One way or the other the concept of the grand tour prevails. Its roots could 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 chic automotive: Gran Turismo. Ettore Bugatti dismissed his nice rival Bentley’s early efforts as quick lorries, however the title is synonymous with a lavish and borderline hedonistic perspective to life.
Since its arrival in 2003, the Continental GT has set the bewinged nameplate on a profitable new trajectory. With nearly 100,000 vehicles bought, 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 statement, 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-Sort Continental that offered the design inspiration, and this fourth-generation automotive 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 function a questionable horizontal “eyebrow”, with a blinding crystal lower diamond impact on the highest, and matrix lamps that incorporate 120 separate LED parts. Crystal and diamond in a single set of headlights is not 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 Velocity 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 know-how story. Out goes the stentorian outdated combustion W12, in comes an all-new powertrain—an “Extremely Efficiency Hybrid” in Bentley parlance.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 additional 187 bhp. Meaning a peak system output of 771 bhp, 738 lb ft of torque, and sufficient wallop to ship a high pace of 208 mph (335km/h) and a 0-60 time of three.1 seconds. These are heady numbers for a automotive that was all the time heavy, however now weighs an athletic human underneath 2.5 tonnes. Sheesh.
By the way, this additionally makes the Continental GT Velocity essentially the most highly effective manufacturing automotive in Bentley’s lengthy historical past.
Fortunately, the brand new automotive is extra nuanced in the way it deploys its firepower. It actually does have a powerful and thoroughly engineered bandwidth. Whereas Bentley prepares an all-new pure-electric automotive—that’s due in 2026—the hybrid takes on a higher significance than was initially forecast. “The plug-in hybrid was seen as a transitional automobile,” Bentley says, “however is taking part in an even bigger position now due to altering shopper 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.