THERE is nothing small about the Bentley Continental GT – except rear legroom. This is a car that weighs in at a hefty 2,3 tons, and one that is propelled by a 5,0-litre W12 (yes W12) engine. With 411 kW at its disposal, it is the most powerful car we’ve ever tested. And it is said to be capable of 315 km/h. Crikey! Sometimes simple numbers put things in very stark perspective, don’t they?
But the Bentley Continental GT is much more than just an impressive specification sheet. Of course, at over R2,5 million (another big number) apiece, you’d hope so! It is a car that carries the prestigious Bentley name and, as such, the expectations are immense.
This is the first Bentley born under the ownership of Volkswagen, who acquired the company in 1998 when it split from Rolls- Royce, which now belongs to BMW. When revealed in 2003, the Continental GT was also the first completely new Bentley since the marque joined up with Rolls- Royce back in 1931!
Being a Bentley, the Continental GT had to be powerful, big and luxurious. However, Volkswagen did not want to relaunch the brand with a typical super-luxury limo at a time when the new Rolls-Royce Phantom and Maybach hit the scene. So, instead, it opted for a classic high-speed grand tourer, or GT, in short.
The resultant Continental GT certainly has the presence you’d expect from a Bentley. The nose is rather blunt, and carries a big mesh grille flanked by four round headlamps – a new-generation Bentley family theme. The rear end is almost surprisingly smooth and seductive, with rear lamps positioned in the muscular haunches. The third brake light stretches the entire width of the top of the rear window, but you only see it when it is activated. Another hidden-away feature is an automatic rear spoiler that raises at speeds of over 120 km/h.
The Conti is most impressive when viewed from the side, where several creases make the body shape come alive. Notice how the strong line that stretches from the front wheelarch almost disappears in the middle of the door, but still manages to add to the visual effect of the very sculptured haunches. And those spectacular 19-inch alloy wheels fill the arches with purpose. Standing still, the Bentley Continental GT’s styling doesn’t scream “speed”. Its mere presence says “power”…
Volkswagen has arguably been even more successful with the interior design. As to be expected, chrome, wood and leather are everywhere, but the combinations of these can be chosen by the buyer to truly individualise the build of every one of these cars. The facia is made up of two dramatic arches, with the main switchgear positioned in between. It is a stunning mix of modern convenience and traditional styling. Hallmark Bentley features such as bullseye air vents and organ-stop airflow shut offs, as well as the Breitling analogue clock, are all there. But this time round there are also colour-screen satellite navigation, voice-activated telephone dialling, remote controls on the steering wheel, and one of the most impressive sound systems fitted to a car today.
The materials used are all top notch and perceived quality is extremely high as a result, but we did notice a rattle from the one ventilation outlet.
Although Bentley says the Continental GT is a 2+2, the rear seats are hardly adult sized, but front occupants are unlikely to complain. The seats are sumptuous, supportive and infinitely adjustable. You could cross continents at vast speed in this car and still be relaxed and comfy once the journey has finished. You’d also be able to take some luggage with you as well, because the boot can swallow a decent 328 dm³ worth of baggage.
So, in terms of appearances and luxuries, the Continental GT is one of the most desirable cars on the planet. Now let’s see if it’s a real Bentley under the skin, too. Of course, that’s an easy question. It isn’t, because the W12 engine under the bonnet was developed by VW and is also used in the Phaeton luxury car as well as the Audi A8. Should that be a worry? Bentley doesn’t think so. It points out that the GT’s engine is based on the Phaeton powerplant, but assembled in Crewe (the home of Bentley), to a different specification. Here, two KKK turbochargers, blowing at up to 0,7 bar, are fitted, and raise maximum power to an astronomical 411 kW at 6 100 r/min, and torque to 650 N.m at a low 1 600 r/min. The impressive maximum torque is consistently on tap from below 2 000 to almost 6 000 r/min! This is more power than most supercars can muster. And, of course, the W-layout, with its three banks of four cylinders, is unique in the automotive world.
Power goes to all four wheels via a ZF six-speed automatic gearbox and Torsen centre differential. Usually, power is split evenly between the front and rear axles, but if slip is detected all of it can be sent to either axle.
The Continental GT’s suspension is similar to the Volkswagen Phaeton’s. It uses double wishbones in front, and a multi-link set-up at the rear. Air springs with adjustable damper settings are fitted at both ends. The car’s standard wheels are 19×9,0J alloys, wrapped in 275/40 ZR rated rubber. For extra “bling”, you can order 20-inch wheels as an option.
The ventilated disc brakes are said to be the largest fitted to a current production car, and measure 405 mm in front and 335 mm at the rear. ABS is, of course, fitted, along with brake assist, electronic brake force distribution, ASR and stability control.
We were requested not to perform braking tests, as the vehicle on loan was not an actual test car, but a sales demo. For what it’s worth, however, the brakes were hugely impressive during the duration of our testing routine.
A top speed run was also not on the cards, but with its huge power, the Continental GT should be able to reach its claimed top speed of 315 km/h at a calculated 5 892 r/min in top gear.
Bentley also claims a sub fivesecond 0-100 km/h acceleration time, which would be truly astounding if achieved, considering the car’s 2 357 kg test weight. As we had expected, we could not match Bentley’s claimed time.
But it’s not only weight that negatively affects the car’s sprinting ability. The six-speed autobox is a delight in normal use, but because it shifts automatically at around 6 300 even when used in manual mode, it takes control away from the driver. It also means that there is really nothing to do except to floor the throttle and hope for the best… which was 5,54 seconds in this case. But once this Bentley starts moving, it really goes. The kilometre sprint is dispatched in 25,12 seconds at a terminal speed of 211,2 km/h.
Overtaking acceleration is equally impressive, with the Bentley needing only 1,19 seconds to get from 60 to 80 km/h, or 2,17 seconds from 120 to 140 km/h. The shattering acceleration is delivered in a very “soft” way. Imagine being wrapped in a soft, thick duvet, injected with a tranquilliser and placed in a jet fighter on take off…
This contrast is also reflected in the car’s ride and handling. The Bentley’s air-suspension offers four driver-selectable damper settings. Theoretically, this allows the driver to choose a setting that matches his/her mood, ranging from soft (for cruising) to stiff (for enthusiastic driving and ultimate handling). As is typical of all airsuspension systems, the ride is velvety smooth on good road surfaces, but struggles somewhat to iron out sudden bumps.
With the damper setting on its stiffest, the Continental GT is more agile than any car weighing over two tons has a right to be! Roll is very well contained during hard cornering, but probably the most impressive aspect is the huge grip provided by the all-wheel drive system and those large tyres. It can carry vast speeds through corners with the driver barely aware of the velocity. This “remoteness” is mostly due to the car’s steering, which allows for very accurate placement, but offers virtually zero feel. For most owners, however, steering feedback is hardly going to be a priority.
Test summary
It is not often that we get to test a car as rare and expensive as the Bentley Continental GT. This is a bit like meeting your childhood idol, something that frequently turns out to be a disappointment, as expectations are almost always too high… Usually, one walks away from experiences like this mildly disillusioned.
Perhaps the biggest compliment we can give the Bentley Continental GT is that it surpassed our expectations in many ways. In our opinion, there has yet to be a picture that truly captures the powerful presence of this car. Its interior is an amazing mixture of classic elegance and techno wizardry. And its powertrain makes it a ballistic kilometre eater. Maybe traditionalists will say it’s not 100 per cent Bentley. That may be… but we’d say it’s a magnificent car, real Bentley or not. You decide which is more important.