Luxury at the speed of light: the faster, sharper Bentley Continental GTC

Here’s the new, £149,350 Bentley Continental GTC; the drop-top sibling of the coupe Continental that was launched last year and the second evolution of the rather pleasing Continental shape we’ve enjoyed since 2006. But with more power, a sharper chassis and a tougher attitude.

The new Continental GTC will, like a whole host of other new automotive-indulgences, make its public debut at next month’s Frankfurt Motor Show; wafting the dreamy smell of the freshest of leather throughout the exhibition halls.

With that tailored, multi-layered, acoustic glass-insulated roof retracted, show punters will be able to drink-in all of Bentley’s hard interior work, with all four seats and the entire inner space expanse dripping in soft-touch leather hides, an extensive range of wood veneers, cool-touch metals and deep-pile carpets. Wonder at 17 standard leather colour choices with six colour-split combinations, complemented by a range of seven wood veneers. All handcrafted, of course. 

Stand back to enjoy GTC’s exterior tweaks; extra “assertive” thanks to more chiseled bodylines, hunkered over the standard 20-inch wheels or, for those that don’t do standard, a choice of three optional 21-inch alloy wheel styles. Footballers have probably already ticked the big-wheel-box. 

And while you’re there, take time to poke around under that deep and wide bonnet – you can’t miss it; it’s right between twin sets of piercing LED headlighting. 

The thumping 6-litre, twin-turbocharged W12 engine remains but now it benefits from a new “QuickShift” transmission with twice-as-quick gear changes, and even more power. 567bhp to be precise. More than enough to tow one’s speed boat, or even the QEII.

That incredible power and torque – there’s a little chunk more of that too – is now spilt between front and back wheels in a 40:60 fashion, rather than the previous 50:50, allowing more steer-from-the-rear, and trimming the understeer that pushed the old GTC’s front-end. A wider track, front and rear, sharper steering and retuned suspension also ups the apex-ante. 

Sounds like an absolute hoot indeed, and one can order a new Bentley Continental GTC now with deliveries to begin in late 2011. Lovely.

















By Daniel Anslow

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