Let’s face it; some cars get remembered. Others, well, they get forgotten like yesterday’s grocery list. The 2010 Bentley Continental GT Speed surely falls in the former category, embodying the very essentials necessary to leave a lasting impression. These include a beast of an engine, a meticulously handcrafted cabin that resembles nothing short of a private jet’s interior, and a styled exterior that attracts more eyes than bees to a honeypot. So, a mighty 6-liter W12 charges this adrenaline-on-wheels (from a standstill) to 60 mph in a staggering 4.3 seconds. Top speed? Well, bury the throttle, and this luxury rocket reaches a stratospheric 202 mph in a world of double-glazed windows and massaging seats. Of course, all this automotive prestige comes with a catch – or, in our case, a hefty price tag. New, the Continental GT Speed could be yours for a cool $207,700. Regardless, option it out and be prepared for an even bigger hole in your pocket.
The Bentley Continental saga stretches back to the roaring 1950s and 60s, with the iconic R-Type Continental leading the pack. The luxurious, sporty coupe paved the path for future classics, including the S1, S2, and S3 Continental, redefining the luxury grand-touring segment with their unparalleled attention to detail and advanced engineering. However, after a brief hiatus, the Continental nameplate was revived yet again in 2003, giving the world a first look at Bentley’s first mass-produced grand-touring coupe under the ownership of the VW Group. The Continental GT checked all boxes when it came to meeting performance benchmarks, beauty standards, and – of course – legendary craftsmanship. Eventually, and gradually, several variants followed, ensuring there’s a Continental for each discerning taste and owner. These included a drop-top Continental, called the GTC (2006), a performance-focused, gravity-defying Speed variant (2008), and finally, a track-oriented Supersports that set hearts racing and tire-marks on the tarmac. Eventually, the first-generation Continental GT production wrapped up in 2010 before it received a much-needed mid-cycle update in 2011.
The Continental GT Speed draws its power from a monstrous 6-liter W12 engine, fed by two turbochargers, bringing the total output to a thunderous 600 horsepower and a physics-defying 553 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission – also featuring manually operated column paddle shifters – routes the power to all four wheels via an intelligent VW-sourced AWD drivetrain. 0 to 60 mph is timed at a formidable 4.3 seconds, closely followed by a vicious top speed of 203 mph. However, the 5,180-pound GT Speed isn’t all about straight-line performance. The presence of performance upgrades ranges from sharpened, more finetuned suspension settings, lowered ride height, bespoke P Zero tires, and upgraded carbon ceramics to louder, more aggressive exhaust settings that help create a sonorous soundtrack for your ears.
Inside, the Continental GT Speed benefits from Bentley’s artful craftsmanship, morphing the cabin into a luxurious haven dominated by premium-felt and soft-touch materials – with a hint of modernism. So, swathes of high-quality, exquisitely handstitched, two-tone leather reign supreme, adorning the cabin from top to bottom, including the dash, center stack, door trims, and headliner in a sumptuous flow. Luckily, personalization-to-no-extend holds court here, offering up to 17 distinct, quite attractive interior colors and a plethora of authentic wood veneers that stud the dash, center console, and upper door trims in an exhibition of timeless elegance. Maintaining such classic aesthetics are the knurled, chrome-clad knobs and dials, closely followed by crisp analog dials that refuse to let the interior age. A cherry on the icing, the Breitling timepiece, finally completes the elegant, class-conscious aesthetics. Still, though, the cabin exudes an aura of cutting-edge wizardry, incorporating multi-zone climate control, powered seats (with memory, heated, ventilated, and massage functionalities), and an intuitive infotainment screen, allowing access to features like sat-nav, radio, multimedia controls, and the 15-speaker premium NAIM sound system – in case the throbbing W12 isn’t enough for your aural senses.
The exterior styling and designing are a continuation of the interior’s timelessly honed cues but with a hint of modern aerodynamic aggression. Dominating the front fascia is Bentley’s trademark fark-tinted matrix grille, closely followed by sleek, crustal-cut bi-xenon headlamps, housing round-shaped LED DRLs that pierce through the night with dead-eye precision. Eventually, an elongated, swooping hood leads towards the low-set roofline to create a low, predatory stance. On the sides, muscular, quite pronounced fenders emerge, hinting at the power that lies under – and not just the multi-spoke 20-inch alloys clad in bespoke P Zero performance tires. Meanwhile, at the back sits a set of elliptical taillights, an active rear spoiler, and pronounced, rather aggressive stainless-steel tailpipes – a view most sportscars may have to get used to at the Autobahn.
Luckily, the convenience and opulence don't just end there. It incorporates a suite of technological equipment meant to elevate the driving experience to newer heights. These include massaging (and heated/ventilated) seats, dual-zone climate control, and an intuitive infotainment system showing various in-car functions, including sat-nav, radio, and Bluetooth connectivity for a seamless user interface journey. Regarding safety, the Continental GT Speed comes equipped with parking sensors, a rear-view camera, cruise control, airbags, and ABS/ESC, creating a fortress of security on four wheels.
Of course, it isn’t a Bentley unless it boasts an exclusive price tag. So, the 2010 Bentley Continental GT Speed could be bought for a strong $207,700. Meanwhile, add optional extras – including the carbon-ceramic brakes, premium sound system, interior/exterior colors, Mulliner Driving Specification (package), and bespoke wood veneers – and you'll leave an even greater dent in your wallet. On the other hand, though, used GT Speed examples can be seen exchanging hands for as little as $21,500, while well-preserved, low-mile examples can be sourced for $30,000 and upwards. Considering adding a Continental GT Speed to your collection? Head to the comprehensive Bentley listings at Exotic Car Trader to source your dream wheels.
The 2010 Bentley Continental GT Speed embodies a very Bentley-esque essence – a symphony of unrelenting power, a handcrafted, exquisitely planned cabin, and a breathtaking exterior worthy of bearing the flying mascot badge. Exotic Car Trader offers an online solution to your wildest exotic car dreams. It highlights an easy-to-use, quite simplified car-buying process that saves you from the dauntless task of dealing with private sellers. Alternatively, it poses an effortless and streamlined car-selling process that uses market-best practices and fraud detection tools to guarantee a safe and secure transaction.
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