The Continental GT->ke401 arrived for the 2003 model year as the first Bentley->ke15 vehicle launched under Volkswagen->ke94's ownership. Sold in both fastback and convertible guises, the first-generation Continental GT got its juice from a 6.0-liter W-12 engine. Many special editions and iteration followed until 2011, when the second-gen model was introduced. The redesigned grand tourer keeps its W-12 mill, but a 4.0-liter, V-8 engine was finally added to the lineup. In 2013, Bentley unveiled the Continental GT3, a race car that marked the manufacturers return to racing. And just a year after the track-only GT3 arrived, the Brits rolled out a special-edition GT3-R coupe to pay tribute to the track-exclusive machine.

To be sold as the GT3-R beginning with the fourth quarter of 2014, the new vehicle sits atop the Continental V8 lineup, boasting more horsepower than any of its brothers, and a bevy of exclusive features and technologies. It's also the fastest-accelerating, and the most dynamic and responsive Bentley ever built, feats that will likely help sell the 300-unit production run like hot cakes.

Adding to the GT3-R's appeal is the fact that all examples will be hand-built at Bentley's headquarters in Crewe before being sent off to the company's Motorsport division->ke447 for the final touches. Now let's see what makes the GT3-R so special.

Updated 08/11/2014: The new Continental GT3-R will make its North American debut at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in August 2014 and will start at $337,000. Deliveries will begin in the first quarter of 2015. Only 99 units will make it to the North American market.

Click past the jump to read more about the Bentley Continental GT3-R.

2014 Bentley Continental GT3-R

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2014 Bentley Continental GT3-R
  • Engine/Motor: V8
  • Horsepower: 572 @ 6000
  • Torque: 117 @ 0
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

Although its appearance is not as extreme when compared to the race-ready GT3, the GT3-R is more aggressive than any other coupe in the Continental lineup, including the very powerful GT Speed. Up front, the main changes are noticeable in the bumper area and on the hood. The lower fascia features three separate intakes, and a closer look at the GT3 reveals that Bentley opted to replicate the pattern adorning the race car's lower apron. Additionally, a carbon-fiber splitter enhances the coupe's aerodynamic potential and its plays into its track-oriented nature. Moving over to the bonnet, two vents were mounted in the center to help improve engine cooling and remind customers that they're hooning a race-inspired street rocket.

Around back, Bentley replaced the huge rear wing seen on the GT3 with a fixed, down-to-earth spoiler, while the track-spec diffuser made way for a production bumper and a twin-exhaust system. When viewed from the side, the GT3-R shows off a gorgeous, GT3-inspired paint job that blends a Glacier White finish and two-tone green graphics. Just like on the race car, one line begins from the bumper, and leads backward over the wheels and onto the door, while the other one follows the shape of the car's sexy rear haunch. Rounding off the paint scheme is a black line drawn right above the side sills and British flags placed on the front fenders, aft of the wheels.

Complementing the white body is a set of 21-inch, machine-forged wheels crafted from high-strength alloy and finished in Gloss Black. The lightweight rollers come in a brand-new design, and host silver brake rotors and green discs. Other touches borrowed from the GT3 race car include Gloss Black headlamps bezels, and window and taillight surrounds. These replace the regular chrome pieces found on other Continentals.

2015 Bentley Continental GT3-R - Exterior Dimensions

Wheelbase

2,746 MM / 108.1 in

Overall length

4,806 MM / 189.2 in

Width (across body)

1,944 MM / 76.5 in

Width (inc. mirrors)

2,227 MM / 87.7 in

Overall height

1,394 MM / 54.9 in

Fuel tank

90 liters / 20 gallons / 24 U.S. gallons

Boot volume

358 liters / 12.6 cu. ft

Kerb weight (EU)

2,195 KG / 4839 LB

Gross vehicle weight

2,750 KG / 6063 LB


Interior

In spite of its racy nature, the Continental GT3-R doesn't lack the luxury amenities available across the Bentley lineup. The brand-new sports seats, which feature updated bolstering and newly designed foam layers, are trimmed in Beluga black leather and diamond-quilted Alcantara. The latter material is also stitched around the steering wheel and the gear shifter, but the two-seat cockpit is not just about leather and soft-touch surfaces, as Bentley used a huge amount of carbon-fiber as well. The center console, parts of the dashboard, and the door casings have all been crafted from this light material. These carbon add-ons not only help the GT3-R ditch even more weight, but provide it with a unique appearance worthy of a limited-edition status.

Contrasting all of the above is a vivid shade of green that found its way into the black cabin in various shapes and sizes. The hue can be found as hide color, contrast stitching on the seats, and as inserts for the instrument panel and door panels. Lastly, "GT3-R" badges adorn the center console and the passenger-side dashboard, while a similar logo is stitched to the headrests.

You know this is no regular Continental as soon as you take a peek inside.

Carbon-fiber dash and GT3-R badging

Drivetrain

Although initial rumors claimed the GT3-R could have as much as 700 horsepower at its disposal, the car's V-8 unit delivers less than that. Displacing 4.0 liters and force fed by a couple of turbo units, the mill works in conjunction with new engine control software that enables it to generate 572 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. Those numbers account for a 51-horsepower and 14-pound-feet increase over the V-8's standard numbers.

