Bentley reveals next-gen Continental GT Speed

MANILA: Bentley has globally debuted the fourth-generation Continental GT Speed.

The  nameplate's latest generation received a potent new powertrain that, according to the British carmaker,  made the grand touring car's newest version the brand's most powerful yet. 

Exterior

Design-wise, the all-new Continental GT Speed did not deviate much from the third-generation model. The front, in particular, still sports the recognizable square-shaped mesh grille and a long sculpted bonnet topping off the latter. It likewise retained the same muscular appearance as the previous generation model. 

Nevertheless, the luxury vehicle’s front fascia received updates, such as its new LED daytime running light bars, which run through its new pair of oval-shaped LED headlamps. 

The decision to incorporate single headlamps, the brand says, is a call back to its rich history. In fact, the all-new model is the first nameplate to ever receive single headlamps since the 1950s. 

Over towards its side, the next-gen grand touring car was provided with bulging rear haunches and a sloping roofline leading towards a subtle tailgate spoiler. The rear, meanwhile, was fitted with slick new LED taillights showcasing a three-dimensional look that seemingly juts out from the boot. More functional eye candy was given on the lower rear sections, such as dual exhaust tips and a subtle rear diffuser. 

The next-gen Bentley Continental GT Speed was launched in a coupe and a convertible version. The Crewe-based luxury car maker said it has a perfect weight distribution of 49:51 in both body styles. 

To complete the look of the vehicle, it was fitted with a set of 22-inch wheels, which may come in various finishes such as dark tint paint, gloss black, or silver. 

Interior

The cockpit of the next-gen Bentley Continental GT Speed received what the brand describes as the “pinnacle of craftsmanship.” Showcasing the aforementioned is the carmaker’s new precision quilt pattern material, which was applied to the vehicle’s seats and doors. The seats likewise provide 20-way electronic adjustability, posture adjust functionality, and ventilation. 

Other notable aesthetic details applied to the next-gen grand tourer include a dark chrome finish for a number of control surfaces, mood lighting, and handcrafted analog dials for the infotainment system, among others. 

Speaking of infotainment systems, the all-new Bentley model has a 12.3-inch high-definition display linked to a 10-piece Bang and Olufsen speaker system. Connectivity, meanwhile, is done through wireless Apple Carplay and wireless Android Auto. 

More luxury on the model in question is provided to the car’s occupants through its noise-canceling windows, an automatic air-conditioning system with an air ionizer, over-the-air navigation updates, as well as remote cabin pre-conditioning via Bentley’s mobile smartphone app. 

Safety

As one would expect, the all-new Bentley Continental GT Speed received a slew of advanced driver assist features and plenty of standard safety bits. What the British marque sought to highlight about the next-gen car, though, were its Intelligent Park Assist and active roll prevention system.

As its name indicates, the Intelligent Park Assist given to the luxurious grand tourer is capable of slotting itself into a parking spot. Together with the brand’s app, it can likewise be utilized to retrieve the car from a parking spot. 

The active roll prevention, meanwhile, was designed to enhance handling and body control. Bentley says the latter works in tandem with an electronic limited-slip differential (eLSD) and torque vectoring. 

Engine

Nestled under the hood of the next-gen Continental GT Speed is the brand’s “Ultra Performance Hybrid” powertrain. The aforementioned plug-in hybrid system consists of a 4.0-liter turbocharged V8 gasoline engine paired with an electric motor. 

The internal combustion component can output 591 horsepower (hp) alone. The electric motor, meanwhile, can dish out 187 hp. Altogether, the hybrid powertrain can produce up to 771 hp and 1,000 Newton-meters of torque. 

Bentley claimed the latest Continental GT Speed is its most powerful model yet. Specifically, the brand says it has over 11 percent more torque compared to the outgoing W12 engine on the previous model. 

Power for the next-gen model is sent to all four wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox. As mentioned above, it was also fitted with an eLSD and torque vectoring for optimized traction and handling. 

In addition to its powerful hybrid system, the all-new version of the model may be driven in full electric vehicle mode for up to 81 kilometers. It also has a zero-to-100-kilometer-per-hour time of 3.1 seconds and a claimed top speed of 335 kph. 

Would you like to see the all-new Bentley Continental GT Speed driven on Philippine roads soon? 

Photos from Bentley

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