While many argued that a VW V8 doesn’t belong in a Bentley, but anyone who has driven one quickly changed his mind. Although the W12 engine is the flagship and that’s what a Bentley is all about, the V8 had a great number of advantages over it. For one, it was much lighter than the W12 and thanks to the new 8 speed transmission, it was virtually just as quick in the real world. But that’s only half the story. As for the 2015 Continental GT V8 in particular, it’s the first model year to get the last update of the second generation, and it’s a noticeable one. Bentley updated both the interior and the exterior making the 2015 model year the most advanced one before the latest model arrived. And interestingly, that isn’t noticeably reflected on the used prices making it that much more appealing. To top it all off, the V8 is by far the better choice compared to the W12 if one plans on driving the car on more than just an occasional Sunday. But before we explain why, check out the ones currently for sale at Exotic Car Trader if you are considering a Continental GT V8.
The initial Continental GT became the best selling Bentley in a matter of a year, and not long after the best selling Bentley ever. Until 2020, Bentley had made over 80,000 units and the V8 contributed to that number a good deal. And the Continental GT V8 builds on that initial success. In 2012, the V8 engine debuted with the second generation Continental and it quickly overtook the W12 in sales despite the initial controversy. The first Continental GT V8 had more aggressive styling and was setup slightly more for handling than for comfort which greatly appealed to younger buyers. To take it even further, the V8 S version was unveiled a year later with even more power and an even more driver oriented suspension and steering setups. Fast forward to the 2015 Continental GT V8 and the first major update was introduced with a redesigned exterior and small but noticeable interior changes. That would be the last update until 2018 when the second generation went out of production making the post 2015 model years the most advanced second generation Continentals.
The 2015 Continental GT V8 interior saw some minor changes over the earlier years, but they were enough to keep the model fresh. But before we cover the changes, one interesting thing to note is that the overall design is still pretty much the same as the first generation. That gives the 2015 Continental GT V8 a nice familiar and inviting feel. And although the excessive ambient lighting and giant screens we are accustomed to today are missing, it still has everything you need in terms of infotainment. That said, the interior looks far from outdated thanks to the new LED ambient lighting and redesigned driver controls as well as new gauge cluster graphics. The seats got tighter diamond pattern stitching for a more complex and premium look, and an additional line pattern was also made available. Other options include a sports steering wheel with bigger shifter pedals and a black shifter bezel. And of course, the interior is just as luxurious as it ever was with the finest leather covering virtually everything apart from the trim which is covered in the most exclusive and rare wood options. All in all, the 2015 Continental GT V8 design is still reminiscent of the old ‘90s and ‘00s Bentleys while still offering all the modern amenities we expect today.
Although the exterior of the first Continental GT V8 was more aggressive, it was also fairly simple. The same can’t be said for the 2015 Continental GT V8 with its new front bumper that looks much more bespoke and interesting. Starting with the lower intake which stretches the entire width of the bumper, moving on to huge side intakes and finishing with the giant Bentley grille which is still the proud center piece. The front is then riddled with mesh vents making it look much more like a supercar than before. Moreover, all the vents are finished in black as standard on the V8 further adding to the sporty look. Down the side, new wing vents in the shape of the flying B logo will grab everyone’s attention unlike the tiny V8 badge seen on earlier models. Then under the passenger door starts new chrome or black trim which can be traced to and around the rear bumper which is now lower, wider and incorporates a sportier diffuser. Overall, the sharper 2015 update lines complement the muscular Continental design perfectly, not to mention it looks noticeably more contemporary than the earlier models.
As soon as it came out, the Continental GT V8 awed everyone with its performance. As a matter of fact, looking back at it, Bentley had likely lied about its performance to make the W12 look better. For example, Bentley claimed that the 2015 Continental GT V8 as well as all other second generation V8s, would sprint to 60 in 4.3 seconds. However, during independent journalist testing, the V8 would consistently do 3.6 to 3.8 seconds and was even faster over a quarter mile than the W12 by 0.2 seconds. And all that was achieved with the Continental V8’s 500 horsepower and 487 lb-ft of torque which is a long way from the W12’s nearly 600 horsepower. Granted, the V8’s top speed was lower at 193 mph and it would likely be noticeably slower during high speed acceleration than the W12, but in the real world, that hardly matters. Furthermore, the V8 weighed nearly 200 lbs less at 5,060 lbs making much more engaging to drive. To top it all off, the V8 burns 40% less fuel making it much cheaper to run, not to mention the V8 is noticeably cheaper to maintain.
Although the W12 Continental GT cost more than the V8 when both were new, the 2015 Continental GT V8 prices are noticeably higher on average today. A brand new V8 would have cost $205,000 while a W12 would set the owner back $230,000, or $235,000 for the GT Speed. However, thanks to all the benefits you get with a V8, they go for an average of around $100,000 on the used market. Some will dip down to $90,000 but that’s about it. The W12 on the other hand, even the Speed, can sell for as little as $75,000, and that’s with relatively low miles too. Although that makes the V8 look expensive, it’s a much better all rounder despite not being the flagship.
In the end, the 2015 Continental GT V8 is, all things considered, one of the best cars to have ever come out of Bentley’s factory. The V8 offers supercar acceleration, great driving fun, and the highest levels of luxury. It’s also the smartest choice of any Bentley if you are looking to drive it more than just a few days a week thanks to its excellent fuel economy and relatively cheap maintenance. Another smart choice is buying your next luxury car through Exotic Car Trader. With escrow protection, delivery and first inspection, Exotic Car Trader eliminates all the risks associated with buying luxury vehicles while also being the most convenient method out there. The same goes if you are looking to use Exotic Car Trader for selling a car, in which case you don’t even have to worry about posting it to our website.
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