As a youngster living in Coventry, then the heart of the British motor industry, and growing up with a fascination for vehicles – which family ancestry research reveals was a gene I appear to have inherited from my maternal grandfather – I recall often being drawn to stories, photographs and even adverts for Bentley Continentals.
More elegant and sporting than any equivalent Rolls-Royce, the flowing lines of the Bentley somehow always appealed despite their size, and represented a lifestyle I could only dream about.
Well, sometime dreams do come true – even if only on an acquaintance basis. When CAR tested the latest Continental GT in January 2006, I got to drive the car for a while and was duly impressed at how Bentley had reinvented the Continental for the 21st century. But an invitation to drive the new, high-performance Supersports model in Spain a few weeks back simply blew me away.
This car has to be one of the most impressive Gran Turismos ever made, matching – perhaps even surpassing – the Ferrari 599. Yes, the Supersports is a superformance rather than super-luxury GT, although it does not fall short on the traditional Bentley craftsmanship in any way, and you can read my appraisal on page 50 of the December 2009 issue of CAR.
So when it came to choosing vehicles for CAR’s annual January issue performance car shootout, three cars were on my short list that included the base Continental GT – the Supersports is only being shown in SA late-November and a mid-range Speed model was not available at the time.
Thinking of the demanding three-day schedule, I opted for the Bentley knowing it would not be the winner in the full context of the shootout, but I was comfortably able to carry luggage, some equipment with room to spare and transport three people when the need arose. The GT stormed the route’s mountain passes and the challenging Aldo Scribante circuit with dignified aplomb – and considerable alacrity.
But it was on the return leg when my colleagues better understood my choice. Hopping in and out of nine supercars takes its toll on mind and body. At the final driver change in Swellendam, as others – even the youngsters on the team – dropped their bodies into their respective steeds, looking a trifle battle weary, aching a bit and with the sound of shrilling engines resonating in their ears, I settled into the Bentley’s seat, fired-up the 6,0-litre W12, pulled away and headed for home in the calm atmosphere of the Bentley’s cabin, arriving on the driveway more relaxed than when I started. And I did not need a “splash and go” fuel stop to get there, a necessity that befell some of the others…
There is always a thrill in driving a supercar – but not always for a long time. You may not be the first to arrive at a destination in the Continental, but the drive will be just as rewarding. And my take on such matters is that if someone says to you at journey’s end “Right, turn around and go straight back”, would you really look forward to the prospect? You would in the Bentley…