By 2016 the second generation Continental had already been in production for five years and would soon go out of production in place of the latest model. However, in 2015 the entire Continental range got a thorough facelift making the 2016 Continental GTC V8 S look just as fresh today as it did when it came out. Changes were seen on both the exterior and interior plus the facelift included new technologies. The drivetrain remained the same but there was no need to change something that was perfect to begin with. The GTC V8 S horsepower got a nice bump over the standard model which was already impressively fast. Moreover, the V8 engine was noticeably lighter, burned half as much fuel as the W12 and was much cheaper to maintain. And since the performance of the GTC V8 S is virtually the same as the GTC W12, that makes it the best second generation Continental you can buy, and the used prices reflect that. Now, before we go into other interesting GTC V8 S details, check out the ones currently for sale at Exotic Car Trader.
After the first generation Continental GT turned out to be the best selling Bentley ever, Bentley decided it didn’t need much changing to continue into the 2010s. That’s why the second generation looks like a facelift compared to the first generation but Bentley had other plans for the platform as well. Together with the second generation, the GT and GTC V8 were unveiled sporting an all new 8 speed transmission while the W12 had due with the old six speed. Those two changes modernized the Continental substantially and kept it very much relevant in the following decade. The GT and GTC V8 far outsold the W12 models and the two models are major contributing factors to the total 80,000 Continentals made until 2020. In 2014 another model was added to the list and that was the GT and GTC V8 S which got more power, a thoroughly revised suspension, and a recalibrated transmission. The models were soon recognized as the best all around Continentals on sale. And just a year later, the second generation got a major facelift before it went out of production in 2018. That makes the 2016 Continental GTC V8 S one of the ultimate second generation Continentals.
The 2016 Continental GTC V8 S interior isn’t that much different from the early second generation models. Although a major facelift was underway in 2015, Bentley mainly focused on the exterior. Still, the interior changes are noticeable. One of those are new and bigger shifter pedals finished in metal which add to the sporty feel of the GTC V8 S. Then there was the optional sports steering wheel, and the trim around the shifter was now finished in black as standard. That was a huge improvement over the old brushed aluminum which looked like it came from an early 2000s Audi. Furthermore, the stitching pattern on the seats was slightly redesigned, and the gauge cluster graphics were now more retro futuristic. The V8 S still had dual tone interior colors as standard and while that transferred to the roof lining on the GT models, the GTCs fabric roof didn’t get the same treatment. Apart from these changes, the GTC interior is just as bespoke, luxurious and comfortable as it always was and it’s the last place where any Continental will get complaints.
The original 2012 Continental V8 had a noticeably different exterior from the W12 models. The front bumper was much more aggressive and lively and the theme spread across the entire exterior making the V8 much more appealing to younger customers. In 2015 however, the W12 and the V8 models got the same design making them much more difficult to distinguish and less bespoke. That said, the new design looked miles more modern and more interesting. The front bumper on the 2016 Continental GTC V8 S now had a much larger lower intake which stretched across the entire width of the car. The side intakes were sitting higher up and made the front look like it was ready to attack. It also featured new wing vents in the shape of the flying B logo which replaced the old V8 and V8 S logos making the side profile look much more premium. The rear got a more aggressive diffuser and the trunk lid was now in the shape of a duck tail adding to the sporty persona of the GTC V8 S. The quad oval exhausts remained and are the easiest way to distinguish the V8 from the W12 which kept its dual exhaust setup. The V8 S also got new directional 21 inch wheels and coupled with the rest of the changes it made the 2016 GTC look more contemporary than ever.
The 2016 Continental GTC V8 S doesn’t get a huge horsepower increase over the standard model, but even the standard model is dangerously close to the W12 in terms of acceleration. And since the GTC V8 S gets an additional 20 horsepower to make it 521 in total, it matches the W12 GTC’s 0-60 time of 4.3 seconds. That’s 0.2 seconds quicker than the normal V8 GTC. Even the top speed is virtually the same where the GTC V8 S can reach 192 mph while the W12 GTC gets to 195. Such great performance is achieved by the extra two gear ratios and a lower weight. The GTC V8 S weighs in at 5,501 lbs while the W12 is 110 lbs heavier. The power in the V8 S also goes through all four wheels so matching the performance isn’t that difficult of a task all things considered. The GTC V8 S is also more fun to drive than both the W12 and the standard V8. Compared to the standard V8, the V8 S sits 10 millimeters lower, has thicker anti roll bars, stiffer struts and springs and revised steering.
Back in 2016, a brand new GTC V8 S would have set the owner back a cool $220,000, and that’s before any options. The W12 GTC was around $20,000 more expensive which isn’t that much. Today, however, you can easily find W12 GTCs and even the GTC Speed models for well under six figures. The GTC V8 S on the other hand rarely dips below $100,000 while the average price is right around $110,000. While the W12 seems like a much better bargain, long term, the V8 S will end up costing much less.
Ultimately, the 2016 Continental GTC V8 S shouldn’t only be considered the last and best version of the second generation, but also of the first generation as not much had changed between them. The wonderful V8 engine was as powerful as ever in the GTC V8 S and all the revisions inside and outside make it look just as fresh today as when it rolled off the production line. To top it all off, the prices are more than acceptable considering these are still brand new cars most of which have done less than 10k miles. Now that you know just how good the Continental V8 is, buying one through Exotic Car Trader is one of the best options out there. Exotic Car Trader provides escrow protection, delivery, and inspection among other things, while also being the most convenient way of buying a luxury vehicle. The same goes for selling a car through Exotic Car Trader.
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