The Bentley Continental GT plug-in hybrid is the ,most powerful Bentley road car yet
It may look very similar to its predecessor on the outside, but the new, fourth-generation Bentley Continental GT Speed is the first to be powered by a plug-in hybrid drivetrain.
It’s also the most powerful road-going Bentley ever, with its 4.0-liter V8 engine and electric motor combining to produce 782 PS (771 horsepower) and a thumping 1,000 Nm (738 lb ft) of torque. Bentley says that’s enough to launch the new Continental GT to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds and on to a top speed of 208 mph.
Bentley also says the new GT Speed is good for up to 50 miles of electric-only range, thanks to the 25.9 kWh battery mounted behind the rear axle. This sends up to 190 PS (187 horsepower) to the four wheels via the car’s eight-speed, dual-clutch transmission, meaning the GT is always all-wheel-drive, whether it uses the engine, motor or both. Bentley says electric power alone, which works at up to 87 mph with up to 75 percent throttle application, is “more than enough to keep up with the traffic in most situations.”
The most striking visual change is to the headlights, which now have a horizontal 'eyebrow' graphic
The engine alone produces 600 PS (592 horsepower) and generates 800 Nm (590 lb ft) of torque, while Bentley says higher fuel injection pressure and the lack of a traditional vacuum system provides cleaner combustion and improved emissions. Since the electric motor negates turbo lag, the engine uses a pair of single-scroll turbochargers. This, Bentley says, reduces complexity and allows them to run at a higher temperature than in the engine of the previous-generation GT Speed, further reducing tailpipe emissions.
Several new drive modes have been created for owners to get the most out of the new Continental GT’s hybrid system. These include pure EV, where the engine is not used, electric boost for extra performance, regenerative braking – where energy is harvested and fed back into the battery when slowing – and a charge mode, where the engine drives the wheels and charges the battery at the same time.
This is far from the most efficient way to drive a plug-in hybrid, but it means the car can top up its battery whenever the driver needs to. When driven and charged efficiently, Bentley promises a “significant drop” in CO2 emissions and fuel consumption.
The interior is mostly unchanged, and still features the optional rotating dashboard and Naim sound ... [+]
The biggest external change is to the headlights, which feature a new horizontal ‘eyebrow’, to use Bentley’s own description, which adds a crystal-cut diamond effect to the top of the lamps. As well as a new layout, Bentley says the headlights perform better than before, with 120 individual LEDs working to create a widened field of illumination for the main beam, and a more gradual transmission from lit to unlit areas. This in turn is said to make reading the road feel more natural.
Subtle changes are also found on the rear bumper, taillights and trunk lid, as well as the exhaust tailpipes. The overall theme is one of sharpening and honing the existing shape, rather than seeking to produce something all-new. Given the way the previous generation of Continental GT looked, I’m inclined to agree with Bentley’s less-is-more approach.
A redesigned rear bumper, trunk lid, taillights and exhaust complete the subtle exterior refresh.
Inside, it’s a similar story. The dashboard looks almost identical to its predecessor, save for a new ‘Dark Chrome Specification’, offered to give the cabin a more contemporary aesthetic, Bentley says. As before, the interior can (and absolutely should) be specified with Bentley’s clever rotating dashboard, where the driver can pick to see either the infotainment display, a set of analog gauges, or a blank facade with the press of a button.
Also continued is the choice of sound systems, which includes a 10-speaker, 650-watt Bang & Olufsen setup, or the flagship Naim system with 18 speakers and 2,200 watts of peak power. To my ears, the latter is the best sound system of any car on sale today.
Lastly, the new hybrid system unlocks the ability to remotely monitor the car’s charge status, and set the interior temperature (including seat heating) before unplugging from the charger and setting off. The new Continental GT Speed is available to order or coupe or soft-topped convertible forms now, with the first deliveries expected before the end of the year.
