Motoring review: Bentley Continental GT Coupe

Last month’s pages of Compass gave a sneak peak of the new Bentley Continental GT Coupe which was recently unveiled at Bentley Hampshire’s New Forest showroom.

The Continental GT was first brought into the market back in 2003 and delivered great results for the marque, while at the same time shaking up the luxury coupe sector. Eight years on and Bentley has built on this success delivering something very special indeed. If you are in the market for a car offering staggering performance, high-tech engineering and elegant design then look no further. This is a powerful, all-wheel drive, four-seater supercar providing that unparalleled Bentley driving experience.

From a distance you could be forgiven for thinking not much has changed to the exterior design; up close it becomes clear the latest coupe has changed completely. The classic Bentley matrix radiator grille is more upright and the smart headlamp design, in traditional four-lamp format, has jewel-like detailing including LED daylight-running lamps. Towards the rear ‘floating’ LED lights extend around the corner of the wings, emphasising its width and purposeful stance. Bentley have also used the state of the art technique of superforming, as used on the latest Mulsanne, to create more precise lines.

Internally the coupe is classic Bentley; beautifully handcrafted using the finest leathers and wood veneers alongside the most up-to-date technology. The new touch-screen technology with voice activation and ‘say what you see’ logic is seamless and enables the driver full access to all of this new functionality while still focusing on the drive. It operates everything from the car’s audio system through to the ride and comfort settings and, of course, the very latest navigation system and telephone.

Under the bonnet lies Bentley’s acclaimed 12-cylinder, 6-litre power unit re-engineered to provide even more supercar performance. With the help of the new six-speed quickshift taken from the Supersports and the option to use the paddleshift behind the wheel, gear change times have been reduced by 50 per cent resulting in a 0-60 time of 4.4 secs and a top speed of 198mph. This is transmitted to the road via a rear-biased four-wheel drive set-up which gives the GT a great advantage when things get a little slippery. Advanced ESP stability control technology helps, too, with its Sport Traction mode allowing extra scope for the driver to enjoy the car’s handling with the safety net still in place.

When the need takes you for a little more right-footed fun the transition from luxury coupe to true supercar is staggering. Suspension can be stiffened to cope with more aggressive cornering while the torque constantly on tap is unparalleled and deliverable at any speed. The quickshift transmission is flawless delivering instant results and also allows double downshifts; for example shifting from sixth to fourth ensuring that you are always in the right gear at the right time for a truly involving driving experience.

Bentley is a true supercar delivering staggering performance and handling yet it is also tamed for day to day driving. For those concerned about fuel economy, Bentley have developed FlexFuel which gives the W12 engine the option to run on bioethanol (E85), petrol, or any mix of the two fuels from the same tank without compromise to performance.

Essentials

Price £135,760
0-60mph 4.4-4.6sec
Max speed 198mph
Insurance group 20
Length 4806mm
Width 1944mm

Address Book:

Bentley Hampshire
Bramshaw, New Forest
023 8081 3206
www.bentleymotors.com/
bentleyhampshire

Members Comments

There are no comments for this article.

Add a Comment

Please log in to post a comment.