REALITY CHECK: THE W12 CONTINENTAL GT wasn't the best Conti GT. That accolade fell to the V8, which hit the sweet spot of effortless go and accomplished handling. Its performance was always just right, the drop in weight significant enough to apply another layer of polish to the big coupe's dynamics. But the W12 will be missed for its presence, its unique soundtrack and keen responses, and its ability to add some vigour and vitality to the process of wafting around in opulence and luxury.
Now it's gone, supplanted by an all-new powertrain that's tasked with replacing not only Bentley's iconic and unique 12-cylinder engine, but the VW Group's ubiquitous 4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 that also served the Continental and the Flying Spur saloon - so well.
With the Conti GT accounting for one in three Bentleys sold, getting the powertrain right has not been something the company has taken lightly. Its relationship with its customers is on a par with those who car-shop in Maranello, which means it not only knows what they want from their Crewe-made cars, but crucially what they don't. And the requirements come under three core headings: Design, Performance and Technology.
On the first of those, you will need to wait until 25 June to see the new design for what Bentley is calling the fourth generation of Continental GT, but in the meantime we can reveal the technology that underpins it, and give you an impression of the performance it offers. And there's quite a lot of both.
Denne historien er fra July 2024-utgaven av Evo UK.
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Denne historien er fra July 2024-utgaven av Evo UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
BEST BUYS BMW M CARS
THE PERFORMANCE CAR LANDSCAPE WOULD HAVE looked very different over the last five decades without BMW. Its M division, founded in 1972, has produced some of the best driver’s cars ever to hit the road, and in the process has provided a stream of benchmark models for its rivals to chase. In recent years, stricter emissions regulations, downsizing and electrification have seen some of those rival cars falter, yet by and large BMW’s M machines have remained strong. In fact, some rank among the greatest the department has made think of the eCoty-winning M2 CS and M5 CS while others are the only options worth recommending in their respective segments. Price tags have risen with performance, however, putting those latest offerings out of reach for many, but the marque’s popularity means there are numerous earlier M models available on the second-hand market for far more attainable figures. Here are four of our favourites.
TYRE 2024 TEST
Want to fit the very best tyres to your performance car? The annual evo Tyre Test identifies the cream of the current crop
HONDA ACCORD TYPE R
A liberal sprinkling of Honda Type R fairy dust on the late-'90s Accord produced an unlikely evo icon and a genuine performance bargain
TOY STORY
Where best to store some of Toyota’s most prized and valuable racing superstars? Under the wind tunnel at its Cologne HO, of course...
POWER PLAY
It develops 819bhp. It has no turbochargers, no hybrid assistance. Ferrari describes it as the most complete GT it's ever made. And it’s so proud of its mighty V12 engine it’s named the whole car after it. This is the 12 Cilindri
THE FIRST SAMURAIS
Japan has been responsible for many of our favourite driver's cars of recent decades, but their ancestors are often much less well known. We take a look at where the big manufacturers began their performance car journeys
DEFINITELY. NO MAYBE
Three Japanese performance icons - Lexus LFA, Subaru Impreza 22B and Nissan GT-R. Over three days on some of our favourite roads we explore what makes each uniquely thrilling, but also the car culture that unites them
1V3.0
F1, P1... and now W1. The next chapter in McLaren's Ultimate Series is the British firm's challenger to the forthcoming new Ferrari hypercar and a £2million, 1257bhp, hybrid-powered, technical tour de force
Thornley Kelham European RS
One man’s dream to build the perfect Porsche 911 has resulted inthis aaticMously restored and enhanced classic. We delve into the details and take it for a drive
Bentley Continental GT Speed
The new Continental GT is the most powerful Bentley ever, and the beginning of anew plug-in hybrid era for Crewe. But is it still a benchmark grand tourer?
