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Bentley Continental Le Mans Collection Debuts with Parts from 2003 Winning Car
As one-third of the motorsport’s ‘Triple Crown’, the 24 Hours of Le Mans is one of the most coveted races in the automotive world, with many automakers working tirelessly to stand on top of its podium. Bentley, on the other hand, had managed to achieve that feat back in 2003, finishing in style by claiming the one-two positions by racing its V8-powered Speed 8 race car.
To commemorate the 20th anniversary of this momentous feat, the British luxury marque unveils the Bentley Continental Le Mans Collection, featuring 48 special Continental GTs with a race-themed graphics package, draped in the marque’s signature Verdant Green hue.
The green-hued car is contrasted with the white racing stripe on the hood that continues over the roof, plus some tailored pinstripes and 24H badges around the car. All 48 models will be painted with the racing number #7 on its massive front grille – the same number worn by the race-winning Speed 8 race car back in 2003.
Additionally, these special models also come standard with Bentley’s Blackline and Styling specifications, which grant them with black and carbon fibre trims around the car, as well as black-hued 22-inch wheels with red callipers and carbon ceramic disc hiding behind them.
Beyond the racing livery, all 48 Le Mans Collection models are equipped with actual parts from the Le Mans-winning cars back in 2003. Among those parts are the 24 engine valves taken from the Speed 8 race cars, where it has been split in two so that each car gets one. This engine part is displayed on the car’s dashboard, which also features the car’s specific production number.
Apart from the valve display, the Continental Le Mans cabin also gets Bentley’s signature clock face, which is switched to 24-hour format to denote the 24 hours stint in the Le Mans race. Elsewhere, this special model gets special door sill plates and dash trim that feature the six-wreath emblem, marking all of Bentley’s Le Mans wins through the years.
Powering the Continental Le Mans Collection is the marque’s signature 6.0-litre twin-turbo W12 mill that spits up to 650 HP and 900 NM – the same engine that’s been used on the Continental GT Speed. This massive W12 mill grants the Continental Le Mans a 0-100 KM/H sprint finish in 3.6 seconds, before hitting its V-max at 335 KM/H.
The Bentley Continental Le Mans Collection will be available in only 48 units, each coming in either the coupe GT model or the convertible GT-C version. As for now, the British automaker has yet to disclose the asking price for one of these rare models, but expect it to be much much heftier than the standard Conti models.
Keen to see (or own) one of these Le Mans models? You’re in luck, as Bentley Kuala Lumpur is planning to bring one of the 48 Continental Le Mans Collection models to Malaysia later this year. For more information regarding this preview, stay tuned here at Caricarz.com…
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Mukhlis Azman
An avid two-wheeler that writes and talks about four-wheelers for a living, while dreaming of an urban transit-laden Malaysia. @mukhlisazman