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Continental GT Range

The definitive, luxury Grand Tourer

Designed, engineered and handcrafted in Britain, the third-generation Bentley Continental GT combines spirited, focused performance with handcrafted luxury and cutting-edge technology, to create the finest Grand Tourer ever produced. At the heart of the Continental GT sits either Bentley’s renowned 6.0-litre, twin-turbocharged W12 TSI engine, or emotional 4.0-litre, twin-turbocharged V8. Both mated to a dual-clutch eight-speed transmission, for faster, more efficient gear changes. A technically advanced, adaptive chassis uses Bentley’s intelligent 48-volt Dynamic Ride System to ensure a responsive ride and exceptional handling and refinement in all road conditions. The system controls ride comfort and lateral roll, cushioning passengers from excessive movement as well as making the car feel effortlessly precise. The muscular exterior design, created using revolutionary technology, results in a lightweight, yet stiff, body. The engine is positioned further back to improve weight distribution, resulting in driver-focused, dynamic performance. Offering four seats and improved luggage capacity for genuine real-world usability, the Bentley Continental GT’s luxurious cabin is packed with exquisite details such as a ‘diamond in diamond’ leather design. In addition, significant work has gone into harmonising the extensive portfolio of 15 colours across hides and carpets. The Continental GT also showcases major evolutions in Bentley’s unique application of technology. An advanced, fully digital, driver-focused instrument panel and Bentley Rotating Display for the driver are among the suite of innovations. The latter features an impressive 12.3” touchscreen housed in a three-sided unit, which revolves the veneer to reveal the touchscreen as well as three elegant analogue dials. ​​​​​​​The interior design of the Continental GT is tailored specifically to the modern luxury customer, with unrivalled attention to detail that creates an effortless ownership experience. The cabin seamlessly integrates cutting-edge onboard technology with the finest handcrafted natural materials. The result is an exquisite, harmonised, connected and luxurious space.

Sublime Power: The Beating Heart of Bentley The Continental GT family uses two powertrains dependent on model. The GT Mulliner and GT Speed centre around the iconic W12, whilst the Azure and S take full advantage of the benefits of the V8. Designed, developed and handbuilt in Crewe, the W12 TSI engine is the most advanced 12-cylinder engine in the world. The unique ‘W’ configuration means that the engine is 24 per cent shorter than an equivalent V12, benefitting weight distribution and maximising usable cabin space. The powertrain uses the very latest engine management technology, with 300 million software calculations per second. It produces 659 PS (650 bhp) and 900 Nm (664 lb.ft.) of torque, and accelerates the Continental GT to 100 km/h in 3.6 seconds (0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds), and on to a top speed of 335 km/h (207 mph). A dedicated Sport Launch mode delivers maximum acceleration through careful clutch pressure sensing and pre-loading when a race-style start is required by the driver. The W12 TSI combines high-pressure direct fuel injection with low-pressure injection. The combination of these two systems maximises refinement, lowers particulate emissions and optimises power and torque delivery.  The revised engine utilises Start-Stop technology and, in Bentley’s advanced application, coasting is also made possible. The engine rests not only when the vehicle is stationary but also at near-to-stop speeds.  Bentley’s Variable Displacement system shuts down half of the engine under defined conditions. Intake and exhaust valves, fuel injection and ignition are all shut down on defined cylinders, with the engine running as a six-cylinder for improved efficiency.  The new-generation 4.0-litre, 32-valve V8 petrol engine develops 542 bhp (550 PS) and 568 lb.ft (770 Nm) of torque. It also features dual twin-scroll turbochargers located inside the ‘V’ of the engine, together resulting in a top speed of 198 mph (318 km/h) and 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds (0-100 km/h in 4.0 seconds). Spirited performance from the eight-speed V8 models is complemented by refined efficiency, stemming partly from the ability of the engine to de-activate four of its eight cylinders in suitable conditions, without compromising the drive. The seamless change happens in just 20 milliseconds and is imperceptible to customers. Stop-Start technology, which operates at ‘near-to-stop’ speeds, is also available. Significantly, a new dual-mass flywheel replaces the torque converter, to dampen out the oscillations of the driveline and provide a fittingly smooth power delivery for luxury touring. The dual-clutch eight-speed transmission provides smooth acceleration, and impressively quick gearshifts, both hallmarks of the Continental GT’s dynamic character, as well as improved combined fuel economy.  Shift times are variable and depend on the selected driving mode. In Sport mode, shifts are seemingly instantaneous to deliver uninterrupted torque delivery and maximum acceleration performance. In Comfort mode, shifts are deliberately relaxed to allow for a seamless and imperceptible gear change. Maximum speed is reached in seventh gear, with eighth gear acting as an overdrive gear for relaxed cruising.  A new Active All-Wheel-Drive System replaces the traditional 40:60 power delivery split between front and rear wheels respectively, instead varying the front-to-rear torque split dependent upon the driving situation. The vehicle will use rear-wheel drive as much as possible during normal driving for optimum efficiency and dynamic performance. ​​​​​​​Based on the conditions and the driver’s behaviour, the system will send drive to the front axle as required. This reduces the understeer effect from fixed all-wheel drive, as well as increasing driver engagement for those who revel in the dynamic attributes of the Continental GT.

