Bentley threw a small birthday party to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Continental GT, also because the iconic W12 engine was about to be retired. Yes, it's time to drive these three generations of luxury sports cars.
Oh, it's a question about perspective. The view from the steering wheel of a car is undoubtedly one of the best angles to admire. Today, I'm driving the first generation of the Bentley Continental GT. It was a well-preserved first-hand car, which the manufacturer paid £30,000 for the car that had been driven for 25,000 miles. A little clumsy by inserting keyholes in the wide doors, the mega sports car then takes you into an elegant circle, even if it may not be so easy to understand.
In 1998, the year it was acquired by Volkswagen, Bentley delivered a total of 414 vehicles. From the presentation of the Continental GT Concept at the Paris Motor Show on 26 September 2002 to the launch of the production version at the Geneva Motor Show on 5 March 2003, Bentley received more than 3,200 orders. It can be said that it is a real big seller, especially for the 60-liter W12 engine in terms of displacement.
In any case, just press the "low-profile" start button on the left side of the wide centre console, next to the split armrest, and the engine will start working immediately. It's easy to find a comfortable sitting position, and the faint smell of spices and polished leather melts away any discomfort. In such an environment, fine wood decoration or inlay veneer is essential. The Continental GT starts with a powerful, low-pitched roar that quickly lowers the four windows for more direct enjoyment of the sound. Especially now, the soft mint smell and warm summer air make the aroma in the cockpit even stronger. Adrian Hallmark explained earlier: "The Continental GT should make Bentley more accessible. ”
At that time, the current head of the brand was involved in the development and sales of the coupe as a member of the sales and marketing board of directors. What do you say? "Well, it was £110,000 when it came on the market, which was £40,000 cheaper than the average Bentley model at the time. "In Germany, it's sold for just under 180,000 euros – that's a perspective. Now, the brand is often featured not only in the ** videos of rap stars, but also in their lyrics, which may not be what the British want to see. At the end of the day, though, these customers are definitely one of the most affluent groups. Personal opinion: Cypress Hill's "Rap Superstar" is a beautiful reflection on the industry from the lyric point of view.
But today, none of the three Continental models have their audio systems turned on. From the second generation of models (which ended up being more like 1.Version 5), this 2017 710hp supersports was found in the factory area, just in the corner between developing the prototype. And what about the third? It's a current Mulliner W12 Speed. It is fully personalised, especially in terms of color, with different shades of purple, lilac and magenta.
This is back to the topic of rap. "You want to look trendy in your Bentley" (from Cypress Hill) – apparently a lot of people want that, given the $10 a year delivery proposed by Ferdinand Pi Ch The target of 000 vehicles was achieved in 2007.
This is obviously due to the reputable engine, as only a handful of companies such as Mercedes, Ferrari and Aston Martin introduced the V12 coupe at the time of the Continental's appearance. "There were only a maximum of 800 a year," Homack recalls. Despite the fact that the body weight of the Continental GT is more than 23 tons, but the last 20 years have barely diminished the power of the Bentley engine. With 560 hp and 650 Nm, it's not just a little powerful, it's powerful, mainly limited by the excessive steering angle and relatively cautious suspension feedback. That's great! Why? Because this Continental sports car doesn't excite you, **you, or excite your desires. Although in the hairpin bend of the border region of France and Switzerland, its grip is really strong. Instead, allow yourself to harness, hear, taste, feel, and appreciate.
It's like a moving painting, with fascinating imperfections, such as the graphics of a display that appears to have been drawn by a child. Maybe it's a different type of entertainment system? Entertaining, of course. The Continental is also considered revolutionary, as it has 35 control units, compared to only 4 of the elegance that is a "relic" of the pre-mass era. Of course, connoisseurs may raise objections, as the coupe is nothing more than a new Volkswagen phaeton body.
