Somehow the idea of the expansive circuit prevails. Its roots whitethorn prevarication successful the aristocratic 17th and 18th period run for self-improvement, but we cognize it amended arsenic a two-letter abbreviation affixed to the rump of an elegant car: Gran Turismo. Ettore Bugatti dismissed his large rival Bentley’s aboriginal efforts arsenic accelerated lorries, but the sanction is synonymous with a lavish and borderline hedonistic cognition to life.
Since its accomplishment successful 2003, the Continental GT has acceptable the bewinged nameplate connected a lucrative caller trajectory. With astir 100,000 cars sold, the stakes are high. So this latest incarnation doesn’t messiness excessively overmuch with the post-modern aesthetic. As per Ettore’s waspish observation, a period connected from Bentley’s Le Mans 24 hours-winning behemoth, the Continental coupe and convertible clasp a definite heft.
It was really 1952’s R-Type Continental that provided the plan inspiration, and this fourth-generation car maintains the strident grille, elongated bonnet, and the flamboyant expanse of the rear fenders. A beardown consciousness of opulence is underpinned by a steely committedness to precocious performance.
The proportions stay intact, but immoderate of the details person been changed. The headlights present diagnostic a questionable horizontal “eyebrow”, with a dazzling crystal chopped diamond effect connected the top, and matrix lamps that incorporated 120 abstracted LED elements. Crystal and diamond successful 1 acceptable of headlights is nary mean feat.
At the rear, the bumper, tail-lights, trunk lid and exhaust pipes person each been redesigned. The trunk lid is besides much aerodynamic successful signifier to obviate the request for a spoiler portion inactive delivering the due levels of downforce. A signifier arsenic voluptuous arsenic this needs large wheels to bash its champion work—and the Continental GT Speed gets caller 22-inch rims with a “turbine” effect. It’s each precise dashing.
Hybrid, With EV Mode
But the existent foodstuff present is successful however Bentley has amplified the exertion story. Out goes the stentorian aged combustion W12, successful comes an all-new powertrain—an “Ultra Performance Hybrid” successful Bentley parlance.
It combines a 4.0-liter duplicate turbo V8 that’s bully for 584 bhp with an electrical centrifugal that adds a further 187 bhp. That means a highest strategy output of 771 bhp, 738 lb ft of torque, and capable wallop to present a apical velocity of 208 mph (335km/h) and a 0-60 clip of 3.1 seconds. These are heady numbers for a car that was ever heavy, but present weighs an diversion quality nether 2.5 tonnes. Sheesh.
Incidentally, this besides makes the Continental GT Speed the astir almighty accumulation car successful Bentley’s agelong history.
Happily, the caller car is much nuanced successful however it deploys its firepower. It truly does person a magnificent and cautiously engineered bandwidth. While Bentley prepares an all-new pure-electric car—that’s owed successful 2026—the hybrid takes connected a greater value than was initially forecast. “The plug-in hybrid was viewed arsenic a transitional vehicle,” Bentley says, “but is playing a bigger relation present due to the fact that of changing user habits.”
To paraphrase, high-net-worth individuals with multi-car garages aren’t particularly enamoured of high-end EVs, careless of however utmost their show mightiness be. Ferrari’s long-awaited BEV lands successful 2025; possibly that’ll beryllium the 1 that yet moves the needle.