Bentley Turbo R - BHP changes throughout model life?

[roygarth]

I believe it started with 300 odd BHP, there was a 1995 'Turbo S' and the 'RT' with 400 odd in 96,97 ?

But did the regular 'R' get a power hike towards then end?

Thanks in advance.
Piers

[POORCARDEALER]

The RT was the run out model, circa 85 built depending on who you listen to and that had 400 BHP.....IIRC the pre RT model had around 360 bhp.

Either way they more than adequate!

[roygarth]

POORCARDEALER said:

The RT was the run out model, circa 85 built depending on who you listen to and that had 400 BHP.....IIRC the pre RT model had around 360 bhp.

Either way they more than adequate!

So basically it started with 300, then up to 360 at some point and then RT in final year had 400?

Anyone know when it was upped to 360?

[roygarth]

Anyone know the definitive answer to this?

[buyer&seller]

I have just dug out of my draw a genuine Bentley product imformation guide (TSD 8536) that was given to dealers back in the late '90's. I'll quote.

Introduced 1985 300BHP

1994 power output increased to 355BHP

1996 power output increased to 385BHP

1997 power output increased to 400BHP

I'm not convinced that this is all that accurate, probably dreamed up by some junior in the marketing department, as I think there were other changes through the years. For example, the 1993 car went backwards in performance with the introduction of the catalytic converter, I think you may struggle to get an exact answer.

What specfic year car are you interested in?

Sorry, just reread your original post, the RT superseded the R model in late 1997 as a 400BHP I think the limited edition S was around 385BHP similar to the 96 cars. Hope this helps.

Edited by buyer&seller on Tuesday 20th September 12:40

[2708420018]

A lot of information on changes is available at

http://www.rrab.com/bturbr.htm#top

and

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bentley_Turbo_R

It was not just bhp that changed and these sites list the changes

Paul

[roygarth]

Many thanks.

I think therefore in final year or so the models available were the RT with 400 and the T with 385. This is good to know as I am debating whether or not it is worth spending an extra £4/5/6K on an RT...Perhaps there are other differences, plus the rarirty of the RT will perhaps help it hold it's value better than an R..but otherwise those extra 15bhp are quite expensive?

[buyer&seller]

No, but close, in the final year there was a Turbo RT only, there wasn't a T, the RT would have been a T if someone hadn't noticed it would be badged TurboT, a sea fish . The S version was a limited edition of, I think, 50 cars in 2005. The RT attracts a premium as it was the last of that shape, other than the 325BHP Brooklands R Mulliner a hundred cars built for the UK, other differences on the RT are the mesh grille, 5 spoke alloys, fully painted bumpers with chrome insert and a few others I can't remember. Don't forget that the extra you spend you will get back as a percentage when you come to sell again.

[CONTI T]

THE PINNACLE OF TURBO R IS THE TURBO RT MULLINER 420BHP 650 FTLB,S CONTI T ENGINE, LSD ALL THE TOYS RARE CAR, HAD ONE A FEW YRS BACK

[roygarth]

[quote=buyer&seller]No, but close, in the final year there was a Turbo RT only, there wasn't a T, the RT would have been a T if someone hadn't noticed it would be badged TurboT, a sea fish . The S version was a limited edition of, I think, 50 cars in 2005. The RT attracts a premium as it was the last of that shape, other than the 325BHP Brooklands R Mulliner a hundred cars built for the UK, other differences on the RT are the mesh grille, 5 spoke alloys, fully painted bumpers with chrome insert and a few others I can't remember. Don't forget that the extra you spend you will get back as a percentage when you come to sell again.
[/quote]

Thanks B&S...sorry I meant to say R not T.

So a 1996 Turbo R has 385BHP?

And the RT was not available in short wheelbase?

[buyer&seller]

Yes the 96 & 97 model years were 385BHP.

All RT cars, 98 model year, were LWB and the last R's, 97 model year, were LWB as standard also. The 96 model was SWB but available as a LWB as an option.

If that makes sense..............

[2woody]

[quote=buyer&seller]

Introduced 1985 300BHP

1994 power output increased to 355BHP

1996 power output increased to 385BHP

1997 power output increased to 400BHP

Edited by buyer&seller on Tuesday 20th September 12:40

[/quote]

those compare favourably with the following milestones.....

1985 - carburettor, no intercooler.

1987 - fuel injection & intercooler.

