Classic Cars – The Bentley Turbo R
Bentley Motors has always been the brand of choice for the powerful and the affluent, and their various cars have always been desired for their level of luxury, engineering, and overall style. One such car, which was made between 1985 to 1997, is the well known Bentley Turbo R, a car that was deemed, during its time, “the first Bentley in decades deserving of the famous name” by Motor Trend magazine. It has, since then become one of the most popular Bentleys ever made.
It was in 1985 when the first ever Turbo R came about, labeled a high-performance model that was made to replace the older Bentley Mulsanne Turbo. The very first Turbo Rs took features from its predecessor, like the turbocharged engine, as well as the retuned suspension, and style that included wider tires, and alloy wheels, among a few others. When 1987 arrived, however, the Turbo R received a number of changes, one of the most significant of which was the modification to include a Bosch ML-Motronic fuel injection system that gave the engine more torque.
In addition to the engine change, further modifications will be made over the car’s run, like changes to the seats, turning them into sports seats, and improving the rear axle ration by making it higher. The subtle suspension changes don’t seem like much at first, but it truly transformed the car and made it perform much better. Further changes over the years would include an increase in the anti-roll bar rates, the addition of tuned dampers, and the inclusion of a Panhard rod to reduce side-to-side movement in corners.
All throughout its run, the company did not release any official numbers about the car’s capabilities, more specifically, the power of its engine. However, during its feature of the Turbo R, Motor Trend magazine had provided estimates. They estimated that the engine’s power output was around 221 kW, 296 hp, and had 486.8 lb.ft of torque.
The Turbo R’s original price was pegged at around US$195,000. These days though, even an older Turbo R, depending on the maintenance of the car, and the condition of the vehicle, would still fetch for quite a large amount. It is proof of the car’s enduring appeal and classic style.
Check out this article on Bentley Sales.