Channeling the power to all four wheels via an enhanced all-wheel-drive system with torque vectoring -- first time a Bentley has used torque vectoring -- is an eight-speed, ZF automatic transmission specifically modified for shorter gearing. As soon as it hits the pavement, the oomph pushes the coupe from naught to 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds, making it the fastest-accelerating, road-going Bentley ever built. But while the short gearing does help in the acceleration department, top speed drops from 192 mph to 170 mph.

Bentley reminds us that the GT3-R's performance is not just about more power and a revised drivetrain. This coupe also ditched 220 pounds in the development process, which explains why it can reach 60 mph from a standstill 0.4 seconds quicker than the Continental GT Speed, which sports a W-12 engine and has 626 ponies on tap.

2015 Bentley Continental GT3-R - Drivetrain/Specifications

Type

4.0-litre twin-turbo V8

Max Power

580 PS / 572 bhp / 426 kW @ 6,000 rpm

Max Torque

700 Nm / 516 lb.ft @1,700 rpm

Transmission

ZF 8-speed automatic with Quickshift, Block Shifting and separate Drive, Sport and Tiptronic modes. Steering-column-mounted paddle shift.

Driveline

Continuous all-wheel drive (40:60 rear bias) with torque vectoring

Top speed

170 mph / 273 km/h TBC

0-60 mph

3.6 secs

0-100 km/h

3.8 secs


Suspension And Brakes

Besides being faster than any other Bentley, the Continental GT3-R is also the most dynamic and responsive vehicle to come out of Crewe. Fitted with a reconfigured Electornic Stability Control system and sitting on a chassis tuned for improved cornering ability, the coupe is likely to give the Porsche 911 Turbo a run for its money at the Nurburgring. Of course, we don't expect the GT3-R to win such a battle, but it should put on quite an acoustic show thanks to its all-new titanium exhaust.

Bentley Continentals are known for their smooth ride and handling, but will the sportier GT3-R offer a similar comfort? Apparently yes, because Bentley used updated versions of the air springs and dampers found in the Continental V8 S. The V8 S is already a segment leader in terms handling and ride, and a few tweaks can only improve the experience in a GT3-R. In addition to the dynamics provided by the new ESC system, the GT-R also benefits from a lot more grip due to its lightweight wheels being shod in high-grip Pirelli tires.

Stopping this monster on both roads and tracks is Bentley's already famous Carbon Silicon Carbide (CSiC) braking system. It consists of 420-mm (16.5-inch) discs with eight-piston calipers up front and 356-mm (14-inch) discs out back and absorbs up to 10 megajoules of energy in a single stop. That's enough energy to power a family home for six hours and fairly impressive for a road-going car that doesn't wear a McLaren or a Ferrari badge.

Prices

The new Continental GT3-R will be put on sale at a price of $337,000. Deliveries will begin in the first quarter of 2015. Only 99 units will make it to the North American market.

Competitors

Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG

The CL63 AMG is arguably one of the quickest and most luxurious grand tourers on the market. Powered by a twin-turbocharged, 5.5-liter V-8, the coupe packs 536 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. It needs only 4.4 seconds to reach the 60-mph mark from a standing start and hits a top speed of 186 mph. These numbers are achieved with help from a seven-speed automatic transmission that can be operated by steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters.

The German coupe comes with a long list of standard features. The cabin is packed with leather and wood trims and the sports seats are heated, ventilated, and include a massage function. Technology-wise, the CL63 AMG is fitted with anything from front/rear parking sensors to Active Lane Keeping Assist and even a proximity key. Pricing starts from $154,600 and goes up from there.

Aston Martin DB9

The DB9 received a few nips and tucks for the 2013 model year. Although not major, the update will keep the grand tourer fresh until 2017, when the next-generation model is rumored to arrive. Unlike the GT3-R and the CL63 AMG, the Aston Martin DB9 still carries a naturally aspirated engine in the form of a 6.0-liter V-12. The unit churns 510 horsepower and 457 pound-feet of torque that reach the wheels through a six-speed Touchtronic box.

The coupe screams from 0 to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds, making it a full second slower than the Bentley GT3-R. However, the Aston Martin is capable of greater top speeds that can reach up to 183 mph. Its interior is elegant and boasts some of the finest leathers the Brits have crafted. Losing weight was a major concern for Aston Martin when updating the DB9, prompting the manufacturer to introduce a pair of Kevlar and carbon-fiber seats that trimmed 37 pounds off the car's total weight. The DB9 starts from $185,400 in the United States.

Bentley Continental GT3

Conclusion

I'm particularly happy each time I see a race car morph into a road-going vehicle. Wearing a Bentley badge makes the GT3-R even more special, as it pays tribute to a race car that marked the company's return to UK tracks after 84 years. The lighter body, the extra power, and the limited-edition run help too, but the GT3-R is not that spectacular. Although it can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph as fast as a Ferrari->ke252, the GT3-R is too heavy for its competitors. The vehicle still weighs more than 4,000 pounds and it's way too big to keep pace with the Porsche 911. However, we like to believe that the GT3-R will open a new chapter for Bentley and the Brits will come up with a lighter vehicle for the sports car market.