Exterior Design

The Evolution of Bentley’s Famous Design DNA The exterior design of the Continental GT is based on a bold vision that is unmistakably Bentley. The third generation GT body and materials save more than 80 kg over the previous model. While the Continental GT retains the classic elegance that made its forebear so popular, the form of the car is more sculptural and sharply defined and takes much of its inspiration from the critically acclaimed EXP 10 Speed 6 concept car.  To allow for such a bold reimagining of the Continental GT, the aluminium skin has been crafted using Super Formed technology – a precision technique working with aluminium heated to 500°C which has previously been used on Bentley fenders. This method allows designers to invoke more complex, sharply defined body lines and a deeper, sculpted haunch muscle.  The Continental GT is the first production car ever to have an entire body side made from the Super Formed process. The Continental GT’s profile is longer and lower due in part to the positioning of the front wheels 135 mm further forward, which in turn allows the bonnet to be extended and the nose to be lowered. However, the key signature lines of the original Continental still dominate, with the ‘power line’ travelling from the headlights to the muscular rear haunch. The rear of the car is a radical styling departure, with the taillights now shaped into ellipses, reflecting the silhouette of the exhaust tail pipes below them.  The lighting on the Continental GT uses the latest LED Matrix technology, but it is the design of the head lamps that truly sets them apart. Inspired by the finest cut-crystal glasses, the internal surfaces are transparent with sharply defined edges that catch the light like a diamond. The result is similar to that of an illuminated gem – an effect which is magnified when the optional welcome sequence gradually illuminates the headlights as you approach the car. The taillights also feature the cut-crystal effect, highlighting the three-dimensional depth of the optics. The Continental GT has 21” wheels as standard, with other styles available, reflecting in turn the model’s elegant and sporting characters. Dependent upon which specification is chosen a 22” lightweight, forged wheels are also offered. In another example of Bentley’s exacting attention to detail, and the unique way in which Bentley design often serves a dual engineering purpose, the elliptical exhausts have a complex perforated sleeve which adds visual detail but also reduces the exhaust temperature. ​​​​​​​The Continental GT customer has a class-leading portfolio of 17 exterior paint colours to choose from – carefully selected to complement the character and lines of the car. In addition, a limited extended range of colours are available, as well as the option of full bespoke colour-matching for Bentley customers.

