The new Bentley Continental GT, above all, illustrates the contradictions of the ZBE.

The market is crazy. When it comes to luxury, it has always been a bit crazy, let’s not kid ourselves. But if we focus on Spain, it gets even weirder, more complicated, and more confusing.

Recently, Bentley presented Bentley Continental GT Speeda new luxury supercar featuring a plug-in hybrid system under the body. The British firm has installed this type of powertrain for the first time, making it the most powerful Bentley to date.

When the name Speed ​​appears in the name of one of Bentley’s supercars, it’s because we’re looking at its most radical and high-performance version. In this case, we’re talking about the company’s most famous game, Gran Turismo. Perfect for everyday life, long-distance travel and the confidence that we have the best of the best under the hood.

The Perfect Bentley for ZBE

Bentley’s move to plug-in hybridisation is no coincidence. In recent years, sales of electrified models have been growing in the luxury segment, rather than pure electric ones.

The presence of a powerful electric motor allows owners of these vehicles to drive through the centres of major cities, which, ironically, are closed to the most polluting vehicles. As a result, in Spain, the Bentley Continental GT Speed ​​has the same category as the electric Smart, to give just one example.

In the case of the British car, we are talking about a supercar that has V8 4.0 biturbo 600 hp and 800 Nm of torque. It is accompanied by an electric motor on the rear axle, capable of developing power up to 190 hp and 450 Nm. In total, the car is capable of developing a total of 782 hp and 1000 Nm of torque.

The advantages certainly offset the disadvantages. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h takes 3.2 seconds, and the maximum speed is 335 km/h, although the convertible remains at 285 km/h.

But these figures are accompanied by a 25.9 kWh battery, which allows you to travel up to 80 kilometers in fully electric mode, working without the help of the internal combustion engine up to a maximum speed of 140 km/h.

With the current WLTP homologation cycles, the Bentley Continental GT Speed ​​is unlikely to certifies 50g/km CO2 emissions. These figures bring it even closer to the European Union’s emissions targets, which it wants to reduce to 45 g/km CO2 in the medium term. Further confirmation that only plug-in hybrid cars can remain within the standards that Europe wants to achieve.

The way these WLTP tests are carried out and the management of the environmental categories (this car will have a zero emissions label from the DGT) is a surprise to those who have much older but less polluting cars where only the internal combustion engine is used, or among those who choose a real “affordable” sports car like the Toyota GR Yaris.

Even though Toyota’s hybrid sports car remains under 300bhp, it will have to pay a €60,000 tax on registration, while the Bentley supercar will be tax-free. malus CO2. His price It’s not official (and of little use given the degree of customization), but it should start at around €300,000.

Given the looming risk, despite everything, that in the future plug-in hybrids will be forced to move with electric motors in cities, brands like Bentley are indeed ensuring that their cars can continue to be displayed in the historic centers of the most famous cities. popular cities. A decision that is not frowned upon by other brands with much more affordable cars.

Last curiosity

As a curiosity, the brand decided to set a speed record that no one had ever attempted (or proposed) before. The new Bentley Continental GT Speed ​​is also the fastest car in the world underwater. The brand set itself the task of reaching 320 km/h in the Ryfylke Tunnel (Norway), the deepest (292 meters below sea level) and one of the longest (14.4 km) in the world.

The test, which was recorded on video, used synthetic fuel and was quite challenging. trial logistic. It achieved a top speed of 335 km/h, but the original plan was less ambitious given the conditions in which the tests were to be carried out.

According to the brand, calculations showed that the aerodynamic drag of the car inside the tunnel was 11%, taking into account the conditions in which the test would be carried out and the air flow created by the vehicle itself.

Bentley also found that as the car picked up speed, the space between one side and the car would begin to exert a suction effect, drawing the car closer to the walls. If this happened, there was a risk of crashing into the side.

The driver chosen was Mark Higgins, a rally driver who had set a one-lap record on the Isle of Man TT circuit. The brand was guaranteed two things at once: a good driver and a fearless driver.

Photos | Bentley

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