2001 Bentley Continental vs. 2011 Ford Shelby GT 500
To start off, 2011 Ford Shelby GT 500 is newer by 10 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 6,750 cc (8 cylinders), 2001 Bentley Continental is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2011 Ford Shelby GT 500 (550 HP @ 6200 RPM) has 129 more horse power than 2001 Bentley Continental. (421 HP @ 4000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2011 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 654 kg more than 2011 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 184 more torque (in Nm) than 2011 Ford Shelby GT 500. (691 Nm @ 4250 RPM). This means 2001 Bentley Continental will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2011 Ford Shelby GT 500. 2001 Bentley Continental has automatic transmission and 2011 Ford Shelby GT 500 has manual transmission. 2011 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 | 2011 Ford Shelby GT 500 | |
| Make | Bentley | Ford |
| Model | Continental | Shelby GT 500 |
| Year Released | 2001 | 2011 |
| Body Type | Coupe | Coupe |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 6750 cc | 5400 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 8 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | V | V |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 421 HP | 550 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4000 RPM | 6200 RPM |
| Torque | 875 Nm | 691 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2200 RPM | 4250 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline - Premium | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Automatic | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 4 seats | 4 seats |
| Number of Doors | 2 doors | 2 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 2454 kg | 1800 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5250 mm | 4780 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2060 mm | 1877 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1470 mm | 1420 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2970 mm | 2720 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 100 L | 61 L |
