I was heading home from our local Corvette club meeting tonight in my '04 Z16 on I-95. I noticed that a car had come up beside me and was riding along just to my left. I wasn't sure what it was so I backed off a little and a Bently pulled up along side. I think we were both beyond our street racing years and were just checking out another nice car. He eventually drifted back behind me and we ran together till I reached my exit. I don't know alot about Bentleys so I came home and checked it out on the web.



Technical Data:
W12-cylinder-engine (72deg angle between two main banks, 15deg between staggered cylinders), bore x stroke 84 x 90.2 mm, capacity 5998 cc; 4 valves per cylinder, 4 overhead camshafts; Bosch Motronic ME7.1.1 digital engine control, twin KKK turbochargers (0.7 bar boost), air to air intercooling, 552bhp/411KW at 6,100rpm, torque 650Nm (479lb ft) at 1600 rpm; ZF 6HP26 6-speed automatic gearbox; four-wheel drive with central Torsen differential, independent suspension front and rear; air springs, ASR electronic traction control, Bosch ESP5.7 electronic stability program; TEVES ventilated disc brakes front 405mm diameter (15.9in) and 36mm (1.4in) thick, back 335mm diameter (13.2in) and 22mm (0.9in) thick, anti-lock device (plus HBA "Hydraulic Brake Assist" and EBD "Electronic Brakeforce Distribution"), MSR drag torque control; wheelbase 2745mm (108.07in); tyres 275/40R19 on 19in rims (optional 19in split rims; from MY 2005 onward optional 275/35R20 on 20in split rim 7-spoke alloy sports wheels); max. speed 198mph (318 km/h), 0-60mph 4.7 sec (0-100km/h 4.8sec).)

Base Price: 2006 Bentley Continental GT - $159,900

Looking at the performance numbers it could have been a close match up.

 

The Z's weight, gearing & aerodynamics would prevail for sure!
Ron

 

the bentley has better aerodynamics, hence the topspeed of almost 200mph versus the Z's of 174 which is drag limited

 

Not wanting to start any trouble here but I just gotta say it....the Z is limited by the redline in top speed specs, not by drag. Vettes are highly aerodynamic. 6th gear is just too tall for top speed runs in the Vettes so top speed is actually higher in 5th. Since 5th gear is slightly taller in the non-Z models they actually produce a slightly higher top speed; both at redline. Of coarse chaning the gearing the rear end can effect top speed too. Go to a low enough gear ratio and 6th could be used for top speed. Or go with a taller gearing and it would put the 5th gear at a higher top speed. In most circumstances top speed will never (or very seldom) be used so the Vettes are geared for more real world driving than high speed runs.

 

The Z06 is NOT drag limited at 174 mph ... it's gear/rev limited. If it was geared just right, it has enough wheel HP and aerodynamics to do about 185 mph (with 350 WHP).

 

sorry...i thought i read here a while back that it was drag limited...now i know what it was- it compared top speeds of the Z vs C5. It said the C5 had a higher top speed due to better aeordynamics in the rear, which i took as being drag limited. i read into it too much but thats what forums are for so now i know i was incorrect in my assumptions. but i am glad i was wrong because i was a bit disappointed our cars would only go 174!...gotta get some new gears

so is the car drag limited to 185?

way off topic but if you've never read about the bugattis aero package, things openning and closing and adjustable ride heights it's pretty sick....anyway back to the C5 and GT

 

I was just talking to a friend at the exotic car dealer that had one and he was saying it was very sloooooooooooooooooooowwwwwww. It is a very heavy car.

It was a nice Bentley and he was telling me it was the cheapest one on the internet and is priced to sell. I very nice/clean car too. Let me know if you are interested and I will hook you up with my buddy.

 

According to my top speed calculation spreadsheet, a stock Z06 with 350 RWHP would be drag limited at 185 mph at standard air conditions. Of course, the car would have to be geared perfectly so it made max RWHP when it was going 185 mph.

 

I have both an 04 Z06 Z16 (Callaway Phase 3 ++other mods) and an 05 Bentley GTC (modded up to 650+hp) and the big guy eats up the Vette in every way, although I still prefer driving the Z06 on a daily basis.