Bentley Continental GT
Published: 20th July 2003
For Bentley Motors, the Continental GT is more than a product launch as it is symbolic of the change that the company is going through. It is the first offspring of a new family of cars, which delivers unparalleled levels of refinement, craftsmanship and driver involvement - or as Bentley describes this combination, the ultimate British Sporting Grand Tourer.
At the heart of this combination is the company's belief that the car should be excellent in all rational parameters, but more importantly, should adapt itself to the character that the driver chooses. As a British Sporting Grand Tourer, it should have supercar pace, elegance, and exquisite levels of interior accommodation. As a Bentley, it must have all of these strengths and the capability to cover continents with power and comfort in reserve.
Just four years ago, the team at Crewe set out to create something appealing and unique in the marketplace, and crucially, in line with the traditions of Bentley. The aim was not to create a pastiche of the past, but to understand the essence of 'Bentleyness', and then to carry this forward in a new and exciting way. Inspiration was drawn from the milestones of Bentley history, dating back to the 3-litre of 1919, through the R-Type Continental of the fifties and the now legendary Continental R; and the result is clear.
Rather than the customer having to compromise on comfort, luxury or performance, the Continental GT delivers 198mph (318km/h) top speed, prodigious tractability in all conditions, and levels of accommodation and craftsmanship that are typically Bentley - peerless.
The result is the Continental GT, a car that is as competent as
a supercar, as versatile as our customers demand, and as expertly
hand-crafted as any car from the home of automotive craftsmanship
- Crewe, England.
Key points:
- An all new car, designed, engineered and built by Bentley in Crewe
- The fastest four seat coupe in the world. Top speed 198mph, 0-60mph in 4.7sec (0-100 km/h 4.8sec)
- A Grand Tourer in the finest traditions, capable of conveying four people and luggage in comfort
- Unique twin-turbo 6-litre W12 engine producing 552bhp (560PS) and 479lb ft of torque (650Nm) at just 1600rpm, placing it clearly ahead of Ferrari 456GT, Aston Martin Vanquish and Porsche 911 Turbo.
- All-wheel drive with traction and stability control combined with paddle-operated six speed automatic transmission to provide supremely safe and dynamic response.
- State of the art engineering and production techniques working in seamless harmony with unrivalled handcraftsmanship skills
- Car designed entirely in the virtual world, using some of the most advanced technologies ever used in the field
- Car designed not only be thrilling to drive but also supremely easy to live with, equally effectively as a recreational toy or serious business tool.
- Styling cues include pillarless cabin, minimal front overhang, pronounced haunches, distinctive ‘face’ featuring large inner headlamps, flush mounted rear spoiler that rises at speed.