Interior Design

The Finest Handcrafted Cabin: A World of Hidden Delights The interior of the Continental GT showcases Bentley’s unrivalled expertise in the authentic use of materials, from the highest-quality natural leathers, to rare, sustainably sourced veneers and hand-polished chrome details. For the first time, unique dual-veneer options are offered. Over 10 square metres of wood are used in each Continental GT, and it takes nine hours to create and fit the wooden inlays by hand. The exquisitely styled dashboard of the Continental GT is sculpted by long, flowing wings that mirror the shape of the Bentley badge. A floating leather top flows seamlessly to the doors.  The centre console is finished to match the lower fascia, but can be specified in a technical finish that is inspired by the delicate mechanical surfacing inside the finest automatic Swiss watches, known as Côtes de Genève. This surface – a first in the automotive world – is machined onto 0.6 mm-thick aluminium and is created by machining from side to side to create a linear pattern. Each row is 5 mm wide and machined at an angle to give a truly three-dimensional finish, with each pass of the machine making a minute step of 0.5 mm. New types of luxurious haptic finishes adorn the interior of the Continental GT for greater sensory, as well as visual, enjoyment. In some areas, pillow knurling replaces the traditional mechanical knurling, for a softer, more refined feel on switches and controls, while diamond knurling adds a luxurious touch using a detailed three-dimensional faceted surface. The new knurling design is available on the iconic Bullseye vents, bezels and other primary control rotaries, and not only gives a finely faceted visual impact but provides a precise technical feel when operating the controls. Another hidden delight is the addition of bronze inserts between surfaces on the primary controls, which adds a level of fine detailing never seen before. The 20-way adjustable seats in the Continental GT set new industry standards in comfort and refinement. Smooth centre panels allow maximum efficiency for the cooling, heating and massage functions, while the bolsters retain the signature Bentley quilting.  A unique quilt is also available: called a ‘diamond in diamond’ quilt, the effect is of a floating quilted surface in a sea of leather, which is extraordinarily soft to touch. The interior pattern features both stitching and embroidery. The inner diamonds are embroidered, using a specially-designed machine that balances high speed with quality. Eighteen months were spent developing the embroidery, individually optimising and programming the exact alignment of each one of the 712 stitches that make up each diamond shape – an unrivalled attention to detail. A choice of three audio systems is offered in the Continental GT. The standard system features 10 speakers and 650 Watts, while a Bang & Olufsen 1,500 W, 16-speaker system with illuminated speaker grilles is aimed at lifestyle-oriented customers. The Bang & Olufsen installation benefits from the first automotive application of the BeoSonic system – a new way for tone setting with a simple, intuitive one-touch user interface. A Naim 2,200 W, 18-speaker system with Active Bass Transducers built into the front seats and eight sound modes is offered for the true audiophile. In order to ensure optimal audio enjoyment, laminated acoustic glass is used for the windscreen and side windows, resulting in a nine-decibel reduction in exterior noise ingress versus the outgoing model. Behind the wheel, the technological advancements in the Continental GT are striking. The driver-orientated instrument panel is now fully digital and configurable by the driver. While the main dials appear to be real, they are in fact digital graphics designed to look three-dimensional. This display can show information from across the infotainment system including satellite-navigation information. The Continental GT features the innovative and industry-first Bentley Rotating Display. At first glance there appears to be no screen in the centre of the dashboard. Instead, the veneer flows uninterrupted across the dashboard, while a thin chrome bezel behind the steering wheel surrounds a digital instrument display.  When the engine start button is pressed, however, the veneer in the middle of the dashboard glides silently forward and rotates to reveal Bentley’s largest-ever touchscreen, a 12.3” high-definition-quality digital MMI display, elegantly designed by Bentley with a customer-configurable home screen with three windows able to display the driver’s preferred functions, for example, navigation, media and telephone.  The user interface is designed to be akin to a modern mobile phone and menus are structured to be instantly intuitive. ​​​​​​​The third side on the Bentley Rotating Display reveals three elegant analogue dials displaying outside temperature, a compass and chronometer. Such an innovative use of traditional elements underscores Bentley’s unique commitment to the past and the future, and offers customers the choice of digital or analogue display or clean, calm cabin.

