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This has become a legendary remark in automotive history, meaning something like:
When you want to create a really fast car, a big engine is all you need...
But do you know who came up with this wise line? Well? Walter Owen Bentley.
His way of thinking delivered his car brand - Bentley - great international success in motor racing.
Take this wonderful car as an example.
In that year, Woolf Barnato and Bernard Rubin won the 24 hours of Le Mans, with this Speed Six. So Bentley was renowned for it's achievements in racing, even far before the Second World War.
This became an icon, but after that time Bentley has known several hard periods, even disappearing from motor racing completely.
Dispite that, Bentley still has 'speed' as one of the main characteristics of it's DNA. Even though...
...the package has totally changed!
Nowadays, displacement is still a big thing for Bentley. Yes, there is a GT with a four litre V8, but the W12 in this GT Speed has a good, old-fashioned displacement of six litres!
But that is not enough in 2013. So this car received a turbo for every six cilindres...
But to turn a GT into a GT Speed, more is needed. So the technicians wnet to work and gave this car more power.
575 ps is not enough, the figure went up to 625. 700 Nm of torque? Come on... How about 800?! Good morning!
That huge torque is what gives this car its character. All those Newtonmetres are ready to fly at 1.700 rpm, that is just an inch above stationary.
And that gives this machine more than enough power. All of the time!
But how does he deliver? Not like a big explosion, but he gives you a very big, smooth bath of power.
I see it as a butler who brings you your freshly made tea, even before you wanted to order it. He is just always there to serve you.
And that just gives you a unparalleled deliverance of power. Just the idea that your car is always there to please you, that's fantastic.
Ooh, what does that thing travel!
Right, how does this Continental GT Speed drive? I'm almost afraid of making this comparison...
...but it reminds me of a very expensive, extremely well-made version of the Volkswagen Golf R. Let me explain.
This car makes it so very easy tot drive at incredibly high speeds, it is baffling. Without even noticing it...
The suspension (lowered 20mm compared to a standard Continental GT) absorbs this bump very smoothly, but then...
It feels like a high speed train for winding country roads. Full throttle, 140 kp/h, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190... The trees flashing by remind you of the speed you're going, but it doesn't feel like such a high speed at all.
Is it very sporty? No, that is not the correct way to describe it.
Don't get me wrong though. This is a very nice car to be in, truly, but some things just don't make sense.
Why does Bentley give you these paddle shifters? They stick out of the steering column like oversized hockeysticks, but they are too high and way too far from the wheel...
That's annoying. It feels like it wants to discourage you to shift manually. Let me handle the fuss, sir.
You could handle the gear lever as well, but for a sporty drive, this could and should be improved.
This Continental GT Speed is not subtle or nimble. At all... This is an great yet idiotic machine, but it suits the old Walter Owens's vision like no other.