Bentley Continental GT3-R is Totally Street Regal

Bentley just revealed the Continental GT3-R: a road car directly inspired by the GT3 race car first seen during the 2012 Paris Motor Show.

Like the race car, Bentley found ways to lighten what it is billing as its most dynamic road car to date. Despite that, it still tips the scales at 4,839 lbs. Considering that weight, what’s really impressive is the fact that its 4.0-liter twin turbo V8 will launch it from 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds, making it the quickest Bentley ever. That mill pumps out 572 hp at 6,000 RPM and 516 lb-ft at 1,700 RPM.

That power is directed continuously to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission with a 60 percent bias to the back half. For the first time, Bentley is also offering torque vectoring to the rear wheels in its all-wheel drive system. The transmission also features shorter gearing in this case to enhance acceleration.

“Drive” and “Sport” modes in the car are also supposedly split further apart in this case to offer a more appreciable difference when the car is turned to its performance setting.

It takes a serious set of brakes to slow down in such a heavy and powerful car. In this case, Bentley uses a massive set of 420 mm rotors with eight-piston calipers in front and 356 mm rotors in the rear.

The special two-seat cabin features carbon fiber, diamond-quilted Alcantara and Beluga black leather and the rear seats have been discarded. The GT3-R is roughly 220 lbs lighter than a Continental GT V8 S and that probably has quite a bit to do with the missing rear seats.

Of course, the body is modified as well to look more like the GT3 race car it is meant to resemble. It features a fixed spoiler, a new front splitter and two vents on the hood. There will only be 300 copies of the GT3-R built to maintain exclusivity and all of them will come finished in white with glossy carbon fiber accents along with two-tone green graphics.

Bentley didn’t says what the car would cost, but that delivery will begin late this year and that the order books are open.