Homack disagrees: "Only 17% of the parts of the two cars are the same. Indeed, he should know this. But the boss clarified: "If there was no group alliance, there would be no car." We could have replaced the Phaeton with an Audi A8. Above all, though, it is very important to have the best relationship within the company so that ES can meet our requirements in all areas of quality. Still, the delivery was a full six months late. Who or what is causing this? "It's not a big deal, it's a lot of little things. A car like this with a W12 engine, four-wheel drive system and four seats simply didn't exist before. As a result, the model gradually became the face of the brand and formed a whole family: the convertible and the Flying Spur were introduced, and in 2007 the Speed version with 610 hp was introduced.
In 2011, the second generation model came out, which was actually more of a complete refinement of the first generation. Only its successor can be considered a completely new design, taking over the motor of the rear window regulator only from the previous generation. However, it also depends on different perspectives. However, each refinement has a common goal: to achieve a more dynamic driving performance, both on the respective base model and on some derivative models.
One of them is Supersports. Of course, 710 hp sounds strong enough, but 1017 Nm of maximum torque is even more powerful. Isn't it? The coupe can reach a top speed of 336 km/h. Why such an "arms race"? Because the management wanted to tie the brand to motorsport from the very beginning, as the founders used to do. While Bentley initially financed its own Le Mans prototype project, it later competed in the GT3 class. Therefore, it makes perfect sense to transplant the image of the Bentley to a road car.
OMG, these powerful coupes look spectacular, a bit like Canadian snowplows, as they make their way through the starting block made up of well-trained race cars, and they're quite successful. In any case, Supersports has clearly proven itself to be a "master" of dynamics. The interiors are not suitable for those cosy country house settings, but what is for them? Alcantara, aluminium and carbon fibre, of course.
Equally clear is the sound. In the motion program of the eight-speed automatic transmission, there is a "snort" sound, especially when downshifting before cornering. In corners, the direct steering is followed by ......Well, what exactly? Such a continent is still big and heavy, slightly difficult to master, which is why it is better to keep the direction unchanged.
What do you think? Well, you're now more restrained, less emphasizing subtle subtleties and enjoying that "as long as I want, I can too" feeling. If you want to, the seat is firmly gripped, the body posture lines are accurate, and it is only at the last minute that understeer occurs. In the 2017 production year, the Continental family already includes a number of top-heavy and popular V8 models, which were the result of the 2008 and 2009 financial crises. It's not a joke, it's more of a matter of perspective. Back in 2016, Bentley asked brand customers and non-customers if they could imagine buying an electric Bentley in the next five years, and only 16% of them did. In 2021, that figure reached 63%. "Then you have to ask yourself, are you relying on the majority or are you risking your life to serve the few, hoping that policy will change its mind in terms of internal combustion engine targets," Hormack said. That's why Bentley will only produce all-electric models from 2030.
Bentley plans to end its mission with the W12 engine in April this year, although since 2015 it has been possible to shut down half of the cylinders when needed in order to conserve resources (from a certain point of view). In the current Speed model, the engine produces 659 hp and 900 Nm of maximum torque at 1,500 rpm. What about the exterior and interior? More elegant and sturdier than the original model; Just by closing the door, you'll feel like you're towing a jet ski to the dock instead of just a catamaran. Bentley shares some chassis components with the Porsche Panamera, even including the electromechanical anti-roll bar.
Yes, you can, and you can do it. In the first race held on the Anglesey circuit, which is always a little wet in Wales, the behemoth was almost unusually nimble. But today, country roads, in Switzerland. Don't take any risks, it's best to enjoy the slightly citrusy scent of the new leather and ignore its unique color options.
They had to isolate the engine very far away. Too far? For direct comparison, yes. This is because partial electrification (starting with mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid models at the end of 2024) will begin soon, culminating in the all-electric Continental GT. When exactly will it happen? Now there can only be silence.
But "at least twice as much power as before, that's remarkable, isn't it?" Homack asked. Sure, but maybe too much? However, this is again a matter of perspective.