The Bentley Turbo R is a high-performance vehicle manufactured and marketed by the British luxury car manufacturer Bentley Motors Limited between 1985 and 1999. The "R" denoted "roadholding," a feature that marked it apart from its forerunner. At first, it was the first Bentley to feature a turbocharged engine, a recalibrated suspension, and bigger tires on alloy wheels.
History of the Bentley Turbo R
Subtle as they may have seemed, the suspension upgrades turned the Mulsanne Turbo's previously mushy and poorly controlled ride into a true performance.
By the time Mike Dunn became engineering director in Crewe in February 1983, work had already begun on enhancing the vehicle's handling rather than the planned 10% improvement in roll stiffness. He wanted 50%. Although Bentley claimed it did not place itself at the forefront of trendy automotive stages, the Turbo R could not be denied being in that position. The Bentley Turbo R debuted at the Geneva Auto Show in March 1985. It has a top speed of 135 miles per hour. Additionally, it was suggested that the Bentley Mulsanne Turbo should continue production. After a short time, however, the decision was reversed since the Bentley Turbo R had vastly improved handling over its predecessor. For a short time, the Turbo R was offered with the Mulsanne Turbo, but manufacturing of the Mulsanne ended in 1985. The Turbo R's Solex carburetors were replaced by electronic fuel injection and anti-lock brakes in October 1986 for the 1987 model year.
New Turbo R
In 1995, for the 1996 model year, the Turbo R was updated with "new" features. Zytek fuel injection and cosmetic adjustments were among the alterations. For the German market, there was a special edition called the "Turbo R Sport," which swapped out the walnut paneling for carbon fiber and included the sporty alloys of the Continental T.
Turbo S
Production of the Bentley Turbo S was reported in 1995 as being highly limited to fewer than 100 units. With only 60 examples ever made, the Bentley SZ60 is the rarest of the Bentley SZ Series. It served as a transitional model until the Bentley Arnage was released. The 12 Bentley Continental S and three custom-built Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit S all have the same engine. The short-wheelbase Turbo R stopped production in 1996, and since then, only the model formerly known as the Turbo RL has been produced. In 1998, the Turbo R was discontinued, and its successor, the Turbo RT, was released.
Turbo RT
The Bentley Turbo RT was the top-of-the-line Turbo R model and the most expensive option. The automobile started at $211,600, which is around $65,000 more than the Turbo R. Only 252 Turbo RTs were ever made, and they were only made in 1997 and 1998. Basically, it was a "runout special," or a price cut to get rid of any remaining Mulsanne-style bodies before the Arnage was released.
- Bentley Turbo RT Olympian - 1998
- Bentley Turbo RT Mulliner - 1998
Price
In 1998, Bentley retailed the Bentley Turbo RT for $211,600, or about $65,000 more than the Turbo R ($146,600).
Features of the Bentley Turbo R
The company may be able to claim that it is one year ahead of the competition, but the drawbacks of its outdated design are still very much in evidence. When you enter the automobile, for instance, you'll notice the unusually high floor. The seat and the windshield are raised as they would be in a sport utility vehicle. Bentley describes this as "the most powerful position in the car." You'll be perched high above the ground and able to see far into the distance. The driver's seat is elevated to the point where those with particularly lengthy torsos may find the wool headliner pressing against their foreheads and their field of vision obstructed by the windshield's intersection with the roof. You won't find much comfort in the backseat. It's big enough for regular-sized adults to sit comfortably, but it's not as roomy as the back of a Chrysler New Yorker. Exquisite wood veneers, wonderfully even-grained leather, lambswool rugs, and other luxurious interior embellishments go a long way toward nullifying any nitpicks about space.
Release Date
Bentley Motors Limited released the Bentley Turbo R from 1985 to 1999. In 1995, Bentley said they had made only a handful of Bentley Turbo Ss. The Bentley SZ60 is the most exclusive model in the Bentley SZ Series, with only 60 units produced. It filled the gap until the Bentley Arnage was introduced.