What’s in a car? Sometimes, it’s just the engine. Other times, it’s way more than that. A car might carry the heart of its owner or even represent a significant part of their history. The Bentley Continental GT is one of such cars. For a very long time, this car has long stood for luxury and affluence. When it comes to building cars, it is one thing to build sports cars with speed, but it’s an ordeal to build vintage luxury cars like the Bentley Continental GT.
Before we dive in let’s take a quick look at the main specifications of the new Continental GT.
| Max Power 626 bhp / 635 PS / 467kW @6000 rpm | Max Torque 664 lb-ft / 900 Nm @ 1350-4500 rpm |
| Engine Capacity 5950 cc | Fuel Type Petrol |
| Acceleration 0 – 60 mph 3.6 seconds, 0 – 100 km/h 3.7 seconds | Max Speed 207 mph / 333 km/h |
| Combined CO2 (NEDC) 278 g/km** | |
| Combined Fuel Economy (NEDC) 23.2 mpg, 12.2 litres / 100 km** | Urban Fuel Economy (NEDC) 16.9 mpg, 16.7 litres / 100 km** |
| Extra Urban Fuel Economy (NEDC) 29.7 mpg, 9.5 litres / 100 km** | Combined CO2 (WLTP) 308 g/km |
| Combined Fuel Economy (WLTP) 20.8 mpg, 13.6 litres / 100 km | Extra High Fuel Economy (WLTP) 24.1 mpg, 11.7 litres / 100 km |
| High Fuel Economy (WLTP) 23.9 mpg, 11.8 litres / 100 km | Medium Fuel Economy (WLTP) 20.3 mpg, 13.9 litres / 100 km |
| Low Fuel Economy (WLTP) 12.7 mpg, 22.3 litres / 100 km | Driving Range (WLTP) 411.3 miles, 662 kilometres |
| PRICE OF A TESTER GT | upward of $279,000 |
Inside out, the car is a Bentley machine. The bad stuff first – this car still runs the W12 engine which is phasing out really fast. Despite this, the car runs on the road with so much speed and prestige. With a max speed of 207 mph, you are sure to be riding on the edge. There is a caveat to this kind of car though because when you drive it you don’t really go for the speed, instead, you go for the thrill. It is one of those cases where quality speaks for itself in a mechanically synchronized form.
The beginnings of the Bentley Continental GT can be traced back to 2003. So far, the form of the Continental series looks consistent and gives you the feeling of riding a private jet.
The W12 engine comes with twin turbos with about 664-foot-pounds of torque and over 620 horsepower. Combining these features, the Bentley Continental GT performance is where it stands out as it moves with a smooth sailing attitude.
For me, it is always interesting when I see a car that is engineered with speed, sports, luxury, and beauty in mind. The new Continental GT is powerful because of its intense combination of precision and street suave. Power seems to move quite seamlessly between gear transmissions, and it’s almost like you don’t have to do much work apart from keeping your eyes on the road.
When driving this car, you want to do it with restraint because the natural instinct is always to slam the pedal to the floor and launch into the apex. However, following that instinct will most likely land you in jail. You don’t need to go that fast though because whether you are driving slowly or normally, the car inspires both confidence and intrigue.
The leather is soft and the metal real. It’s the little things, too. The lume on the analog clock is fantastic and the wood grain matches throughout. The seats feature a lovely diamond pattern with multiple layers of embroidered detail. Don’t want to look at an LCD screen? Hit a button and it rotates away, revealing a set of three analog gauges in its place.
If you have driven or seen a previous Continental GT model, then you will agree that the controls are quite similar. It uses a lot of custom switch plates from the Audi’s parts bin. The shared similarity between Audis and the new GT is not a bad idea as Audis have one of the best luxury car interfaces in the motor industry.
To round up, I will like to say that cars like the Continental GT will definitely still be around even when the electric car apocalypse finally happens. Petrol heads will ride this car to the pavement because it feels like it possesses a spirit of its own that electric cars cannot compete with.