Read our review for more details on the 2015 Bentley Continental GT
Launched in coupe form for the 2005 model year, the Continental has seen increases to power and re-touches to its aesthetics, but little in the way of fundamental mechanical change.
The basics of the $185,000 coupe and $200,000 convertible are shared with the Flying Spur sedan. Though the two-doors have a much shorter wheelbase, they share the engine, transmission, all-wheel-drive system, and other performance pieces with the four-door Spur. All cars originally used a 6.0-liter, twin-turbocharged twelve-cylinder engine in which the cylinders are arranged not in a V shape, but as a W—basically two narrow-angle V-6 engines mounted side by side with a common crank. This spares some room under the hood, and produces power just as copiously and as smoothly as a conventional V-12.
In the first generation, which was sold until the 2011 model year with one exception, the standard W-12 engine produced 552 horsepower, and a 0–60-mph acceleration time of about 5 seconds, even though the cars each weighed more than 5500 pounds. Updated Speed editions saw power rise to 600 hp, while 60-mph acceleration times fell below 5 seconds and top speed on coupes rose to 195 mph. A Supersports model added on 21 more horsepower, for a 0–60 time of 3.7 seconds, and a manufacturer-rated top speed of 204 mph; an ISR special edition reached 631 horsepower. Each version used a six-speed, paddle-operated automatic transmission. Each also rode on an independent suspension, with power shuffled to the wheels via all-wheel drive with a Torsen differential. Fuel economy in the Continental GT in this generation was a very low 10/17 mpg, mitigated only a little by the flex-fuel capability of all versions.
Among the myriad convenience and luxury features on the Continental were a marvelous convertible lid on the GTC versions that folded closed or open in 25 seconds, at the touch of a switch. Lavish interior materials distinguished this Continental range even from the Ferraris and Maseratis of the world, and a 1000-watt Naim audio system was on the options list for a mere $6000 or so. The Mulliner trim package of quilted leather, knurled chrome and turned aluminum trim, was a highlight of modern-day automobile construction.
In the 2012 model year, Bentley updated the Continental GT and GTC with slightly revised styling, and made a 567-hp version of the W-12 standard. A quicker shifting pattern and a revised torque bias, to 40:60, for the all-wheel-drive system were matched with slightly more sporty handling. The Speed editions were dropped for the 2012 model year, but the Supersports GTC models were carried over intact from the 2011 model year, without the cosmetic and mechanical changes.
A new V-8 drivetrain became available for the 2013 model year, with a net output of 500 horsepower. It is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Because the V-8 is lighter, Bentley says performance nearly rivals that of the W-12 car, while fuel economy is up to 40 percent higher.
Also for 2013, the Speed model returned, in both Coupe and Convertible form. Unveiled at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show, the new Continental GT Speed Convertible offers figures to match the Coupe: a stout 616 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque, enabling 4.1-second 0–60-mph acceleration and a top speed of 202 mph. The GT Speed Coupe accelerates to 60 mph in 4.0 seconds and hits a 205-mph top speed.
For the 2014 model year, Bentley added yet another model to the lineup with the Continental GT and GTC V8 S versions. They use a higher-output version of the twin-turbocharged V-8 that produces 521 horsepower and 502 pound-feet of torque, carrying less weight than the W-12 version. Then, for 2015, Bentley updated the GT Speed, currently the most powerful in the lineup with 626 horsepower and 607 lb-ft from its W-12 engine, increases of 10 hp and 27 lb-ft compared to the previous Speed coupe and droptop.
Also in 2015, Bentley will offer a very limited run of Continental GT3-R models. Power comes from a 592-hp version of the GT V-8 S's twin-turbo eight-cylinder. Bentley has shed 220 pounds form that model, in part by removing the rear seat, which creates what should be the quickest Conti yet. Only 300 copies of this racy Continental will be built and sold globally.
Continuing the pace of yearly updates, the 2016 Continental GT receives a bit of a makeover, albeit a subtle one. Up front, noticeable changes include a smaller grille, vents carved into the fenders, and a revised bumper design. In back, there's a new bootlid design for all models, while the GT Speed and V8 S models receive a new diffuser-looking lower valance. Inside, gauges faces evolve, the steering-wheel diameter shrinks, and WiFi is available as an option. The W-12 also gets a bit of a power bump, for grand totals of 582 hp and 531 lb-t of torque.
Bentley is treating its Continental GT family of coupes and convertibles to a host of interior and exterior changes, as well as a power bump for the W-12 engine. The tweaks arrive with the 2016 model year—which means fall deliveries for U.S. customers.
Up front, the 2016 models sport a smaller grille, a new bumper, and redesigned fenders that incorporate the obligatory side gills, here adorned with the “B” logo. At the rear, a new bumper dons more chrome, and a lower diffuser is added on V8 S and GT Speed models. There’s also a reshaped trunk lid and new 20- and 21-inch wheel designs.
Interior updates include a smaller steering wheel, a revised center console, new gauge faces, and available Wi-Fi. The seats, upholstered in softer leather or available faux suede, now have a new stitching pattern—although rest assured, diamond quilting is still available.
The W-12 engine has been goosed from 567 horsepower to 582, while torque is up by 15 lb-ft to 531. The addition of cylinder deactivation—which the unchanged-for-2016 V-8 already had—allows the W-12 to run as a six-cylinder in moments of lesser urgency. (The fuel-saving feature, but not the extra output, comes also to the Flying Spur sedan’s available W-12. The four-door also gets some of the interior updates, and the Wi-Fi connectivity, but none of the styling tweaks.)
Although the new power and torque figures remain shy of the 12-cylinder Continental GT Speed—which corrals 626 horses and 607 lb-ft—they do nose ahead of the GT3-R. Although, to be fair, that racy two-seater has two-thirds the cylinder count.
Indeed, the GT3-R’s use of the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 rather than the traditional W-12 led some to speculate that Bentley might be ushering its 12-cylinder powerplant toward the exit, at least in the two-door Continentals. But the engine’s update for 2016 suggests that the Flying B brand intends to keep both of its twin-turbo offerings around, at least for a while.
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