A Tour de Force of Technology State-of-the-art technology was integral to designing the most luxurious Grand Tourer. The Continental GT is a fusion of cutting-edge electronics and artisan craftsmanship. It represents the very latest in Bentley’s forward-looking approach to technology, blending ease of use with exquisite design and functionality. Featuring completely new electrical systems compared to its predecessor, the attention to detail paid by the development team is evident in every aspect of the car’s development. Even the electrical consumption was minimized to save energy, resulting in the reduction of 12V batteries from two to one. Combined with the ground-breaking Bentley Rotating Display, up to 10 sophisticated Driver Assistance Systems are available to help the driver in a variety of situations. The Top View Camera gives an ingenious, overhead view of the car and its immediate surroundings via the image processing of pictures provided by four different cameras around the car. This is complemented by reverse traffic warning and self-parking features. The Night Vision infrared camera is located in the front of the car and monitors the road up to 984.25 feet (300 meters) ahead, making driving in poorly lit environments much safer. It detects and warns of moving obstacles such as pedestrians and large animals, allowing them to be viewed in the digital instrument display. Active Lane Assist provides gentle steering assistance if it detects any drifting across lane boundaries, while Blind Spot Assist monitors the area around the car, flashing lights in the door mirrors if the driver attempts to cross the path of another vehicle. An optional Head-Up Display projects relevant information, such as current speed, speed limit, driver assistance and navigation information vehicle speed, directly in to the driver’s line of sight. Traffic Sign Recognition detects speed limits and zones in which overtaking is prohibited. When activated, its information is displayed in the digital instrument display and the Head-Up Display. Even temporary speed restrictions on roads can be detected. A raft of class-leading connected car features help keep the driver in touch with a range of real-time functions and services. An integrated Wi-Fi hotspot allows up to eight phones or portable digital devices to be connected to the internet. Meanwhile, a suite of My Bentley services is on hand to enhance the driving experience. Some features make the journey smarter, such as Apple CarPlay, which takes music, maps, contacts and more from an iPhone and delivers them via the car’s central touchscreen, and Satellite maps, which allows the navigation system to display photorealistic maps. Other services make the car journey safer, such as Private eCall, which facilitates a two-way communication between car occupants and Bentley’s dedicated call centre in the event of an accident. Activated automatically on deployment of any of the airbags, it can also be accessed via an SOS button in the roof module overhead. Packages of options also make it easier to commission collections of features together. City Specification includes Hands Free Trunk Opening, Pedestrian Warning, Reverse Traffic Warning and Automatic Dimming Mirrors. Touring Specification offers Lane Assist, Night Vision, Head-Up Display, Adaptive Cruise Control (with Traffic Jam Assist) and Bentley Safeguard Plus, with Emergency Lane Change Assist and Intersection Assist. Located in front of the driver, the Digital Instrument Display introduces new graphics. It is fully configurable with ‘Classic’ and ‘Expanded’ views. The large 12.3-inch HD touchscreen in the centre of the dashboard can also be configured in a number of different ways – as a single display, split 2:1 or showing three different functions at the same time – and was designed with simplicity and ease of use in mind. ​​​​​​​As with every Bentley, features are added to enhance the experience of driving and travelling in the car, but never to dominate it.

