In just a few days, the inauguration of the new exotic Bentley Continental GT arrives. Offering 782 hp and 1,000 Nm of torque, combined with 80 km of pure electric range and CO2 emissions below 50 g/km (WLTP), the new generation is another big step forward for Bentley. Not only will it be Bentley’s most powerful and dynamic road car in the company’s 105-year history, it will also be its most environmentally friendly. At the same time, according to the company, it maintains unchanged the artisanal luxury and excellent material elements that are synonymous with all of the brand’s models.
Important: The latest generation of chassis technology includes active all-wheel drive with torque vectoring, four-wheel steering, electronic limited-slip differential, 48V electronically controlled active stabilizer bars and new advanced dual-valve shock absorbers. Furthermore, the new design and new technological equipment complete the latest generation of the car that defines Bentley’s modern era.
Bentley Renaissance
For the record, the Continental GT, originally launched in 2002, kicked off Bentley’s renaissance. This car would transform the company, catalyzing a tenfold increase in sales and redefining Bentley’s place in the modern era. Both the design inspiration and references to the Continental GT’s performance and sportiness came from the 1952 R Type Continental, the fastest four-seater in the world at the time, which essentially defined the concept of a luxury Grand Tourer. It was an exuberant long-distance sedan for crossing the European continent, hence its name. The Continental GT adopted the same three basic design principles: the dynamic profile, the accentuated rear end and the sloping roofline.
Sales from around 1,000 cars to over 10,000 in a year
The impact of the first generation Continental GT was enormous. Within four years, Bentley’s annual sales increased from about 1,000 cars to more than 10,000. A second generation Continental GT was introduced in Paris in 2010, with orders placed from October and deliveries beginning in early 2011. The second generation started with the W12 engine, followed by a new 4.0-liter V8 option introduced in 2012. The third generation came in 2018, based on a new, purpose-built platform and featuring a new engine, new suspension, new electrical architecture, new technology and new bodywork and interior aesthetics. From the outset, this generation became the new benchmark for the highly competitive luxury GT sector.
Over the past 20 years, various versions of the Continental GT have broken speed records and won championships and endurance races around the world. Globally, the Continental GT is Bentley’s second most popular model (after the Bentayga), with one in every three Bentleys sold being a Continental GT. Early next year, the 100,000th car of the now-iconic Grand Tourer will be built at Bentley’s Dream Factory in Crewe, England.