Performance Review: Bentley Continental GTC 6.0 W12 Cabrio - [2005]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Bentley Continental Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Bentley Continental GTC 6.0 W12 Cabrio is the 6 speed / Auto version and was first brought out in 2005. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2006 Caparo T1 2.4 V8 and the 2005 Bugatti Veyron 8.0 litre W16.This particular Bentley Continental has a 5998cc Turbo Petrol powerplant with 12 cylinders in a W formation.

Alternative Petrol W12's includes the 2017 Bentley Continental Supersports 6.0 W12 Bi Turbo

The Continental shares its Petrol W12 engine configuration with the likes of the 2017 Bentley Continental Supersports 6.0 W12 Bi Turbo and the 2017 Bentley Continental GT 6.0 W12 Turbo. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the Continental's All Wheel Drive, Cabriolet combination then how about the or the .

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 2495 kgs (5500 lbs) this makes the Bentley Continental GTC 6.0 W12 Cabrio in the same weight category as the 2023 Lotus Eletre 603 bhp or the give or take 50kg.

The Bentley Continental shares the same bhp with the 3996 Bentley Continental GT 4.0 V8 Turbo Convertible (542 bhp)

In terms of power the 5998cc 48V W12 engine produces 552 bhp (411 kW) @ 6100 rpm similar to the 3996 Bentley Continental GT 4.0 V8 Turbo Convertible (542 bhp) or the 2023 BMW 3 Series M3 CS 3.0 Twin Turbo G80 (542 bhp).

The Turbo W12 throws out 479 lb-ft (649.4 Nm) @ 1600 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray 6.2 V8 Petrol Hybrid C8 (470 lb-ft) or the 2023 BMW 3 Series M3 CS 3.0 Twin Turbo G80 (479 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Bentley Continental you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 2008 Chevrolet Camaro SS 6.2 V8 (246.1 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Bentley Continental.

The Bentley Continental has a Power to weight ratio of 221.2 bhp per ton and 191.9 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2005 Continental competing with the 2008 Chevrolet Camaro SS 6.2 V8 (246.1 bhp per ton) or the 2015 Bentley Bentayga 6.0 W12 Bi Turbo (245.9 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Bentley Continental generating around 191.9 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 1967 Plymouth Fury 384 (216.9 lb-ft per ton) or the 1968 Lamborghini Islero 3.9L V12 (216.8 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 4.70 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 4.9 secs, this made the Bentley Continental GTC 6.0 W12 Cabrio as fast as the 2022 Mini Cooper Clubman John Cooper Works 2.0 Turbo ALL4 (4.70 secs) the 2020 KIA Stinger GT2 3.3 V6 Turbo (4.70 secs) the 2020 KIA Stinger GT 3.3 V6 Turbo (4.70 secs) the or the 2020 BMW X4 M40d 3.0 Turbo (4.70 secs). This Bentley Continental GTC 6.0 W12 Cabrio is also faster than the 2021 Porsche Taycan 4 Cross Turismo (4.80 secs) the 2020 Audi TT S Turbo 50 TFSI (4.80 secs) the 2018 Rolls-Royce Cullinan 6.7 V12 Turbo (4.80 secs) the and the 2017 Maserati GranCabrio Sport 4.7 V8 (4.80 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Continental and the 2012 BMW 1 Series M135i F20

When talking about the performance of the Bentley Continental on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 13.07 secs @ 104.7 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 2012 BMW 1 Series M135i F20 (13.01 secs), the 2021 KIA K5 GT 2.5 Turbo (13.01 secs), and the 1998 Jaguar XK R Coupe 4.0 V8 Supercharged (13.02 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2005 version of the Bentley Continental GTC 6.0 W12 Cabrio has a maximum speed of 195mph.

Top Speed of the 2005 Continental equals the 2023 McLaren 750S 4.0 V8 Twin Turbo (206 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 2005 Bentley Continental GTC 6.0 W12 Cabrio then how about the 2023 McLaren 750S 4.0 V8 Twin Turbo (206 mph), the 2023 McLaren 750S Spider 4.0 V8 Twin Turbo (206 mph), or the 2019 Audi R8 5.2 V10 Decennium (206 mph).

Related Links:

2005 Continental Rivals List.

A Brief History of Bentley

Car Comparison