Pike’s Peak tops out at over 14,100 feet, so getting to the top is never an easy task. It was an amazing achievement for the Bentayga to break the SUV record last year, and they decided to go for a bigger prize. With Rhys Millen behind the wheel, the 2019 Bentley Continental GT set a new Pike’s Peak record time.
No, it wasn’t a record for luxury coupes or twelve-cylinder engines. Bentley now holds the record for the fastest production car. The fastest car ever was the VW I.D. R, which ran a 7.57.148 on battery power. Their luxury division wasn’t far behind, with Millen crossing the line in only 10.18.488. Not only is it 8.4 seconds faster than the old record, but he also averaged 70 mph from start to finish.
From someone who lives at sea level, the drive is quite scary once you are above the treeline. It takes a few days to prepare for the lack of oxygen, which has been the cause of many high-altitude incidents. In order to negate this, the Continental GT is all new for 2019, and that includes the twin-turbo 6.0L W12 engine. The intake is more linear and the turbos gained computer-controlled wastegates.
The driver was kept level by the new 48-volt roll-control system. It allowed him to make use of 664 lb-ft of torque that’s available between 1,350 and 4,500 rpm. It also offers 626 horsepower…simply mind-boggling. If you don’t need Thor’s Hammer on a daily basis, the 2020 Bentley Continental GT V8 has 542 horsepower and 568 lb-ft of torque. Click the link below to find one near you, and stay with us for all your Bentley news.
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