For nearly ten years of its production, the Continental GT only had one powertrain on offer. And despite it being the best selling Bentley model ever, there was still a lot of room to expand the model lineup and pull in even more customers. Luckily, that wasn’t a difficult task as VW already had a brand new V8 engine available which would later find its way into everything from a VW Touareg to a Lamborghini Urus. And just like in all other models, the V8 engine was nothing short of perfect in the Bentley GT. The light and powerful V8 engine made the 2014 Continental GT V8 one of the most fun to drive Bentleys ever made, and also one of the cheapest to run. That makes it both the perfect ultra luxury daily driver, and a very impressive driver’s car at the same time. Unfortunately, for that same reason, the Continental GT V8 has about the same prices as the W12, and yet it’s well worth the money, as we will discover. Before that, check out the ones currently available here at Exotic Car Trader in case you are already set on buying one.
The Bentley Continental GT is the first model to come out of Bentley that was entirely built and engineered by VW with no ties to previous models, unlike the Arnage, Brooklands, Azure and the Mulsanne. The Continental followed a much different philosophy which ultimately lowered the price and improved the driving characteristics substantially while still keeping the same level of luxury. Although some of the originality and character was missing, the Continental turned out to be the most successful model Bentley ever made. By 2021 Bentley sold over 80,000 Continental GTs, and the Continental GT V8 helped raise those numbers significantly. The V8 was another one of VWs successful attempts at integrating the Bentley brand into its other brands. And the 2014 Continental GT V8 was the second year of production for the model which didn’t see any changes over the 2013 model year. But that does mean the 2014 is technically the second generation which is miles more modern than those built until 2012. In 2014, the Continental GT V8S was also introduced with even more power, but that’s for another story.
Inside, the Continental GT V8 is exactly the same as the flagship W12 model. Pretty much everything you can touch or see is covered in leather, wood or brushed metal and as soon as you drop into one, you will immediately see where all your money went. The 2014 model also got a brand new infotainment system and a revised gauge cluster, both of which still look fresh and the infotainment system is as usable today as it was back then. The overall design remained much the same as it did in the first generation, which is good since it still reminds of those older nineties and eighties Bentleys. Moreover, the steering wheel is now a much more attractive three spoke replacing the old four spoke helm. The front seats are comfortable by account of all journalists who have driven one, however, the passengers in the rear won’t enjoy the ride nearly as much with limited space and light. That said, the 2014 Continental GT V8 still has plenty more space than most 2+2 coupes.
The changes done to the exterior of the 2014 Continental GT V8 compared to the W12 are much more noticeable. Starting at the front, the bumper features much bigger and more pronounced intakes which alone already gives it a much sportier look. The flying B hood ornament isn’t an option but, the Bentley grille is still there and finished in black as standard complimenting the new front bumper and wheels perfectly. And the wheels are now much sportier with thinner spokes and a brushed finish. The rear didn’t go untouched either with the GT V8 featuring four oval exhausts instead of two. Overall, the 2014 Continental GT V8 looks much more attractive and futuristic helping which goes well with the model’s character.
The 2014 Continental GT V8 definitely isn’t as fast as the W12. With 500 horsepower on tap, over 100 less than the W12, both the top speed and 0-60 time is worse. The V8 sprints to 60 in 4.2 seconds and onto a top speed of 188 mph. That said, some journalists managed a sub 4 second 0-60 which is very close to the advertised time of the W12. However, the Continental GT V8 weighs just over 5,000 lbs, nearly 300 lbs less than its bigger brother. That makes for much improved handling characteristics and braking. And that’s where the V8 more than makes up for less power and the same reason why all automotive journalists recommend the V8 over the W12. And again, for those who want more, the V8S is always an option with 50 horsepower more and no added weight.
The 2014 Continental GT V8 doesn’t come up for sale that often. You will mostly find GTC V8s and GT W12s. And considering that the GT V8s go for the same price as the W12, it can only mean that the owners are quite happy with their purchase. Not to mention that the W12 cost over $50,000 more back in 2014 when both were new. The V8 had a starting price of around $190,000 while today, you can pick one up for between $70,000 and $90,000. And even those on the lower end have less than 50,000 miles and are in excellent condition. With over 60% of the value gone and the examples still in perfect condition, now is the time to pull the trigger if it ever was.
Even though the V8 and W12 Continental GTs are essentially the same cars, the experience they provide is much different, at least when it comes to driving experience. The V8 is by all accounts a much more fun car to drive with almost no performance loss, at least not in the real world. And most importantly, the V8 loses no luxuries compared to the flagship. If you are looking to buy a Continental V8 or any other luxury vehicle, classic, or supercar, Exotic Car Trader can make the process as easy and safe as possible. All Exotic Car Trader Purchases include escrow protection, first inspection, delivery and more. The same goes if you are looking to sell a car through Exotic Car Trader.
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