Unrivalled Grand Touring Ride and Handling The third generation of Continental GT features Bentley Dynamic Ride, an advanced 48-volt roll control system for unrivalled car control. The system controls and adjusts the electronic actuators on the anti-roll bar of each axle and so improves handling and ride comfort, as well as making the car feel lighter and more precise. This system instantly counteracts lateral rolling forces when cornering and ensures maximum tyre-to-road contact to deliver class-leading ride comfort and exceptional handling. While conventional anti-roll bars present a compromise between body control and ride comfort, Bentley’s active system provides variable torsional resistance, allowing the Continental GT to be both dynamically capable and comfortable for all occupants at all times. The use of a 48-volt system results in silent, instantaneous responses and sufficient power on hand to deal with all road surfaces. Through Bentley’s Drive Dynamics Control different modes can be selected: Comfort mode, Bentley mode or Sport mode; the suspension, engine, gearbox and other chassis systems will modify to match the selected drive mode. Alternatively, the driver can personalise his or her own dynamic settings. The air suspension on the Continental GT is revised and uses three-chamber air springs which give the car 60 per cent more air volume in the softest setting than the previous model. This allowed Bentley’s engineers more scope for tuning the suspension to improve the ride comfort and dynamic character of the car. The system offers the scope to vary from sporting spring stiffness to luxury limousine refinement depending upon which mode the driver has selected. Electric Power-Assisted Steering (EPAS) is also featured on the Continental GT. The new system improves feedback to the driver, while providing isolation from unwanted road disturbances. The steering system features a variable rack ratio, allowing increased response with higher steering angles to aid manoeuvrability whilst maintaining excellent stability at high speeds. The introduction of EPAS also allows the Continental GT to be offered with a wide range of Driver Assistance features including Active Lane Assist, Traffic Jam Assist and Park Assist. Another key feature is the latest-generation Continuous Damping Control (CDC), which constantly adjusts the damper forces to optimise comfort. The system continually measures the velocity and distance between the wheels and the body at each corner and also adjusts the air volume in the springs if necessary to ensure the optimum balance of comfort and handling. Both front and rear axles are of a lightweight aluminium construction, with multilink design at the front and rear. The brakes, as always on the Continental GT, are bigger on the front axle, with a 15 mm increase in size to 420 mm to match the increased performance.  ​​​​​​​The exhaust tail pipes have also been revised, and now have an adaptive valve for greater tuning potential.

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New Continental GT Range

As the Continental GT enters its 21st year, it once again redefines the ultimate blend of supercar performance, handcrafted luxury and everyday usability.

The definitive grand tourer

The whole car has been visually ‘cleaned’, with fewer breaks in the surfaces giving more muscularity, and a more refined shape. The complete front aspect of the car is new, from the body coloured integrated body kit to the biggest change in the last two decades for the Continental GT: single front headlamps that herald a design revolution for Bentley; and feature a new horizontal ‘eyebrow,’ a deep crystal cut diamond effect to the top of the lamps and an illuminated lower pattern.

A world class four-seat interior offers wellness through new seat technology, new air ionisation, 3D leather, new quilting and the option of a new dark chrome finish.

All new electrical architecture enables integration of new class-leading technology for unrivalled user experience in the luxury car sector, with a ‘My Bentley App Studio’ integrating popular apps directly into the car

CO2 Emissions and fuel consumption data for EU27 is pending, subject to EU Type Approval

New Continental GT Speed

With a phenomenal new Ultra-Performance Hybrid Powertrain, the new Bentley Continental GT Speed combines the V8 power you know with an unprecedented boost of torque from its electric motor, to deliver truly astonishing performance: 1,000 Nm (738 lb ft) of torque and 771 bhp (782 PS). That means 0-60 mph in 3.1 seconds (0-100 kph in 3.2 seconds) and a top speed of 208 mph (335 km/h).

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Bentley rolls out the latest version of its majestic grand tourer, the Continental GT Speed

Available as both coupé and convertible, the fourth generation Bentley Continental GT Speed harnesses hybrid power to become a record breaker for the brand

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Bentley has debuted its new Continental GT Speed, the latest iteration of grand tourer flagship, now billed as being the ‘most powerful Bentley ever created’. That extra whack comes from the integration of the company’s new Ultra Performance Hybrid powertrain, taking the total power output on this fourth generation model to 782 PS.

Bentley Continental GT Speed

The hybrid system has been co-developed with the engineering might of parent company Volkswagen, which has already deployed this high performance hybrid system in the latest Porsche Panamera e-hybrid . In the Continental GT Speed, it offers a vast breadth of ability, from 50 miles of pure electric range to a top speed of 208 mph.

