radically re-engineered with the front drive shas punching through the sump to make it fit into the smaller engine bay and is coupled to a new ZF transmission. It uses a new injection system comprising both port injection from the old car for more power with direct injection to ensure it meets new emission regulations. Its two turbos have also been upgraded to twin-scroll units and it features cylinder displacement which cuts out six-cylinders when cruising. is helps it to achieve a stated 16 percent better fuel economy with Portly it may be but in addition to the 66 lbs. lost in the drivetrain weight, the new Conti has also dropped 176 lbs. through the use of aluminium and composites in the body. e combination of more power and less weight was immediately noticeable. A lot of aluminium has been used for the castings, extrusions and main structural nodes in addition to high strength steel for crash performance while the outer skin has been clad in sculptured aluminium pressings. What this means is extraordinary rigidity in the body. is has given the new Conti GT torsional stiffness of 34,000Nm per degree which, as described in layman's terms by Chief Project Manager, Bob Teale, is the equivalent to hanging one and a half Continental GTs off the back end of a one metre bar resulting in just one degree in body deflection. e Continental pointed into corners like no Bentley before and more like an Aston Martin Vantage or AMG GT. is was no doubt helped by the 48-volt Dynamic Ride rear a range of 500 miles and even on our test of more than 375 miles through mountain passes and high-speed motorways. e transmission is an eight-speed ZF unit that uses Porsche's PDK double clutch set up and was one of the reasons why the car's launch was postponed from late last year as engineers needed to give it a tweak to handle the engine's 664 -lb. of torque. On road it provided rapid shiing that was close to seamless through its eight cogs. e twin-scroll turbos eliminate all lag as the surge of power felt almost limitless and despite its portly 4,950 lbs., Bentley claims it will get to 62 mph in 3.7 seconds and on to 207 mph. NEW W12 TWIN-TURBO ENGINE LIGHTER AND STRONGER V U E N J . C O M 140

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