The Turbo R sedan was a high performance Bentley with a turbocharged V8 engine and modified Mulsanne suspension. Introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in 1985, the Turbo R (for “roadholding”) had far superior handling than its predecessor, the Mulsanne Turbo, in addition to more power which came in the form of fuel-injection.   To achieve better handling on the Turbo R, it was equipped with wider tires on alloy wheels, independent suspension with coil springs in the front and rear, and Girling hydraulic self-leveling ride control.  The 6.75 liter engine produced over 350 horsepower and pushed the Bentley to a top speed of 150 miles per hour.  

The personal car of Margie and Robert E. Petersen, the personalized California license plate reads “H-O-T-R-O-D”, a highly desirable combination of letters that hints at the background of its influential first owner, Robert E. Petersen, publisher of Hot Rod magazine, Motor Trend magazine, and dozens of other specialty publications.