Bentley Continental GTC

Continental GTC II specifications by version

All versions have permanent all-wheel drive. The W12 launched with a six-speed ZF automatic; an eight-speed automatic arrived with the V8 in 2012 and on the W12 from model year 2013.

Frankfurt 2011: what the second GTC changed

Bentley announced the new GTC in August 2011 and showed it at the Frankfurt Motor Show the following month. It replaced the first GTC of 2006, which had been the open version of the original 2003 coupé. The new car followed the second-generation Continental GT coupé, revealed in Paris a year earlier.

The basic structure and platform stayed related to the Volkswagen Phaeton, but almost every panel was new. The front wings are made of superformed aluminium in one piece, without welded seams, a process the old 1cars text describes in detail. The rear uses the "double horseshoe" shape first seen on the Mulsanne saloon, and the LED headlight rings gave the car a sharper face.

The torque split of the all-wheel-drive system changed from 50:50 to 40:60, sending more drive to the rear wheels. That made the GTC feel more agile, although it still weighs more than two tonnes.

Roof, cabin and comfort features

The GTC's roof is a fully automatic fabric hood with several insulating layers. Autocar described it as a four-layer roof available in eight colours, while other reviews call it three-layer. According to the old 1cars text, the roof can be opened or closed only below about 30 km/h. With the roof up, the cabin is quiet enough for long motorway trips.

The neck warmer blows warm air at head height from the front seats. It makes open driving practical on cool days and was an option in some markets. The old 1cars text mentions a Naim for Bentley audio system with 14 speakers, 17 body colours and 7 wood veneers.

The rear seats suit children or adults on short trips only. The boot is small for a car of this size, because the folded roof takes much of the space.

W12 and V8 engines compared

The W12 is the traditional Bentley engine: smooth, very strong at low revs and heavy on fuel. The 4.0-litre V8, developed with Audi, arrived in 2012 and soon became the more popular choice. It can switch off four cylinders under light load and run as a V4, which cuts fuel use.

Autocar weighed a V8 GTC at 2,530 kg in 2012 and recorded 18.6 mpg over its whole test, or 27.4 mpg on a gentle run. The W12 emitted 384 g/km of CO2. By our calculation, the V8's touring figure equals about 10.3 l/100 km, and its 2,530 kg give about 6.8 kg per kilowatt.

GTC Speed and Supersports Convertible

The GTC Speed combined the W12 with more power, lower suspension and 21-inch wheels. With 467 kW (635 PS) after the 2015 update, it reached 327 km/h, and Carbuyer called it the fastest four-seat convertible in the world. It also included the Mulliner pack with quilted leather seats and cost almost 20,000 pounds more than the standard W12.

The Supersports Convertible of 2017 was the most powerful open Bentley of this generation. Its W12 produced 522 kW (710 PS) and 1,017 Nm, the same as the Supersports coupé, and it was built in limited numbers as a farewell to the second generation.

The 2015 facelift and production numbers

In 2015 Bentley updated the GTC along with the coupé. The changes included new bumpers, a revised grille and lights, new wheel designs and more power for the W12, which rose to 434 kW (590 PS) and 720 Nm. The old 1cars text mentions extra rear legroom and seat-belt feeders on the facelifted car.

From 2011 to 2017 Crewe built 12,947 GTCs of this generation, compared with 21,610 coupés. By our calculation, the convertible accounted for 37 % of the total, a high share for an open car. The third-generation GTC replaced it in 2019, and a fourth generation with plug-in hybrid power followed in 2024.

Prices then and now

The old 1cars text gave a starting price of about €170,000 for the W12 without a date, which is close to the British list price converted to euros.

Buying a used Continental GTC II

The second-generation GTC is a strong used buy if the history is complete. Check the roof mechanism through several cycles, look for water leaks into the boot and rear footwells and inspect the hydraulic lines that move the hood. On the W12, ask about the turbochargers and the cooling system; on the V8, about the cylinder-deactivation system and the timing chain.

Servicing is expensive, and carbon-ceramic brakes, where fitted, cost several thousand euros to replace. A V8 or V8 S from 2014 onwards is the best balance of cost and performance. To check whether a GTC will fit your garage, use the 1cars garage fit tool, set it against rivals in the comparison tool and browse other open cars in the convertibles section.