Bentley Continental III photos
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About this generation
The third Continental era was defined by bespoke high-performance grand tourers including the Continental R, Continental T, and Azure convertible.
Unveiled at the 1991 Geneva Motor Show, the Bentley Continental R was the first Bentley in decades with a dedicated coupe bodyshell not shared with any Rolls-Royce sibling. Built on the heavy-duty SZ rear-wheel-drive architecture, the car incorporated adaptive suspension damping and advanced hydraulic self-levelling geometry. The lineup soon expanded with the coachbuilt Azure convertible in 1995, crafted in collaboration with Pininfarina, followed by the short-wheelbase, wide-body Continental T in 1996. Power came from a turbocharged 6.75-litre L-Series V8 engine, later supplemented by intercoolers and Zytek engine management to deliver between 360 hp and 426 hp, alongside an astonishing 881 Nm of torque. All power was managed by a reinforced GM 4L80-E 4-speed automatic transmission. Mid-cycle improvements introduced wider wheel arches, mesh radiator grilles, and larger brakes with multi-piston calipers. These handcrafted British grand tourers established record benchmark pricing and were exported worldwide to luxury buyers in Europe, the Americas, and Asia.
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