Matt Farah's new video for The Smoking Tire YouTube channel features a Bentley Continental GT Convertible on a sunny day in the hills outside Los Angeles. The big, British grand tourer stands in contrast to some of Farah's recent clips, notably the 2021 McLaren 765LT that he reviewed last week and the Lamborghini Huracan Evo RWD that he took to Willow Springs for some drifting fun last month. And yet, for anyone expecting the Bentley's performance on the twisties of Little Tujunga to be outmatched by its luxury and styling might want to give this one a watch.
Top-Down Cruising In First Edition Bentley GTC
The new Continental in GT and GTC form isn't just a facelift for some added style points, as it actually merges the Bentley product with other stalwarts in the Volkswagen AG lineup, including the Panamera with which it shares its platform. The car in question here is a First Edition model, which Farah says adds $48,000 for special colors and some badging.
Convertible Top Adds Some Weight
Farah admits he'd probably prefer the Continental in coupe form, over the soft-top, to shave a bit off the hefty 5,313-pound curb weight. But he's very positive about the fit and finish, finding the big two-door immaculately comfortable.
Under The Hood: Twin-Turbo 4.0-Liter Generating 542 HP
Somewhat surprisingly, Farah also claims to prefer the Bentley with the V8 engine, as equipped in this tester, rather than the twin-turbocharged W12 torque monster. The twin-turbo 4.0-liter unit here is shared with the Panamera and Cayenne Turbo models, plus the Lamborghini Urus, and produces 542 horsepower and 568 lb-ft of torque.
Does It All Come Together?
Those power figures allow for some serious launches off the line, with the big convertible somehow capable of hitting 60 miles per hour in under four seconds. But Farah comes away from the ride much more impressed with the suspension setup, which includes an air-ride system and adaptive roll bars to allow such a heavy coupe to actually handle quite well.
Sources: youtube.com and bentleymotors.com.