Bentley Plots Hardcore, RWD Continental GT3-R
Bentley is preparing an even more hardcore variant of its Continental GT3-R.
The British automaker appears to be building its first rear-wheel drive sports car of the modern era, based on the Continental GT3-R that was launched last year. Speaking to Autocar, Bentley engineering boss Rolf Frech said, “A lot of people expected the GT3-R to be a proper rear-wheel-drive sports car, but the problem was timing. We needed the car at the end of the first season of our GT3 racing car, and to do a proper change of the complete powertrain needed longer than we had. But we have the concept in our mind, so why not?”
SEE ALSO: Bentley Continental GT3-R Priced at $337,000
Expect the new car to be powered by the same 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 found in the Continental GT3-R, but with even more power than the current 572 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. The company will also be focusing on putting the model on a diet, aiming for a weight of under 4,400 lbs, over 440 lbs lighter than the GT3-R. Naturally some of the savings will come by ditching the all-wheel drive powertrain.
Rumor has it that the rear-wheel drive Continental GT3-R will be available in 2016 and it’ll likely be even more rare than the 300 units the GT3-R is limited to.
[Source: Autocar]
Discuss this story at our luxury lifestyle forum
Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
More by Jason Siu
Comments
Join the conversation