The Bentley Continental GT is a grand touring car manufactured and marketed by the British company Bentley Motors since 2003. The Continental GT is offered as a two-door coupé or convertible, with four seats. It was the first new Bentley released after the company's acquisition by Volkswagen AG in 1998, and the first Bentley to employ mass production manufacturing techniques. It was later joined by the Bentley Continental Flying Spur, a four-door saloon car variant.
Origin In 1994, Rolls-Royce Motors who at that time owned the Bentley brand, previewed a convertible concept car at the Geneva Motor Show – the Concept Java. The car was designed to be a smaller, more affordable Bentley, yet still exclusive in order to maintain the integrity of the brand. It was to appeal to a new range of potential buyers and generate increase sales volume for Rolls-Royce. At the time the current Bentley Continental R was an ultra-exclusive £180,000 in the UK, within reach of a very select market, selling only 200–300 units a year. The Concept Java never went into production in the form seen in 1994, although 13 cars were made for the Sultan of Brunei. However, the Bentley Continental GT realised the concept of the Java as a more affordable Bentley, manufactured in much larger volumes.
First generation (2003–2011)
Continental GT (2003–2011)
The vehicle debuted in 2002 at the Paris Motor Show, followed by Le Mans, the 2003 Goodwood Festival of Speed and the 2003 annual Bentley Drivers Club meeting at Silverstone. The car differed from the previous Continental R & T models in terms of its concept: although much of the car is hand assembled, it is a mass-produced car made in significantly larger numbers. It is not a coach-built car. The price at launch was less than half the price of the Continental R, giving the car a wider customer base.
The Continental GT is equipped with a 6.0 litre twin-turbocharged W12 engine, which produces a DIN-rated power output of at 6,100 rpm, and torque of at 1,600–6,100 rpm. A Torsen-based permanent four-wheel drive is standard. It can accelerate from in 4.8 seconds, and go on to reach a top speed of .
The Continental GT coupe features fixed front quarter glass, but no B pillar between the front and rear side windows, a design which has been carried on through all subsequent generations of the car.
Early models include a choice of 6 body colours (Diamond Black, Burnt Oak, Cypress, Neptune, Spruce, and Umbrian Red), 8 hide colours (Beluga, Burnt Oak, Laurel, Nautic, Portland, Saffron, Savannah, Saddle), 5 veneer types (Burr Oak, Burr Walnut, Dark Stained Walnut, Madrona, Piano Black) and 4 carpet and seatbelt colours (Beluga, Burnt Oak, Laurel, Nautic). The dashboard clock was made by Swiss luxury watchmaker Breitling, which Bentley commissioned in 2002.
American musician Prince owned a 2006 Continental GT Coupe in Baby Blue. Upon his death, in April 2016, the car was placed on permanent display in the sound stage at his famous Paisley Park complex in Chanhassen, Minnesota.
2005 model year update, Mulliner Driving Specification (2004–2011)
Changes to the Bentley Continental GT for 2005 include voice activation for the in-car telephone in six languages and increased interior trim options with the addition of magnolia hide, as well as carpets and seat belts that can be matched to either the main or secondary hide colour.
The Mulliner Driving Specification includes 20-inch 2-piece 7-spoke alloy sports wheels with bespoke Yokohama Advan Sport 275/35 R20 tyres, drilled alloy sports foot pedals and footrest, a gear lever finished in knurled chrome and hide, two-tone leather and veneer combinations, diamond quilted hide to facings, doors and rear quarter panels; embroidered 'Bentley' marque emblem to seat facings, indented hide headlining and dark-stained burr walnut or piano black veneer.
The vehicles went on sale in October 2004.
Continental GTC (2006–2011)
The convertible version of the Continental GT, the Continental GTC, was first presented in September 2005, and was introduced to several world markets in the autumn of 2006. The roof is produced by Karmann in Osnabrück, Germany.
The GTC uses identical powertrain detail as the GT, and can accelerate from in 5.1 seconds. With the roof up, it can reach a top speed of , though with the roof down top speed drops to .
The vehicle was unveiled at the 2006 New York International Auto Show, followed by the C. de Salamanca in Seville. The vehicle went on sale in late 2006.
2008 model year update, Continental GT Speed, Mulliner Driving Specification (2007–2011)
Changes to the Continental GT for 2008 include a reduction in kerb weight due primarily to optimisation of suspension and cooling system components and an increased use of aluminium parts in the suspension. Other changes include a revised Servotronic power steering for improved feel and feedback, optional fade-resistant carbon ceramic brakes provide improved brake feel (only available on 20-inch wheels), new, more upright front grille and larger lower air intakes give improved airflow to aid engine cooling; chromed headlamp bezels, two new exterior paint colours (Cumbrian Green and Granite), two new leather hide colours (Newmarket Tan and Cumbrian Green), new low-friction dampers, new 'Sport Traction' mode for the Bosch 8.1 ESP system and a Bentley 'B' brake pedal.
The Mulliner Driving Specification includes drilled alloy sport foot-pedals, knurled chrome/hide gear lever, diamond quilted hide to seat facings, doors and rear quarter panels.
