Bentley has unveiled the fourth generation Continental GT Speed, with the new luxury Grant Tourer – which is also being released as a convertible – receiving an exterior and interior redesign but, more importantly perhaps, sporting an all-new hybrid powertrain – one that makes this incarnation of the Speed the most powerful Bentley on the road.
The new Ultra Performance Hybrid powertrain, as the company calls it, is a brute of a thing with a 4-litre twin-turbo V8, which churns out 441kW and 800Nm, working in tandem with an electric motor pumping out 140kW and 450Nm.
A 25.9kWh battery is mounted behind the rear axle. There’s a new 400-volt electrical architecture, and the set-up of the hybrid system means, Bentley says, that the new Continental can cover 81km on just battery-electric power. Total range is 859km. The battery can be fully replenished in as little as 2.75 hours with 11kW peak charging power.
The mighty power of the hybrid is delivered to all four wheels via an eight-speed dual clutch transmission and an electronic limited slip differential (eLSD). The system uses active torque vectoring front to rear through a centre differential, and precision vectoring across each axle using the brakes. This Continental GT Speed offers blistering performance, with 0-100km/h covered in 3.2 seconds and top speed reaching 335km/h.
As well as the new powertrain, the Continental boasts a new chassis system, with new two-chamber air springs paired with new dual-valve dampers, along with Bentley Dynamic Ride (48V active anti-roll control) and the eLSD and torque vectoring.
Braking system options include 10-piston front calipers and four-piston rears with either ventilated iron brakes of 420 mm front and 380 mm rear discs, or Carbon-Silicon-Carbide brakes with 440 mm front and 410 mm rear discs.
Being a Bentley, interior materials, trim and technology is top tier. There are 20-way adjustable seats and optional Wellness seating with Postural Adjust and Auto Climate to the front seats. Laminated acoustic glass is used for the windscreen and side windows.
Th new Continental GT continues to feature the Bentley Rotating Display – the three-sided display featuring a 12.3-inch display, three analogue dials, and a side of handcrafted veneer.
The environment display (shown in the driver’s instrument panel) enables driving in semi-assisted mode, providing feedback to the driver on how the car is responding to other vehicles. There’s also the latest generation self-parking system with speed control.
The air conditioning system includes air ionisers, a new particulate matter filter and displays showing air quality outside and inside the vehicle.
Customers who choose to pair their mobile phone can access connected car services, including Remote Charging Status, Remote Park Assist, and Remote Cabin Pre-Conditioning.
Bentley will also introduce the My Bentley app studio to the fourth-generation Continental. Customers can gain access to a wide variety of vehicle and third-party applications which can be downloaded directly, independent of a smartphone, to the infotainment system. Applications include music, video, gaming, navigation, parking and charging.
The new open-top Continental GTC is being launched at the same time as the coupe. The Convertible features Bentley’s seven-bow fabric roof system, available in a range of seven exterior colours and deployable in 19 seconds at speeds up to 48 km/h. The convertible is, like the coupe, a performance monster. 0-100km/h is completed in 3.4 seconds, while top speed is electronically limited to 285km/h.
Bentley’s bespoke division – Mulliner – will be offering a collection of unique features enabling further personalisation to the latest model.
Source: Motor Trader e-Magazine (July 2024)
31 July 2024