Bentley Continental GT Speed: The beginning of a new era
First and foremost, before we get to the gist of things, happy 21st anniversary to the Bentley Continental GT Speed. It’s the model that gave us a taste of the groundbreaking W12 engine back in 2003, and since then, the engine has been an integral part of this variant until 2023, when the marque announced the end of the powerplant’s production.
Bentley is transitioning to become an EV maker by 2030 as part of its Beyond100 strategy. It plans to launch five all-electric vehicles by 2025, introducing one new EV each year.
Having said that, Bentley has revealed its fourth-generation Continental GT Speed, which, as anticipated, replaces the W12 engine with an all-new, ultra-performance hybridised 4.0-litre V8 that generates a staggering 575kW and a neck-twisting 1,000Nm of torque (91kW and 100Nm more than the W12).
In EV mode, the Continental GT Speed can travel up to 81km before the combustion engine activates, thanks to the rear-mounted 25.9kWh battery pack.
In terms of performance, it’s not slow; it’s in its name after all. It hurtles from 0-100km/h in 3.2 seconds (3.4 seconds for the GTC) before maxing out at 335km/h or 285km/h for the GT, thus making the Coupe 0.4 seconds faster than the W12-powered model.
With all four wheels driving the car, it uses an 8-speed DCT gearbox and an electronic limited-slip differential with active torque vectoring from front to rear through a centre differential.
For the first time in Continental GT history, the GTC is being introduced alongside the coupe, and both are stunners. Both models follow the familiar Continental GT Speed design language, with the biggest change being the single-headlight setup for the first time in a Bentley car since the 1950s.
A redesigned bumper, taillights, boot lid, exhaust tailpipes, and a set of new 22-inch wheels, available in a dark tint with polished accents, gloss black, or silver shade, have also altered the rear to give the model a fresh new look.
Inside, it has 20-way adjustable seats, a new precision quilt pattern that draws inspiration from contemporary fashion design for the seats and doors, and optional wellness seating with Postural Adjust function and auto climate for the front seats.
Buyers will be able to choose the new Dark Chrome Specification that adds a dark aesthetic to several areas around the cabin, and according to Bentley, Mulliner will also offer a collection of unique features for those who wish to personalise their purchase.
For music lovers, Bentley offers a choice of three audio systems: standard, Bang & Olufsen, and Naim.
As for the GTC, the seven-bow fabric roof system is available in seven exterior colours and can be opened and closed in 19 seconds at speeds up to 48km/h.
The introduction of the new Conti could mark the end of the W12 era and the start of a whole new one. The new hybridised V8 powerplant gives us something to look forward to, and looking at what the Continental GT Speed brings, it’s again poised to lead the charge as far as the GT approach is concerned.
