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2013 Bentley Continental GT V8

John Neff — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Bentley, New Car Reviews, Luxury

The Entry Entry-Level Bentley

I have a friend who once told me that he would never buy the cheapest version of anything. I pressed him about cars and figured he was backed into a corner when I mentioned Bentley. With only the Continental series of cars - GT coupe, GTC convertible, Flying Spur four-door - and Mulsanne sedan on offer, surely this friend of mine would go for something like the Continental GT coupe over the larger, much more expensive Mulsanne. While their base prices are separated by over $100,000, the Continental GT's starting price of $212,600 should still command enough respect from my friend's imaginary - and judgmental - group of country club acquaintances.

"No way, it's the entry-level Bentley."

Ouch, though on some level he's correct. Any automaker who offers more than one model technically has an entry-level option. The Continental GT coupe is that car for Bentley, the least expensive ticket that gains you access to the Flying B's party and all the pampering, personalization and performance that entails.

Well, friend, have I got a car that's not for you. The 2013 Bentley Continental GT V8 is the new entry entry-level Bentley that offers less of everything: less weight, lower emissions, fewer horsepower and a smaller price. Indeed, my friend might say that by subtracting four cylinders, Bentley is taking its Continental range downmarket to the point where aspirational millionaires can now rub elbows with self-made billionaires. Oh, the humanity.

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2013 Bentley Continental GT V8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Dec 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2013 Bentley Continental GT V8

Chris Paukert — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Bentley, First Drives, Luxury

The Red Badge Of Courage

When it comes to high-end automobiles, there exists a surprisingly large group of well-heeled buyers seemingly only too happy to plunk down the vast sums required to buy the most expensive model in a given range. To these shoppers, a loftier price connotes that they are buying the best of the best, all but guaranteeing that they'll never suffer the indignity of being shown up at the valet stand. And while the notion that what is best is what's the most expensive is often correct, that isn't always the case.

Take this splashy Dragon Red Bentley Continental GT V8, for example. On the surface, this new model is just a cut-price coupe with four fewer cylinders and less horsepower, but make no mistake - this is the Thinking Man's Continental, not the Miser's.

Of course, word that the British automaker's latest should cost around 10 percent less than its 12-cylinder counterpart is unlikely to arch any impeccably manicured brows - we're going to go ahead and assume that the price differential won't really be of consequence to anyone with the wherewithal to shop for a Bentley. As a result, it will likely take a bit of individuality and pluck to show up at this season's Keeping Up With The Jones' Charity Ball in a GT V8.

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2013 Bentley Continental GT V8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bentley soars over Munich with new Continental GT V8

Noah Joseph — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:31:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Europe, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Bentley, Luxury

You'd think that lobbing four cylinders off a car's engine would have an adverse effect on its performance, right? But Bentley is out to show that its new Continental GT with the V8 engine can fly every bit as much as the W-12 model. And by fly, we do mean fly.

Not only is the updated 2013 twelve-cylinder model 55 pounds lighter than the one it replaces, but the eight-cylinder model is lighter still. That helps the V8 achieve 40-percent better fuel economy, while still delivering 500 horsepower - 131 hp shy of the W12 - for a 4.6-second sprint to 60.

To drive the point home, Bentley airlifted its new Continental GT V8 over Munich - the hometown of its parent company's arch-rival BMW - and placed it on a rooftop for all to see. If you missed the publicity stunt while driving home from the beer hall, you can scope it out in the video and press release after the jump and the high-res image gallery above.

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Bentley soars over Munich with new Continental GT V8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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