The Continental GT Speed is a version of the Continental GT with increased engine power to and of torque. It also includes a lowered ride height, uprated spring/damper settings and uprated anti-roll bars for improved agility and body control; unique 9.5Jx20-inch wheels with bespoke Pirelli P-Zero performance tyres, retuned speed-sensitive Servotronic system, solid-mounted front subframe and stiffer rear bushings; 'Dynamic' mode for the Bosch 8.1 ESP system, front grille and lower air intakes in dark-tinted chrome matrix and wider rifled sports exhaust tail pipes.
The Continental GT Speed was unveiled at Laguna Village Polo in 2007, followed by the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show. Both the new Continental GT and GT Speed were available to order from August 2007. Additionally, 2008 model year vehicles also include a price increase over previous models.
2009 Continental GTC update, Continental GTC Speed, Mulliner Driving Specification (2009–2011)
Changes to the Continental GTC for 2009 include a new more upright front grille, larger lower air intake, chrome headlamp bezels, retuned Servotronic power steering for improved feedback and feel, new optional Follow-to-stop, radar–based Adaptive Cruise Control, optional carbon ceramic brakes with 420 mm front and 356 mm rear discs and eight-piston callipers (only available with 20 – inch wheels), two new exterior colours (Aquamarine, Blue Crystal) and a new interior colour (Aquamarine).
The Mulliner Driving Specification includes a choice of three standard veneers (Burr Walnut, Dark Stained Burr Walnut, Piano Black, drilled alloy sport foot-pedals, gear lever finished in knurled chrome and hide, diamond quilted hide to seat facings, doors and rear quarter panels; embroidered Bentley emblem to seat facings, 20-inch two-piece alloy sports wheels (GTC only) or 20-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels in Dark Tint painted finish (GTC Speed only).
The Continental GTC Speed is based on the Continental GTC with Mulliner Driving Specification. It is equipped with the engine from the Continental GT Speed as well as radiator and lower air intake grilles with a dark tinted matrix, 9.5Jx20-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels, Bentley-bespoke Pirelli PZero tyres, lowered suspension by 10 mm at the front and 15 mm, wider twin-rifled exhaust tail pipes and a new boot-mounted lip spoiler.
The vehicle was unveiled at the 2009 North American International Auto Show.
Continental GT Series 51 (2009)
The Series 51 models include additional vehicle customisation options for the Continental GT and GTC, such as use of non-indented hide for diamond quilting and contrast piping for the seats and doors as well as bespoke Series 51 treadplates. Other options include Dark and Bright 'Engine Spin' aluminium dashboard and centre console options, Amboyna veneer, colour matched overmats and boot carpets, 20-inch 14-spoke polished Diamond wheel with a dark centre cap, a signature '51' badge on the front wings and an optional two-tone paint job (with one colour running over the bonnet, roof and flowing down to the boot).
The vehicles (including a Continental GTC with Imperial Blue as a main and secondary hide, Linen seat and door inserts and Newmarket Tan as the accent colour) were unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, followed by the Continental GTC model in 2010 at the North American International Auto Show.
Ordering of Series 51 models began from 1 September 2009.
Continental Supersports (2009–2011)
In February 2009, Bentley announced a limited production of the Bentley Continental Supersports. The car was unveiled at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show, announced by Jay Leno, to be available in autumn 2009 worldwide, followed by FlexFuel-compatible models in North America by summer 2010.
The first Bentley capable of running on both motor spirit and biofuel (E85 ethanol), its 6.0 litre W12 engine is rated at at 6,000 rpm and at 1,700–5,600 rpm – using either fuel. The car can accelerate from in 3.7 seconds and in 8.9 seconds, with a top speed of . This made it the fastest and the most powerful production Bentley ever at the time of production. The Supersports was already known as the best handling Bentley. Bentley says the Supersports can deliver 1.29 g forces on a skid pad, as compared to its sibling the Continental GT speed, which can perform up to 0.98 g forces on a skid pad.
It includes a revised ZF 6HP 28A tiptronic automatic with a "Quickshift" system that reduces shift times by 50%, and enables double downshifts. The car uses a Torsen T-3 centre differential for the 40:60 rear-biased torque split for the four-wheel drive system. Other changes include revised Continuous Damping Control (CDC), 20-inch lightweight alloy wheels (with increased offset on rear wheels) with 275/35 ZR20 Pirelli Ultra High Performance tyres, advanced Bosch Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) with switchable Dynamic Mode, Carbon fibre-reinforced Silicon Carbide (C/SiC) ceramic disc brakes (claimed to be the largest brakes ever fitted to a production car at the time of production), weight saving over Continental GT Speed and an automatic retractable spoiler (deploys at ).
The US model has an MSRP of approximately US$270,000, with early vehicles not having E85 capability, which would be available in summer of 2010 for the US market.
Continental Supersports Convertible (2010–2011)
The Continental Supersports Convertible is a convertible version of the Continental Supersports coupe. It features a revised version of the ZF 6HP 26 transmission with "Quickshift," cutting shift times by 50% and enabling double downshifts. The convertible also gets new, lightweight 20-inch alloy wheels that are lighter than the standard wheel.
The vehicle was unveiled at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. The US model went on sale in Summer of 2010 for $280,400.
Second generation (2011–2018)
Continental GT W12 (2011–2018) The vehicle was unveiled at the 2010 Paris Motor Show.
Ordering of the Continental GT began in October 2010, with deliveries of 2011 Continental GT beginning in the first quarter of 2011.
Continental GT V8 (2012–2018)