Bentley has revealed the Continental GT, which is being touted as the most powerful road-going car ever to be built by the British luxury carmaker. Thanks to the death of Bentley’s long-lived W-12 engine, the fourth generation of the Continental is powered by a plug-in hybrid powertrain and gets 68 percent new components compared to the outgoing third-generation model. The Continental GT Speed trim serves as the launch vehicle for the 2025 model year car. The hybrid system powering it is similar to other high-end Volkswagen Group plug-ins, including the new Porsche Panamera, Cayenne Turbo, and Lamborghini Urus SE.
The hybrid powertrain consists of a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission capable of producing 592 hp and 590 pound-feet of torque on its own. The engine has been updated with new single-scroll turbochargers and a higher-pressure fuel injection system. An electric motor sandwiched between the V8 engine and the transmission produces 187.4 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque. As a result, the hybrid system can churn out a combined output of 779 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque. The e-motor draws power from a 25.9-kilowatt-hour battery pack mounted at the rear. Bentley says the motor can also drive the car independent of the engine up to 87mph, giving it an electric-only range of 50 miles on the European WLTP test cycle.
The new Continental GT Speed can accelerate from 0 to 60mph in 3.1 seconds on its way to a top speed of 208mph, while the convertible GTC Speed completes the 0 to 60 run in 3.2 seconds and goes all the way to 177mph. As far as the design is concerned, the fourth-generation Continental GT retains the muscular silhouette of its predecessor. However, Bentley has given the luxury Grand Tourer some major design updates. The front of the new Continental GT gets new single headlamps inspired by coachbuilt models like the Bacalar and Batur. Bentley says it’s the first production Bentley with single headlights since the 1959 S2. The rear has also been updated with new taillights that are slimmer and feature an intricate design.
The cabin of the new Continental GT features a familiar design and layout. It gets 20-way adjustable seats with a new precision quilt pattern and fading perforations. Buyers can choose from three different high-end audio systems, while the innovative Bentley Rotating Display features a 12.3-inch high-definition display, three analog dials, and handcrafted veneer. The new Bentley Continental GT Speed is also equipped with all-wheel drive with torque vectoring, all-wheel steering, and an electronic limited-slip differential on the rear axle. The pricing has yet to be revealed, but the British marquee said the model will go into production later this summer at its Dream Factory in Crewe, England. Deliveries will begin in the third quarter of 2024.
