Among the well-heeled, Bentley has quite the reputation thanks to its unmatched levels of comfort and luxury. From racing to building luxury SUVs and grand tourers, Bentley’s portfolio has diversified to tailor to the varying needs of the wealthiest one percent. Starting its life in 2003, the Continental GT was brought in as a more affordable Bentley that marked a new beginning for the luxury automaker. However, at $150,000, Bentley’s idea of “affordable” was still beyond the reach of an average American back in '03. Needless to say, this proved to be yet another toy for the wealthy and quickly became a symbol of excess.

While the grand tourer has been a favorite among the elite, it has remained the same for quite some time. However, the Continental GT did receive noticeable engine and chassis improvements, but it wasn’t until 2018 that an all-new platform was brought into existence. But the ethos behind the Bentley Continental GT never changed—to be the ultimate expression of luxury, speed, and grand touring.

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Bentley Continental GT Is All About Effortless Wafting

Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible road
Via Bentley Motors

With the launch of the third generation in 2018, the Bentley Continental saw significant chassis and styling improvements. Although much of the powertrain remained the same, several tweaks were made to comply with stricter emissions. Also, the third-gen Continental incorporates a new 8-speed dual-clutch transmission as opposed to the previous ZF unit.

In terms of output, the W12 comes in two different tunes: 650 horsepower in the GT Speed and 626 hp in the standard Continental and Mulliner spec. Torque figures remain identical for all three models at 684 lb-ft. As for the V8, the Continental gets two different variants: the GT and the Mulliner V8. Both offer similar power outputs at 542 horsepower and 568 lb-ft of torque. All models get the 8-speed dual-clutch as standard along with all-wheel-drive.

Bentley Continental GT Mulliner
Via: Bentley

When it comes to the driving experience, the Continental GT gathers speed at a steady pace. The moment you step inside the Conti GT, it’s evident that this is not meant for fast corners or any form of intense motoring. That’s not to say it’s slow. Even though the Bentley weighs over 5,000 pounds, engineers have been able to cleverly disguise it. Slip it into the sportiest of driving settings, and the Bentley utilizes the V8’s (or W12’s) exuberance as much as physics allows it to. Additionally, with the help of Bentley’s Dynamic Ride, the system can try and eliminate all forms of secondary vibrations to keep the passengers cossetted in utmost comfort and luxury. In simple terms, the Continental GT is one very effective tool when it comes to wafting along.

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Extraordinary Levels of Craftsmanship

Continental GT Mulliner coupe interior
Via Bentley

If you’ve ever gotten the chance to see a Bentley up close, It’d most certainly leave you in utter amazement. The level of detail is beyond what you could imagine. Having a look at the Continental GT gives a good idea of how proportionate it is, despite the car being fairly long and wide.

Pop over to the inside, and you are greeted to one of Bentley’s signature interior treatments—the diamond quilted stitching. The Bentley Continental GT is all about cosseting you in luxury. You can’t fault a Bentley. It was never a car for the working class. Everything you touch is and will always be of top quality. If you didn’t know, Bentley uses hides from bulls instead of cows to avoid having stretch marks. Plus, designers will inspect the leather to see if there’s any imperfection, like a cut from a wire fence or uneven leather patterns, all of which are a no-go in Bentley's world.

Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible side
Via Bentley Motors

Of course, luxury can also be defined as not having to bother with menial things. In the land of the rich, you don’t make dinner yourself, nor do you make your own bed. It’s all done with help from your butler and, of course, housemaids. So if you're used to such luxuries, why be in a car where you have to fiddle around finding the seatbelt? Sounds awfully plebeian, doesn’t it? Bentley has thought about this, and the Continental GT features a rather helpful seatbelt butler.

Moving to the technology inside, the 20-speaker Naim for Bentley audio gives a new meaning to sensory reception by featuring 1,720 Watts of pure aural bliss. That said, the Continental GT’s regular hi-fi, which we’ve sampled before, isn’t bad. But it just doesn’t hold a light to the immersive audio experience of the more premium Naim system. In addition to that, the rotating display—the Conti GT’s dramatic party piece—offers an experience unlike anything else in the market. Because the Bentley Continental GT comes loaded with fine materials and top-of-the-line equipment, you can’t go wrong with buying one. Of course, that all depends on how deep your pockets are.

Sources: Bentley Motors