If you want a luxurious, British grand tourer, the current Bentley Continental GT W12 and Rolls-Royce Wraith are among the best on the market.
The third-generation Continental GT is powered by a twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter W12 with 626 hp at 6,000 rpm and 664 lb-ft (900 Nm) of torque between 1,350 and 4,500 rpm. While Continental GT buyers can also get it with a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 producing 542 hp and 568 lb-ft (770 Nm), those looking for maximum performance will obviously go for the W12.
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Coupled to the that engine is an eight-speed ZF dual-clutch transmission sending power to all four wheels, allowing the car to hit 60 mph (96 km/h) in 3.6 seconds and reach a top speed of 207 mph (333 km/h).
By comparison, the Rolls-Royce Wraith is motivated by a 6.6-liter twin-turbo V12 with 623 hp at 5,600 rpm and 590 lb-ft (800 Nm) of torque between 1,500 and 5,500 rpm. It is rear-wheel drive and has an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission.
Off the line, the Continental leaves the Wraith for dead, although that’s not much of a surprise as it has better grip and weighs more than 220 lbs (100 kg) less. Interestingly, the Rolls-Royce performs much better in a rolling drag race where its transmission appears to change down gears quicker, giving it a slight edge. However, it relinquishes its lead as the speeds increase.