The Continental GT is hugely fast, reaching 60mph from rest in 4.6 seconds, before hitting 198mph
Specifications Model tested: Bentley Continental GT 6.0 W12 Auto Price as tested: £120,500 (£120,500 - £137,500) Insurance group as tested: 20E CO2 emissions as tested: 410g/km (Band G, £400) Average range CO2 emissions: 410g/km Company car tax %: 35% EuroNCAP result: N/A Date tested: August 2008 Road tester: Stuart Milne
Auto Trader Ten Point Test rating: 84%
The Bentley Continental GT heralded a new dawn for the British luxury car marque. It was the first Bentley built under the stewardship of Volkswagen, so it was a car that simply had to be right. In fact, it was the first all-new, unique Bentley design for 70 years, and the most significant since the very first Bentley; the 3-litre from 1919.
On paper, it was clear it was one of the truly great Bentleys, offering a near 200mph top speed, four seats and lashings of wood, chrome and leather. Of course, £120,000 is a lot of money, but Bentley maintains it is a lot of car.
We spent a week with one to find out if the Bentley Continental GT deserves the hype.
Compared to most other Bentleys built over the last few decades; the Continental GT is quite restrained. It eschews the square statesmanlike look of the Arnage, Azure and Brooklands for more curved and flowing lines. The front still features the large chrome grille for which Bentleys are known, and has the large round headlights shared with its siblings, the Arnage, Azure, Brooklands and Flying Spur. The pillarless coupe's sides end with a pair of rear haunches like a cat about to pounce and the rear lights have elliptical LED light arrangements. At high speed (or at the flick of a switch), a discreet spoiler pops up from the base of the rear window forcing the car onto the road. The looks are finished off with a set of 19 inch alloy wheels.
There's no mistaking the Continental GT's cabin for anything other than a Bentley. It appears as it hasn’t been simply built, more crafted by skilled engineers. There are lashings of high quality leather and wood veneer covering virtually every surface, and most of the controls are either chrome or chrome edged. Most of the ancillary controls can be operated via the buttons on the steering wheel (which feel cheap compared with the rest of the car – one of very few faults we found with the cabin), or via the central colour screen in the centre console. One standout feature is the Breitling analogue clock mounted in the middle of the dashboard.
The Bentley Continental GT is a huge car, but that means plenty of space to allow occupants, plus luggage, to traverse continents with ease. There's plenty of space for the driver and front passengers' head, arms and legs, and there's enough room in the back for two adults to sit in relative comfort for short journeys. The sweeping roofline means access to the rear seats can be tricky for larger passengers. There's a commanding, upright driving position, and it's easy to get comfortable, thanks to electrically-adjustable front seats and steering wheel. The boot measures 370 litres thanks to Bentley's decision to relocate the fuel tank to under the car's floor rather than between the boot and rear seat.
Tipping the scales at 2.3 tonnes, you could be forgiven for thinking the Bentley Continental GT is capable of straight line cruising and not a lot else. In fact, the super coupe offers masses of traction with its wide tyres and four-wheel drive setup; and, in its sport setting, plenty of feel through the steering wheel. In its comfort setting, the wheel can be turned with a single finger, although driving enthusiasts may bemoan the lack of feel. Even on rough motorway surfaces, the car remains quiet and refined, thanks to a huge amount of sound proofing (including double glazed windows). Bentley has equipped the Continental GT with height and ride adjustable suspension to optimise the stunning level of ride comfort.
Bentley chose the Volkswagen Group's 6-litre W12 for the Continental GT; the world's most compact 12-cylinder engine. It's effectively two 3-litre V6 engines welded together, and with two turbochargers, develops 552bhp and 479lb/ft of pulling power at just 1,600rpm; a speed where most engines are just idling. This power means the Continental GT is hugely fast, reaching 60mph from rest in 4.6 seconds, before hitting 198mph. Bentley claims the gearbox is the most advanced of its type in the world, and makes smooth but fast gearshifts, and can be operated via the gearstick or by steering wheel-mounted paddles. The car also stops well, thanks to its huge 400mm front brake discs, which are among the largest in the world.
Running a Continental GT isn't for the faint of heart. Its £120,000-plus price tag is backed up by group 20 insurance, £400 a year tax (its CO2 emissions of 410g/km mean a £400 a year bill) and a fuel consumption figure of just 17mpg. Relative rarity and continued demand for used models ensure its used values are strong, with it retaining around 58 per cent of its new price after three years/36,000 miles. Servicing is every 10,000 miles, which is more frequent than most cars and when you come to sell, a book of main dealer – or respected specialist service stamps will be essential.
Every manufacturer that's come under the wing of Volkswagen has had its quality improved. Lamborghini is proof of that. The Continental GT feels well built, and using many proven mechanicals should make for painless ownership.
There's no EuroNCAP crash test data, but the Bentley Continental GT packs ABS, hydraulic brake assist (HBA), electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), traction control and electronic stability programme (ESP) as standard. Additionally it has MSR Drag Control which ensures constant, swift deceleration, ensuring the wheels don't lock up. It also features front, side and curtain airbags.
Buyers can specify an almost limitless number of options and a staggering 17 different colours of leather hide, but there's a good basic level of equipment. Burr walnut veneer and soft leather attached to virtually every surface, keyless entry, DVD-based satellite navigation, 6 CD autochanger in the glovebox, Bluetooth telephone integration, electronic parking brake, electrically operated heated leather seats with memory function, multi-zone climate control, rear armrest with air-con controls, automatic wipers, bright bi-xenon headlamps, cruise control and tyre pressure monitoring all come as standard.
The most significant Bentley in its history has widened the appeal of the Crewe-based car maker, taking it away from the old-school appeal of the Arnage and bringing it to a whole new market.
The Continental GT is hugely fast, reaching 60mph from rest in 4.6 seconds, before hitting 198mph
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