1994 - new heads, new induction system, electronic injection ( Bosch )

1996 - change to Zytek injection

1997 - chargecooler replaces intercooler

[Peter Baverstock]

Hi, I have a 97 turbo r which I believe is 385 bop due to mods that took place to fuel injection system etc. as the years went by. It also has a limited slip diff which appears to have a problem in that it scrubs one or other rear wheel when making very tight turns. Any thoughts.
Pete

[Peter Baverstock]

Hi, I have a 97 turbo r which I believe is 385 bop due to mods that took place to fuel injection system etc. as the years went by. It also has a limited slip diff which appears to have a problem in that it scrubs one or other rear wheel when making very tight turns. Any thoughts.
Pete

[Stephen-q7iik]

Hi

I have just become the custodian of an "RT" if you are thinking of getting one do. It is one of the best cars I have ever driven/owned.

There are a lot faster and better handling cars but the sheer presence driving it along is quite addictive, although I am biased.

I thought the RT was for road holding (R) as before, and twin turbo (T) as I believe the engine was based on the continental T engine, happy to be corrected if needed.

I think there was also an unofficial model the Olympian that seems to be the rarest offering, sort of a dealer special I think?

[matt5791]

Stephen-q7iik said:

I thought the RT was for road holding (R) as before, and twin turbo (T) as I believe the engine was based on the continental T engine, happy to be corrected if needed.

I think there was also an unofficial model the Olympian that seems to be the rarest offering, sort of a dealer special I think?

Hi - the engine was always single turbo in the SZ cars (Turbo R / Continental R/T etc) and only became twin turbo in the later Arnage. I don't think there has ever been a definitive about the R and the T - but I think that R for roadholding is the best bet as the Turbo R was the revised version of the Mulsanne Turbo, with improved roadholding. I would assume the T is because it has the Continental T engine configuration.

There were loads of oddball one-offs, special commissions and different configurations during the mid 90's. One of the best accounts is in Graham Hull's book "Inside the Rolls Royce and Bentley Styling Department 1971-2001" where he covers the "Blackpool" cars - I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the marques, but especially for anyone with an interest in the 1990's at the company.

These one-off cars, made for the super wealthy (most notably the Sultan of Brunei who apparently spent over £400m with the company in the 1990's according to some contemporary newspaper reports) make the special commission cars made by the likes of BMW-Rolls today look positively ordinary - this was tooling up unique body shells and completely unique cars, costing millions and millions of pounds. Apparently, when VW first took over and saw what had been going on, they were staggered.

The classic one was the Bentley Java concept. When it was shown at Geneva in 1994, the Sultan said he wanted to buy it. When told it was only a concept, he paid them to put it into production, just for him - and make it in 3 body styles - coupe, convertible and estate. 6 cars of each.

I think it must have been an amazing time to work in that company.

[Stephen-q7iik]

Hi,
It has always worried me that I can only see one turbo on my RT.
Thanks for the helpful clarification.
How did they get the mulliner spec cars up to 420 BHP was it just remapping?
On the RT I think it is probably the lift in torque over the Turbo R that makes the difference.
Cheers

[matt5791]

Stephen-q7iik said:

Hi,
It has always worried me that I can only see one turbo on my RT.
Thanks for the helpful clarification.
How did they get the mulliner spec cars up to 420 BHP was it just remapping?
On the RT I think it is probably the lift in torque over the Turbo R that makes the difference.
Cheers

Single turbo - but a very large one! Also found in various HGV's. Type Garrett T04 turbo into google to discover the legendary status of this unit - people wanting to put them into other vehicles etc.

Worth noting that the GM 4L80-E transmission was also found in the Hummer H1 (ie. the proper, military, one).

I'm not sure how they went about engineering more power and torque from the engine though - it may well have been partly electronic.

[2woody]

Peter Baverstock said:

Hi, I have a 97 turbo r which I believe is 385 bop due to mods that took place to fuel injection system etc. as the years went by. It also has a limited slip diff which appears to have a problem in that it scrubs one or other rear wheel when making very tight turns. Any thoughts.
Pete

no - that's an indication that the LSD is working correctly.

worry when it no longer does that

[Byteme]

The standard Turbo R was the best car ever offered. The worst that would happen was that the left rear wheel would slip, you'd lose traction and instinctively lift off the throttle. The S was a horrible beast in comparison, as were all those that followed. The additional torque, crude LSD and lack of modern stability controls put the vehicle into territory where things could go wrong very quickly. I remember my first drive in a S and it was deeply unsettling. I'd previously driven Rs with software that took the cars ways beyond anything officially later offered and all were better.