Ever since VW took over Bentley, all new models that came out were considerably cheaper and more sensible than those that came under Rolls Royce. And since that recipe turned out to be a great success, it makes sense that Bentley decided to double down on it. And in 2013, both the Continental GT and the Continental GTC got a new V8 engine as an entry level alternative to the huge W12. While the twin turbocharged V8 engine wasn’t as powerful, it wasn’t too far off either. At the same time, the lighter V8 made the 2013 Continental GTC much lighter on its feet making it more fun to drive. And with a lower initial price, plus substantially lower running costs, the V8 was a much smarter choice, especially for the convertible GTC. The best proof of that is the fact that today the V8 GTCs cost about the same as the W12 GTCs. But of course there is much more to it than that as we will discover. But before that, just a quick reminder that Exotic Car Trader almost always has a few V8 GTCs up for grabs so check out what’s available at the moment in case you are looking to buy one.
Bentley has been using virtually nothing but V8 engines for more than half a century. Those V8 engines would later get one, and then two turbochargers. But once VW took over, the models that came from it all used its W12 engine, including the Flying Spur, GT and the GTC. And after a decade in production, Bentley took those models back in time and gave them a twin turbocharged V8 like the Bentleys of old. However, the four liter V8 engine had nothing to do with the 6.75 liter Bentley unit. The engine is entirely built by Audi and today goes into virtually all brands in the VAG group including Audi, Porsche, Lamborghini, VW, and of course, Bentley. The first time Bentley got the engine was in 2013 when the facelifted GTs and GTCs began rolling off the production line. And that same basic engine is still found in the latest GTCs, GTs and even Bentayga's. As for the GTC, the model saw virtually as much success as the GT when it first came out in 2007 making it one of the best selling Bentley models ever made with over 80,000 GT and GTC examples made.
Bentley marketed the 2013 Continental GTC as an all new model despite it sharing most of its parts with the first generation. That said, the 2013 model did get a heavily revised interior among other things. The first generation GTC which traced its roots back to 2004 was heavily outdated no more than a year or two after it came out. The 2013 GTC however, still looks very much modern even today. In large part that’s thanks to a more modern infotainment system which wouldn’t look out of place even in some modern cars. Furthermore, it got a much more attractive, three spoke steering wheel and a redesigned gauge cluster with a bigger and more modern BC screen. Apart from that, the 2013 GTC still very much resembles the first generation. The overall design is virtually identical and the right materials are still in all the right places, or maybe we should just say, in all the places. And of course, the beautiful analog Breitling clock still sits proud on top of the dashboard. Overall, the 2013 GTC interior is still easily recognizable while looking generations ahead of the older model.
The exterior of the 2013 Continental GTC V8 is almost identical to that of the W12 model. One of few noticeable differences include the front bumper which on the V8 has much bigger side intakes and looks considerably more aggressive. The front end also features new redesigned headlights where the outer ones are now noticeably smaller. Looking straight into its eyes the 2013 GTC almost resembles the Mulsanne. The side profile remained the same apart from new wheels. Virtually all V8 GTCs have sportier wheels with thinner spokes which are brushed over black, a major trend still persisting today. And looking at it from the back, the only clue that you are looking at a V8 GTC are the quad oval exhausts, of which there are only two on the W12. All these subtle changes make the V8 look much sportier helping it appeal more to the younger crowds. The W12 on the other hand, looks more grown up, and by default, less attractive.
The V8 engine found in the 2013 Continental GTC V8 is one of the best engines made in the past decade. The V8 is all things an engine should be, powerful, light and efficient. The one in the GTC makes a healthy 500 horsepower and impressive 487 lb-ft of torque which is just 29 less than what the W12 of the same generation makes. The 2013 GTC also gets the new eight speed automatic transmission and the power still goes to all four wheels. All these features combined shoot the GTC to 60 in just 4.7 seconds which is marginally slower than the W12 GTC and onto a top speed of around 190 mph. Another reason the GTC V8 is so quick is because it weighs 5,445 lbs which is nearly 200 lbs less than the GTC with a W12 engine. Furthermore, the GTC V8 has cylinder deactivation and more economical tires, which combined with the lower weight, makes it use 40% less fuel than the W12. Not to mention the V8 also stops and handles better since losing weight is always universally good.
Back in 2013, the Continental GTC V8 had a starting price of $193,300 while the W12 GTC was nearly $240,000. Today however, both the W12 and V8 GTCs go for around $70,000 to $90,000 in decent condition and low miles. That’s quite a price drop for the V8 and an even bigger one for the W12. Today then, you might be tempted to go for the flagship W12, after all, they are the same price. But once more, the V8 is just as fun to drive, if not more, almost as fast, and much, much cheaper to run especially when we include maintenance and repairs. On top of everything, the V8 sounds miles better, which is pretty important for a convertible.
Ultimately, the 2013 Continental GTC V8 is arguably the most sensible Bentley you can buy at the moment. The first generations are much cheaper, but they also look like they are from the early 2000s, especially inside. The newer ones on the other hand still demand well over six figures, while the W12 is ridiculously expensive to run with little to no benefits. All that makes the GTC V8 the sweet spot. If you are still looking to buy a GTC V8, Exotic Car Trader can help you a great deal. When it comes to buying cars through Exotic Car Trader, you get full escrow protection, plus delivery and first inspection taken care of. All you need to do is make a quick online offer and wait for it to get accepted. The same goes if you are selling a car with Exotic Car Trader only in that case we also send a professional photographer to your address.
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