A completed pre-production Continental R (developed under the codename “Nepal”) was secretly taken to Switzerland for a surprise launch of the model at the 1991 Geneva Motor Show (It had been expected the car would be launched in 1992).

The Sultan of Brunei, impressed by the new model, purchased the show car at the event for a price of over £2 million.

The new Mercedes-Benz W140 also launched at the show, was completely upstaged by the launch of the unexpected, vermilion red, new Bentley Coupé due to the largely positive public reception.


Since its launch in 1991, the 6.75-litre Garrett-turbocharged V8 engine from the Turbo R was chosen for use in the Continental R.

In early cars (produced from 1991–1993) power output of 325bhp at 4,000rpm and peak torque of 450 lb/ft at 2,000rpm was available, although this was always estimated as at that time, Rolls-Royce still had a policy of not supplying official figures, preferring to describe power output simply as “sufficient”.


The car u...