Bentley Continental GT

Continental GT II key specifications (W12, 2011)

Four generations of the Continental GT

The first Continental GT, shown at the 2002 Paris Motor Show, was the first new Bentley developed under Volkswagen ownership. It replaced the Continental R and T, sold strongly and made Crewe a high-volume factory for the first time: 6,896 cars were built in 2004 alone. Its W12 began at 412 kW (560 PS), and the 2009 Supersports reached 463 kW (630 PS) and 330 km/h.

The second generation looked similar, but almost every panel was new. The third, revealed at the 2017 Frankfurt show, moved to the MSB platform shared with the Porsche Panamera and started at 156,700 pounds in Britain (about €177,000 in 2018). The fourth generation of 2024 dropped the W12 for a plug-in hybrid V8. For the wider story of the company, read the history of Bentley.

Design changes from the first generation

At first glance the 2011 car looks like an update, yet the body was almost all new. The headlights are larger and ringed with LED daytime lights, and the grille stands more upright. The windows are longer and narrower, the wheel arches more muscular and the rear more like that of the Mulsanne saloon.

Some outer panels are made of superformed aluminium: the metal is heated and blown into shape in one piece, without welds. That allowed sharper creases than pressed steel. The car is 1,944 mm wide, about 2 cm wider than its predecessor.

W12 and V8 engines and the 8-speed gearbox

The launch engine was the familiar 5,998 cc W12 with two turbochargers, now with 423 kW (575 PS) and 700 Nm. From the 2011 model year, every Continental could run on petrol, E85 bioethanol or any mix of the two. Torque is sent to all four wheels, and the old 1cars text describes a 40:60 front-to-rear split for this car.

In April 2012 Bentley added the GT V8. Its 3,993 cc twin-turbo V8 makes 373 kW (507 PS) and 660 Nm, and it shuts down four cylinders at light load. Bentley claimed 26.1 mpg (UK) for the V8 against 17.1 mpg for the W12. By our calculation, that is 53 % more distance per litre of fuel.

The W12 versions first used a 6-speed ZF automatic. A ZF 8-speed arrived for the 2013 model year and spread across the range. The GT Speed reached 330 km/h, and the final Supersports 336 km/h. By our calculation, a 2011 W12 coupé carries about 5.5 kg per kW. Compare those ratios with other cars in the 1cars power-to-weight calculator.

Cabin, technology and comfort

The cabin is handmade, with leather hides, wood veneers and bright metal trim. It seats four, although the rear suits shorter adults on long journeys. The front seats are slimmer than before, and the seat-belt mountings moved from the pillars into the seats; the old 1cars text puts the extra rear legroom at about 5 cm.

An 8-inch touchscreen controls navigation, phone, audio and comfort settings, and the navigation stores its maps on a 30 GB hard drive. Front seats can have ventilation and a massage function. Acoustic glass and thick insulation keep the car very quiet. A removable leather case in the centre console holds pens, keys and small items.

Brakes, chassis and the 2015 update

Air suspension with adjustable dampers is standard, and the car rides on 20-inch wheels with Pirelli P Zero tyres. Carbon-ceramic brakes were an option, and the old 1cars text describes them with six-piston calipers. Stability control and the usual electronic aids are standard.

The 2015 facelift added a new front bumper, reshaped wings, a new rear bumper and new wheel designs. Inside, LED lighting and a hidden storage compartment in the rear appeared. The W12 gained cylinder deactivation and 434 kW (590 PS). Production of the W12 engine moved to Crewe at the end of 2014.

GTC convertible, Speed and GT3 racing

The GTC convertible joined the range in late 2011 and shared both engines. Its fabric roof makes it one of the few genuine four-seat luxury convertibles; read more in the Continental GTC Convertible review.

From 2011 to 2017, Bentley built 21,610 coupés and 12,947 convertibles of this generation. By our calculation, convertibles made up 37 % of the total. The racing Continental GT3, shown at the 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed, won the 2015 Blancpain GT Sprint Series. A road-going GT3-R with 427 kW (580 PS) was limited to 300 cars.

Rivals of the 2011–2018 Continental GT

The Bentley stood out with all-wheel drive, which made its power usable in all weather. The Aston Martin Vanquish was lighter and sharper; the Mercedes-Benz CL600 offered similar luxury at a lower price. To compare two of these cars spec by spec, use the 1cars comparison tool.