Bentley Continental GT Speed Review

"There's no replacement for displacement", so the saying goes. 

And for a long time, that was true. When the Bentley Continental GT was first introduced in 2003, power came from a 6.0-litre W12 engine, with the highest-performing model bestowed the 'Speed' moniker. And for three generations, the W12 endured. 

The fourth generation Bentley Continental GT gets a heavy dose of electric assistance

But in this age of electrification, there is perhaps a replacement for displacement.

This is the new fourth generation Bentley Continental GT, and the headline here is that it's the most powerful road-going Bentley ever produced. Debuting in Speed specification, the W12 is no more. It's not quite all-electric, but electric assistance has its fingerprints all over this car. 

Under the bonnet resides a 591bhp V8 engine, but a plug-in hybrid system brings total output up to 771bhp and 1,000Nm of torque

Two worlds

This car marks the debut of Bentley's Ultra Performance Hybrid powertrain - a plug-in hybrid system that marries a 591bhp V8 motor to a 140kW electric motor. System output stands at a whopping 771bhp and 1,000Nm of torque (ONE THOUSAND!), which helps the car punch through 100km/h in 3.2 seconds (eat your heart out, new BMW M5). 

Performance is frankly absurd - the combined might of both systems make for immediate response to throttle inputs. Where a large capacity engine typically needs some 'winding up', here power is deployed expeditiously.

The cross-over between systems is also well-executed such that you don't feel it - you only hear the V8 waking up. And when it does, it swells to a meaty crescendo. In Sport mode, it even crackles when you let off the throttle. 

The plug-in hybrid system affords quietly gentle drives with a calm right foot, yet also frantic pace when you are feeling frisky

The plug-in hybrid system is a stand-out - seamlessly toggling between rabid pace when you demand it, but also gentler cruises for when you are not thumbing your nose at speed limits. 

Beyond just straight line pace, the new Continental GT also demonstrates better agility, chiefly helped by a better weight distribution (lighter engine up front, heavy batteries at the back). At the helm, it feels a more responsive car.

There's also greater sophistication underneath - four-wheel steering, twin chamber dampers, active anti-roll, even an electronic diff. The result is a car that's much easier to drive than it should be, more nimble than you expect it to be. You would never mistake this for an 'exciting' car to drive, but it can now be hustled along with much more vigour. Impressive. 

You can toggle between three pre-set modes, or use the custom mode to set up the car in your preferred manner

Interesting detail: Not only does the assistance graphic show you oncoming vehicles in your blind spot, the lane even curves to match the outside curvature of the road

But its fundamental nature of cruising comfort hasn't changed - in fact you could make the case that it has gotten better, more sophisticated. The ability to switch to electric mode adds a new level of refinement and serenity. 

Even electric mode is grunty enough to move this quite hefty car easily. Bentley claims 80km of all-electric range, though realistically you should expect about 60km. But no one is buying this car as an 'eco-conscious' choice - it might be a tad cleaner, but ultimately this is electrification employed to enhance performance. 

Chic quality

Atop this heavily revised mechanical package is a shell that's more familiar, though with a few bold changes. The most obvious one is the head lights - for the first time since the 1950s, this model does away with the rather iconic quad-eye head light setup. In its place is a bold cluster with sort of an 'eyebrow' extending out of it. It does make the car look 'fiercer', and with the more sharply pinched lines at the front accentuate a sense of sportiness. I just wish the front camera cluster was less obtrusively positioned within the front grille (it looks a bit like a rogue pimple on an otherwise smooth face).

The overall shape of the car hasn't changed much, which isn't a bad thing. It's still a deeply compelling car to look at (looks at the car's hips!). And this Opalite paint work is lovely - subtle yet interesting, with varying hues depending on the light. 

One of a long list of available options are the Animated Welcome Lamps by Mulliner

The cabin is full of lush details - from the Diamond Quilt seats to the deep pile carpets matched to the main/secondary hide

The interior also hasn't changed much, and despite it being wrapped in effortlessly luxurious materials and trimmings, the slightly-dated Audi-derived bones (like the infotainment interface and steering wheel buttons) are impossible to miss. That being said, at least overall operation is straight-forward and simple. 

And you can simply delight in the luxury of the space - plush materials abound, the finish is faultless, and little details like knurling on the back of the paddle shifters highlight the quality of the product.

Of course, there's plenty of customisation available to customers. This car comes with an all-things-considered quite subdued cabin - Linen/Beluga hide with piano black veneer - but wood veneers, carbon fibre finishes and Magenta leather are all available options. Rotating screen? Cool. Naim sound system? Fantastic.

The Continental GT has always occupied a uniquely niche space, but this new offering elevates its capabilities to mark it out as an even more accomplished and distinct

Grand touring

Bentley calls it fourth generation, some may say heavy facelift, but the single reality here is that this car is now better. Quite a lot better, in fact - in large part because of the new plug-in hybrid powertrain. 

The Continental GT has always been a strange thing - a large, two-door grand tourer trying to tread a line between sportiness and luxury.

This new powertrain is a significant upgrade because it makes the car better at both aspects, elevating its ability to fulfil its grand tourer remit. It is effortlessly comfortable when driven lightly, and more alert than before when you tug hard at the reins.

Is it quite much? Is it rather absurdly specific in what it aims to deliver? Of course it is, that's the whole point. But with this new model, the Continental GT does it so much better. Unless you desperately love how it sounds, you’re not going to miss the W12. This new powertrain, and this new Continental GT, is an undeniably elevated experience. 

Here are other luxury GTs to think about: 

The Aston Martin DB11 delivers an exquisite driving experience to match its bewitching beauty

The Maserati GranTurismo delivers the drama sought by enthusiasts