1997 Bentley Continental vs. 1996 BMW 520
To start off, 1997 Bentley Continental is newer by 1 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1996 BMW 520. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1996 BMW 520 would be higher. At 6,750 cc (8 cylinders), 1997 Bentley Continental is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1997 Bentley Continental (421 HP @ 4000 RPM) has 271 more horse power than 1996 BMW 520. (150 HP @ 5900 RPM). In normal driving conditions, 1997 Bentley Continental should accelerate faster than 1996 BMW 520. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1997 Bentley Continental weights approximately 954 kg more than 1996 BMW 520. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Both vehicles are rear wheel drive (RWD) - it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, both vehicles do the job better than front wheel drive vehicles. With that said, do keep in mind that many other factors such as speed and the wear on your tires can also have significant impact on traction and control. Let's talk about torque, 1997 Bentley Continental (875 Nm @ 2200 RPM) has 685 more torque (in Nm) than 1996 BMW 520. (190 Nm @ 4200 RPM). This means 1997 Bentley Continental will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1996 BMW 520. 1997 Bentley Continental has automatic transmission and 1996 BMW 520 has manual transmission. 1996 BMW 520 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 1997 Bentley Continental will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 1997 Bentley Continental | 1996 BMW 520 | |
| Make | Bentley | BMW |
| Model | Continental | 520 |
| Year Released | 1997 | 1996 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Sedan |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 6750 cc | 1990 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 6 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | in-line |
| Horse Power | 421 HP | 150 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 5900 RPM |
| Torque | 875 Nm | 190 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2200 RPM | 4200 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 104.2 mm | 80 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 99.1 mm | 66 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.0:1 | 11.0:1 |
| Top Speed | 249 km/hour | 220 km/hour |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 2450 kg | 1496 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5250 mm | 4780 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2060 mm | 1810 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1450 mm | 1440 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3120 mm | 2840 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 100 L | 70 L |
