2001 Bentley Continental vs. 2009 Ford Shelby GT 500
To start off, 2009 Ford Shelby GT 500 is newer by 8 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 2001 Bentley Continental. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 2001 Bentley Continental would be higher. At 6,746 cc (8 cylinders), 2001 Bentley Continental is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2009 Ford Shelby GT 500 (500 HP @ 6000 RPM) has 79 more horse power than 2001 Bentley Continental. (421 HP @ 4000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2009 Ford Shelby GT 500 should accelerate faster than 2001 Bentley Continental. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2001 Bentley Continental weights approximately 1484 kg more than 2009 Ford Shelby GT 500.
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, 2001 Bentley Continental (875 Nm @ 2200 RPM) has 224 more torque (in Nm) than 2009 Ford Shelby GT 500. (651 Nm @ 4500 RPM). This means 2001 Bentley Continental will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2009 Ford Shelby GT 500. 2001 Bentley Continental has automatic transmission and 2009 Ford Shelby GT 500 has manual transmission. 2009 Ford Shelby GT 500 will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 2001 Bentley Continental will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 2001 Bentley Continental | 2009 Ford Shelby GT 500 | |
| Make | Bentley | Ford |
| Model | Continental | Shelby GT 500 |
| Year Released | 2001 | 2009 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 6746 cc | 5408 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 421 HP | 500 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 6000 RPM |
| Torque | 875 Nm | 651 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2200 RPM | 4500 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.0:1 | 10.8:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline - Premium | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 4 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 2450 kg | 966 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5360 mm | 4770 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1880 mm | 1890 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1470 mm | 1390 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2970 mm | 2730 mm |
| Fuel Consumption Highway | 13.2 L/100km | 11.8 L/100km |
| Fuel Consumption City | 28.1 L/100km | 16.8 L/100km |
| Fuel Consumption Overall | 18.7 L/100km | 14.7 L/100km |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 100 L | 61 L |
