In some way the thought of the grand tour prevails. Its roots might lie within the aristocratic 17th and 18th century marketing campaign for self-improvement, however we all know it higher as a two-letter abbreviation affixed to the rump of a sublime automobile: Gran Turismo. Ettore Bugatti dismissed his nice rival Bentley’s early efforts as quick lorries, however the identify is synonymous with a lavish and borderline hedonistic angle to life.
Since its arrival in 2003, the Continental GT has set the bewinged nameplate on a profitable new trajectory. With nearly 100,000 automobiles offered, the stakes are excessive. So this newest incarnation doesn’t mess an excessive amount of with the post-modern aesthetic. As per Ettore’s waspish remark, a century on from Bentley’s Le Mans 24 hours-winning behemoth, the Continental coupe and convertible retain a sure heft.
It was really 1952’s R-Kind Continental that supplied the design inspiration, and this fourth-generation automobile maintains the strident grille, elongated bonnet, and the flamboyant sweep of the rear fenders. A robust sense of opulence is underpinned by a steely dedication to excessive efficiency.
The proportions stay intact, however among the particulars have been modified. The headlights now characteristic a questionable horizontal “eyebrow”, with a stunning crystal lower diamond impact on the highest, and matrix lamps that incorporate 120 separate LED components. Crystal and diamond in a single set of headlights isn’t any imply feat.
On the rear, the bumper, tail-lights, trunk lid and exhaust pipes have all been redesigned. The trunk lid can be extra aerodynamic in type to obviate the necessity for a spoiler whereas nonetheless delivering the suitable ranges of downforce. A type as voluptuous as this wants large wheels to do its finest work—and the Continental GT Pace will get new 22-inch rims with a “turbine” impact. It’s all very dashing.
Hybrid, With EV Mode
{Photograph}: Bentley Motors
However the actual juice right here is in how Bentley has amplified the expertise story. Out goes the stentorian previous combustion W12, in comes an all-new powertrain—an “Ultra Performance Hybrid” in Bentley parlance.
It combines a 4.0-liter twin turbo V8 that’s good for 584 bhp with an electrical motor that provides an extra 187 bhp. Which means a peak system output of 771 bhp, 738 lb ft of torque, and sufficient wallop to ship a prime pace of 208 mph (335km/h) and a 0-60 time of three.1 seconds. These are heady numbers for a automobile that was all the time heavy, however now weighs an athletic human beneath 2.5 tonnes. Sheesh.
By the way, this additionally makes the Continental GT Pace probably the most highly effective manufacturing automobile in Bentley’s lengthy historical past.
Fortunately, the brand new automobile is extra nuanced in the way it deploys its firepower. It actually does have an impressive and thoroughly engineered bandwidth. Whereas Bentley prepares an all-new pure-electric automobile—that’s due in 2026—the hybrid takes on a higher significance than was initially forecast. “The plug-in hybrid was viewed as a transitional vehicle,” Bentley says, “but is playing a bigger role now because of changing consumer habits.”
To paraphrase, high-net-worth people with multi-car garages aren’t particularly enamoured of high-end EVs, no matter how excessive their efficiency is perhaps. Ferrari’s long-awaited BEV lands in 2025; maybe that’ll be the one which lastly strikes the needle.