Bentley Continental GT Speed interior

This is the fourth generation of the car that transformed Bentley from an inhabitant of a luxury backwater into one of the world’s preeminent brands. Arriving in 2002, the GT was the first fruit of new ownership and new investment. Instantly successful, it was overhauled in 2010 and the substantially updated and upgraded in 2018 on an al-new platform .

This fourth generation car showcases a clear stylistic crossover with the strictly limited-edition Bentley Batur , particularly in the new headlights, which eschew the double lamp set-up that has been part of the Conti GT’s face since its inception.

The Bentley Continental GT Speed's new headlights reference the Bentley Batur

On-board technology goes beyond the hybrid system and will include four-wheel steering, four-wheel drive, active anti-roll control and a new damping system. In the past, this emphasis on tech has given the big Bentley coupé a formidable dynamic capability that belies its size.

Bespoke luggage is a classic Bentley option

Inside and out, the focus on bespoke finishes, colours and materials will continue much as before. Bentley has made great strides in the discovery and refinement of more sustainably sourced materials, from driftwood to textured surfaces, and you can expect the fourth generation GT to deliver even more on this front. The company has chosen to unveil both GT and GTC convertible at the same time, with the latter set to be one of the swiftest four-seater convertibles ever made.

The droptop Bentley Continental GTC Speed

We’ll be delivering a full drive report on both variants of the new Continental GT in due course.

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Bentley Continental GTC Speed

The fourth generation Bentley Continental GT Speed

Jonathan Bell has written for Wallpaper* magazine since 1999, covering everything from architecture and transport design to books, tech and graphic design. He is now the magazine’s Transport and Technology Editor. Jonathan has written and edited 15 books, including Concept Car Design, 21st Century House, and The New Modern House. He is also the host of Wallpaper’s first podcast.

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The Grand Tour Madagascar Special Bentley Continental GT Spotted In Cotswolds

Jeremy Clarkson has been spotted behind the wheel of a Bentley Continental GT as The Grand Tour filmed in Madagascar for its next special episode earlier this year. But now filming is over, we wonder where the modified Conti has gone, along with the other cars that Richard Hammond and James May were driving.

Recently, a photo of the highly modified Bentley has come to fruition online where it was spotted outside Clarkson’s farm, Diddly Squat in the Cotswolds. You can see the photo below:

This Bentley has been modified to deal with anything Madagascar could throw at it, with all-wheel drive, underbody shielding, and an external roll cage. Two snorkels sit above the height of the roof to enable it to traverse deep bodies of water, and larger off-road wheels poke out from each corner, barely covered by wider wheel bolt-on arches.

Looking at the door, it looks like it’s been used, more than likely on Jeremy’s farm especially as he has posted a photo to his Instagram confirming that it is a farm vehicle. Whether that’s because the car isn’t road legal in this country, we don’t know and we can’t confirm this. However, the registration doesn’t come back with any car via the UK government’s Vehicle Enquiry Service.

The Madagascar Special episode will be released on Amazon Prime Video before the end of this year, and the boys are already out filming in the Highlands of Scotland. You can read all about that here. We’re very much looking forward to it, and will keep you updated with anything else we hear.

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Why The Bentley Continental GT Is The Most Luxurious Grand Tourer In 2022

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Among the well-heeled, Bentley has quite the reputation thanks to its unmatched levels of comfort and luxury. From racing to building luxury SUVs and grand tourers, Bentley’s portfolio has diversified to tailor to the varying needs of the wealthiest one percent. Starting its life in 2003, the Continental GT was brought in as a more affordable Bentley that marked a new beginning for the luxury automaker. However, at $150,000, Bentley’s idea of “affordable” was still beyond the reach of an average American back in '03. Needless to say, this proved to be yet another toy for the wealthy and quickly became a symbol of excess.

While the grand tourer has been a favorite among the elite, it has remained the same for quite some time. However, the Continental GT did receive noticeable engine and chassis improvements, but it wasn’t until 2018 that an all-new platform was brought into existence. But the ethos behind the Bentley Continental GT never changed—to be the ultimate expression of luxury, speed, and grand touring.

