Exclusive to Saudi Gazette IF there is such a thing as an “entry level” Bentley, then the 2013 Continental GT V8 is it. Satisfyingly, though the term covers the loss of four cylinders and two liters compared with its V-12 brethren, when driving the new Bentley, it would be hard to notice especially if you were new to the marque. True, 13 percent less horsepower, eight percent les torque and 50 kilos in weight might seem significant if you were after maximum performance. However, Bentley is aiming at a more youthful market and has succeeded in delivering something that sometimes is not included in most luxury cars – an element of fun. That elusive element lies in the feel of the car that comes from the V8 configuration, some ingenious engine management and a 51/49 percent front/rear weight distribution. Under acceleration, the engine emits a deep rather cultured rumble reaching a warning growl passing 3500 rpm. At 5000 rpm the twin-turbo power plant bellows the classic V8 challenge and the rebalanced chassis pays off in steering precision and sharpness with less tendency to understeer than the V12s. Push hard into a corner and the massive tires are reluctant to release the road and follow the steering angle making the feel of the drive slightly crisper and confident. Acceleration naturally suffers the loss of liters and pots, one might think. In this case, less is more. Snick into Sport mode, kick the accelerator and the transmission warps to flank speed, downshifting up to five gears with a shocking swiftness. Thence an arpeggio back up the scale as the world becomes blurry on each side. Barely detectable changes (heard rather than felt) are dual-clutch fast, but with a reassuring nudge that accompanies a torque-converted shift. Track testing says that despite a 67-hp deficit, the 500-hp V8 is faster than the W12. Brake on and spin the V8 release and with a half-meter rolling start, testers report four seconds to 100kph. Keep the power full on and the quarter mile sees the brute bounding past 180 kph. Less really is more! The standard eight-speed gearbox that drives a 60/40 rear to front power distribution to the full time four-wheel drive transmission changes gear faster than the ZF six-speed in the W12 GT, contributing to the 0-100kph times. The acceleration and eager power delivery is all very comforting when the challenge comes – as it inevitably will. Flick off the traction control and the management system allows the right degree of slip to ease the car into a controlled drift. Two thousand kilos of car drifting gaily and rejoicing with a throaty roar is something to experience; this most definitely is fun! It does however require you to pay attention – playing games of this ilk can lead to parking in a flowerbed as the electronics discreetly do as asked and leave you to your own devices. Well, Bentley does have a century-long sporting heritage dating back to Brooklands Race Track through Le Mans (with the V8 GT cars) and they have never forgotten it. The 2013 GT V8 very decidedly shows its good breeding. For all this muscularity, the GT V8 is a luxury car and for all the fun when pushed –especially with the windows open to enjoy the music of the figure eight-shaped tail pipes, it is a remarkably quiet car. At around 90kph on a sustained cruise on good tarmac, the noise level is almost imperceptible even with 21-inch low-profile tires. The V8 is exceptionally smooth and the steering deceptively light and pinpoint accurate. GT stands for Grand Touring and a thousand kilometers a day in this car would be a breeze. Being a Bentley, the trim and finish is without compromise. Everything you see is put together by hugely skilful craftsmen and women and a fork; yes, fork. The holes for the stitching on the steering wheel are pricked out with a venerated fork, much loved and polished by generations of hand-use. Of course machines could do the job, but the leatherworkers who pay such attention to detail and are dedicated to their craft in a way that is quite remarkable simply prefer tines of the fork. It is the way they work and it results in a finish throughout the car that comes from immense hand-skills the closest possible attention to detail. Bentley has never been given to cluttering their vehicles with announcements about the model. Minor trim changes such as red “B” badges, a black-gloss mesh grille, a new three-segment lower-front-bumper design, and double-oval exhaust tailpipes are the clues to the cognoscenti. This V8 is a car with a conscience. On cruise or light throttle, four of the eight cylinders cut out reducing fuel consumption and emissions. It is so imperceptible that Bentley does not even put an indicator light to show the change. The eight-speed gearbox is six percent more efficient and the green credentials of the car are demonstrated by a 40 percent improvement in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. So, it's OK to have fun, at last!
