The Bentley Continental GT was the first car made by Bentley Motors after Volkswagen’s acquisition in 1998. It was also the first to be made on a mass-production manufacturing line, breaking the coach-building and hand-assembly tradition of years. The Continental GT is a 2-door coupe that started mass production in 2003, and a sedan variant was launched under the Bentley Continental Flying Spur label.
The Continental GT has a 6.0 liter twin turbocharged W12 engine, a break from the V8 that the carmaker has used since the 1950s. The W12 is 552 horsepower and reaches a peak of 6,100 rpm. The engine generates a torque of 479 lb-ft between 1,600 to 6,100 rpm. The car is designed as a four-wheel drive and accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in 4.8 seconds. Speed is capped at 198 mph. Apart from the engine pedigree, there is little difference, and the car accelerates with a seamless smoothness that is true to pure Bentley design. However, there is one significant difference. The W12 engine has a loud warble compared to its predecessors, which were fitted with V8s and had heavy rumblings. Sound effects aside, the Continental GT is fast and, like all big cars, handles open roads with ease. The challenge is in turning this large coupe around corners. The car has a very responsive steering and handles open roads well. It also handles turnings better than other older Bentley models.
When you step into the Continental GT, the first thing that strikes you is how low it is. At 55 inches, it is much lower than most other Bentleys. It is not as low-slung as other supercars but has broken away from the Bentley tradition of higher seat placements. The interior is in keeping with the Bentley tradition of wood trim, glossy aluminum, and soft leather. However, the overall confusion of dials and buttons in the typical Bentley dashboard is gone. The display, buttons, and vents are all well placed and work to precision, a tribute to efficient German engineering. Despite being a large car, the GT has a cramped back seat. The lack of space for full-sized adults can be problematic if you must seat four people for a long trip. However, the front seats are incredibly comfortable and deep; comfort can be assured by adjusting the steering columns and seats. Apart from the lack of space, the car is a comfortable drive and ride. It ignores ruts and cracks with grace and a remarkable lack of attitude. Passengers won’t even know about the poor road. The steering is slightly heavy; you will feel the car’s weight, but it is not tough to handle. The suspension is an air system taken from the Audi A8 but modified to account for the bulk of the Bentley. The drive options offer the comfort and sport versions, and the drive is firm in both modes. In sports mode, sharp turns are handled better (and faster), but poor roads are crossed less smoothly. Brakes are also efficient, and they are the largest fitted to a production car, and they are both ABS and ESP equipped.
The Continental GT makes a powerful statement with its separate rounded headlamps, deeply inclining hood, and the classic Bentley bold front grill. Bentley added some variety by making the headlamps of different sizes and the hood indent much deeper than other models. The car is 189 inches long and 75.5 inches wide and weighs around 5,181 pounds. The wheels are 19-inch Pirellis fitted on seven-spoke steel alloys. The car’s overall shape is a vague throwback to the muscle cars popular in the 1960s but with more finesse in the overall shape and lines. The rear of the car is much more streamlined and yet boxy. The roof inclines right through the rear windshield to the trunk and onto the bumper. The rear lights are boxy and help counteract the pointy effect of the rear. For more detailed photos and videos, visit here.
The Continental GT broke from the torque-fueled momentum of older Bentley models that started from 0 mph and bulldozed through until the cars reached their maximum speeds or the rpm redlines. In the GT, maximum torque is available as early as 1600 rpms, which is felt in the car’s drive. The car has a top speed of 198 mph and reaches 0 to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds, but 30 to 50 mph in 1.8 seconds and 50 to 70 mph in 3.2 seconds are more impressive, especially in urban driving. With its modern 6.0-litre W12, the car’s acceleration is barely noticeable, and the six-speed Tiptronic gearbox ensures that you will not notice the gear shifts at double-digit speeds. The drive options offer fully automatic, Tiptronic, and stick shifts. The gear changes are clean in all modes, and the car retains its smoothness and stability at high speeds. The turns at high speeds are also stable, which is a welcome break from Bentley tradition. For more details about the GT’s performance, visit here.
The Continental GT originally launched for $379,995 and was a low-priced Bentley then. With almost twenty years passing, the car has depreciated as expected, but it is still a hugely popular model among car lovers and Bentley enthusiasts. As with all used cars, the current market price will depend on the car’s mileage, condition, and maintenance history. If you haven’t done it already, visit our Bentley listings on Exotic Car Trader regularly. Our active Bentley page frequently lists exciting models.
The Bentley Continental GT is a well-engineered car, and its powerful engine has the muscle and torque to offer smooth speeds and efficient handling at high speeds despite the bulk of the chassis. The only thing that takes away from the car’s personality is the less-than-pleasant engine sound, which is less impressive than the classic V8s in the older Bentleys. The car is an excellently designed mixture of German engineering and British traditions, making it an exciting piece of automotive engineering. To buy a Continental GT, visit us at Exotic Car Trader.
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