RELATED: The New Bentley Continental GT Mulliner Perfectly Marries Speed With Luxury

Bentley Continental GT Is All About Effortless Wafting

With the launch of the third generation in 2018, the Bentley Continental saw significant chassis and styling improvements. Although much of the powertrain remained the same, several tweaks were made to comply with stricter emissions. Also, the third-gen Continental incorporates a new 8-speed dual-clutch transmission as opposed to the previous ZF unit.

In terms of output, the W12 comes in two different tunes: 650 horsepower in the GT Speed and 626 hp in the standard Continental and Mulliner spec. Torque figures remain identical for all three models at 684 lb-ft. As for the V8, the Continental gets two different variants: the GT and the Mulliner V8. Both offer similar power outputs at 542 horsepower and 568 lb-ft of torque. All models get the 8-speed dual-clutch as standard along with all-wheel-drive.

When it comes to the driving experience, the Continental GT gathers speed at a steady pace . The moment you step inside the Conti GT, it’s evident that this is not meant for fast corners or any form of intense motoring. That’s not to say it’s slow. Even though the Bentley weighs over 5,000 pounds, engineers have been able to cleverly disguise it. Slip it into the sportiest of driving settings, and the Bentley utilizes the V8’s (or W12’s) exuberance as much as physics allows it to. Additionally, with the help of Bentley’s Dynamic Ride, the system can try and eliminate all forms of secondary vibrations to keep the passengers cossetted in utmost comfort and luxury. In simple terms, the Continental GT is one very effective tool when it comes to wafting along .

RELATED: Bentley Unleash The Ultimate Continental GT

Extraordinary Levels of Craftsmanship

If you’ve ever gotten the chance to see a Bentley up close, It’d most certainly leave you in utter amazement. The level of detail is beyond what you could imagine. Having a look at the Continental GT gives a good idea of how proportionate it is, despite the car being fairly long and wide.

Pop over to the inside, and you are greeted to one of Bentley’s signature interior treatments—the diamond quilted stitching. The Bentley Continental GT is all about cosseting you in luxury. You can’t fault a Bentley. It was never a car for the working class. Everything you touch is and will always be of top quality. If you didn’t know, Bentley uses hides from bulls instead of cows to avoid having stretch marks. Plus, designers will inspect the leather to see if there’s any imperfection, like a cut from a wire fence or uneven leather patterns, all of which are a no-go in Bentley's world.

Of course, luxury can also be defined as not having to bother with menial things. In the land of the rich, you don’t make dinner yourself, nor do you make your own bed. It’s all done with help from your butler and, of course, housemaids. So if you're used to such luxuries, why be in a car where you have to fiddle around finding the seatbelt? Sounds awfully plebeian, doesn’t it? Bentley has thought about this, and the Continental GT features a rather helpful seatbelt butler.

Moving to the technology inside, the 20-speaker Naim for Bentley audio gives a new meaning to sensory reception by featuring 1,720 Watts of pure aural bliss. That said, the Continental GT’s regular hi-fi, which we’ve sampled before, isn’t bad. But it just doesn’t hold a light to the immersive audio experience of the more premium Naim system. In addition to that, the rotating display—the Conti GT’s dramatic party piece—offers an experience unlike anything else in the market. Because the Bentley Continental GT comes loaded with fine materials and top-of-the-line equipment, you can’t go wrong with buying one. Of course, that all depends on how deep your pockets are.

Sources: Bentley Motors

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The Best Grand Tourers of 2020: Bentley Continental GT V8

By Kristen Shirley

Designed to handle high speeds and great distances in chorus, Grand Tourers function as both a bragging right and cornerstone for any car manufacturer. Possessing power, grace and beauty, GTs typically include enough seats for four passengers plus luggage, as well as the ability to pass anything that may interfere with its continent-crossing intentions.

Few places on Earth are as breathtaking as Sedona, Arizona, where the landscape is covered with red rock formations, mountains and buttes that shoot up from the desert.

Driving anywhere takes longer than usual, as you will frequently find yourself pulling over to take yet another photo of the incredible scenery. Here, we start our journey in Bentley’s new Continental GT V8 on an epic trip through Arizona to the Grand Canyon, putting the car through its paces while enjoying its unadulterated luxury.

The GT perfectly marries performance and comfort. Christophe Georges, president and CEO of Bentley in the Americas, describes it as having the engine and the capabilities of a supercar, but the pure comfort expected of a Bentley.

Bentley Continental GT V8’s sumptuous interiors

It maneuvers the hairpin turns from Sedona to the Grand Canyon with ease and grace, and on open stretches of highway through the Arizona desert, it shows its power by roaring from zero to 60mph in 3.9 seconds. The 4.0-liter, twin-turbocharged V8 engine has a top speed of 198mph.

The handstitched leather seats are so cozy that an all-day drive is not something to be tolerated, but something to be enjoyed. Bentley has also solved the perennial question for anyone driving a convertible: top up or down? You don’t have to choose, since the roof can be opened or closed in under 20 seconds, as long as you’re traveling under 30mph. And you won’t be chilly, since the seats have new neck warmers and heated armrests.

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2025 Bentley Flying Spur Teased With New 771 HP PHEV Powertrain

The updated Bentley Flying Spur will make use of the same plug-in hybrid powertrain found in the new Continental GT Speed

by Thanos Pappas

• The Bentley Flying Spur is about to receive a significant power boost for the 2025 MY, courtesy of electrification.
• Bentley’s new plug-in hybrid powertrain is good for 771 hp (575 kW / 782 PS) and 1000 Nm (738 lb-ft) of torque.
• The luxury sedan will sport mild visual updates, including redesigned bumper intakes and a new grille pattern.

Bentley announced an updated version of the Flying Spur sedan for the 2025 model year, set to benefit from its new “Ultra Performance Hybrid” powertrain. The plug-in hybrid setup was recently introduced in the new Bentley Continental GT Speed and has a combined output of 771 hp (575 kW / 782 PS).

The model appeared in a revealing teaser, showing its front end. Unlike the fourth-generation Continental GT that reverted to single lighting units, the Flying Spur retains the double headlight design. Visual updates appear to be mild, focusing mostly on redesigned bumper intakes. We can also see a new honeycomb pattern for the grille instead of vertical slits, and what appears to be an extra ADAS sensor.

More: New Turbo S E-Hybrid Is The Fastest Porsche Panamera Ever With 771 HP

Setting aside the familiar looks, the highlight of the 2025 Bentley Flying Spur is the new powertrain. Bentley’s latest plug-in hybrid powertrain combines a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 with a single electric motor, for a total power output of 771 hp (575 kW / 782 PS) and 1000 Nm (738 lb-ft) of torque. Besides the Continental GT, the same powertrain is used by the 2025 Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid.

The impressive figures represent an increase of 145 hp (108 kW / 147 PS) and 100 Nm (74 lb-ft) compared to the discontinued W12-powered Flying Spur Speed , previously the most powerful version of the luxury sedan.

Bentley claims that the electrified four-door model will offer a combined range of over 500 miles (805 km) with a full tank of gas and a fully charged battery. This number matches the Flying Spur Hybrid that debuted in 2022, but it used a significantly less powerful plug-in hybrid V6 powertrain.

Furthermore, the EV-only range has almost doubled to over 45 miles (72 km), contributing to a combined CO2 figure of under 40 g/km. Bentley didn’t get into specifics, but chances are that the Flying Spur will use the 25.9 kWh battery pack of the Continental GT Speed, which requires 2 hours and 45 minutes to charge from an 11 kW outlet.

Last but not least, Bentley says that a “significant amount of development” has been invested in the exhaust note without using any kind of artificial enhancement.

We expect to learn more about the 2025 Bentley Flying Spur in the coming weeks or months.

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