Automotive

Bentley's new Continental GT drop-top is a 207-mph luxury cruise missile

Bentley's new Continental GT drop-top is a 207-mph luxury cruise missile
The new Continental GT Convertible: 626-horsepower, 664 lb-ft of torque ... and the wind in your hair
The new Continental GT Convertible: 626-horsepower, 664 lb-ft of torque ... and the wind in your hair
View 23 Images
2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible: third generation of this drop-top rocketship
1/23
2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible: third generation of this drop-top rocketship
2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible: available with a tweed-like roof covering
2/23
2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible: available with a tweed-like roof covering
2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible: three-sided rotating dash can replace the 12.3-inch touch screen with a set of analogue clocks...
3/23
2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible: three-sided rotating dash can replace the 12.3-inch touch screen with a set of analogue clocks...
...or a plain, clean wood veneer finish
4/23
...or a plain, clean wood veneer finish
2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible: heated steering wheel
5/23
2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible: heated steering wheel
2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible: LED Matrix headlights
6/23
2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible: LED Matrix headlights
2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible: heated seats and armrests
7/23
2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible: heated seats and armrests
2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible: even those back seats look like proper luxury
8/23
2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible: even those back seats look like proper luxury
2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible: interior with the top down
9/23
2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible: interior with the top down
2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible: bird's eye view of the interior
10/23
2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible: bird's eye view of the interior
2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible: top down with the top down
11/23
2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible: top down with the top down
2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible: 6-liter W12 engine makes 626 horsepower and 900 Nm of torque
12/23
2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible: 6-liter W12 engine makes 626 horsepower and 900 Nm of torque
2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible: as quiet with the roof on as the generation 2 GT coupe.
13/23
2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible: as quiet with the roof on as the generation 2 GT coupe.
2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible: speed and refinement
14/23
2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible: speed and refinement
2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible: new neckwarmers are warmer and quieter
15/23
2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible: new neckwarmers are warmer and quieter
2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible: 8-speed dual clutch auto transmission
16/23
2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible: 8-speed dual clutch auto transmission
2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible: 0-60 in 3.7 seconds
17/23
2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible: 0-60 in 3.7 seconds
2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible: noise cancelling Pirelli P Zero tires help keep this a quiet ride
18/23
2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible: noise cancelling Pirelli P Zero tires help keep this a quiet ride
2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible: what it's all about
19/23
2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible: what it's all about
2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible: electronically adjustable air suspension with active damping and multiple modes
20/23
2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible: electronically adjustable air suspension with active damping and multiple modes
The new Continental GT Convertible: 626-horsepower, 664 lb-ft of torque ... and the wind in your hair
21/23
The new Continental GT Convertible: 626-horsepower, 664 lb-ft of torque ... and the wind in your hair
2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible: can drop from 12 cylinders to 6 in order to conserve fuel
22/23
2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible: can drop from 12 cylinders to 6 in order to conserve fuel
2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible: dynamic roll bars keep this baby super-stable and comfortable in the corners
23/23
2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible: dynamic roll bars keep this baby super-stable and comfortable in the corners
View gallery - 23 images

The stately lines and luxury interior of the Bentley Continental make it easy to forget that you're looking at an absolute beast of a thing with genuine supercar performance. The latest generation GT Convertible is a 626-horsepower, 12-cylinder, effortless tarmac-tearing animal in a tuxedo.

Under the skin, it's much the same as the third-gen Continental coupe: you get the same 6-liter, twin turbo W12 engine, with its 900 Nm (664 lb-ft) of torque and nifty ability to shut down half its cylinders and run as a six, to somewhat rein in its fuel guzzling tendencies. At 20.2 mpg, or 14 l/100km, it's still pretty thirsty, but then you don't buy a Bentley to save money or look like an eco-warrior.

Like the coupe, it uses an 8-speed dual clutch transmission, which gets power down smoothly and constantly enough to give you a 3.7-second 0-60 mph sprint, or 3.8 seconds to 100 km/h. The ride should be exemplary, with Bentley's dynamic ride system electronically adjusting torsional resistance through the roll bars to prevent any slouching under cornering forces, as well as multiple active damping modes and electronically adjustable air suspension to let you explore the full gamut between luxury magic carpet ride and firm, sporty corner carver.

2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible: heated seats and armrests
2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible: heated seats and armrests

The interior is also much the same, featuring Bentley's extravagant 3-sided rotating dash panels that tuck the 12.3-inch touchscreen away for a "digital detox," replacing it with plain wood veneer, or classy analogue clocks. Three levels of audio system are available, up to a pounding 2200-watt, 18-speaker Naim system that uses active bass transducers to literally shake your booty in the front seats. It's an amazing way to create the feel of bass without necessarily needing to crank the system up to maximum volume.

The main difference from the coupe, of course, is the convertible top on the thing, which extends or retracts in 19 seconds at speeds up to 30 mph/50 kmh. While many convertibles come at the cost of a noisy ride, this one's been designed using acoustic treatments and special noise-canceling Pirelli P Zero tires to keep things as quiet as the second-generation coupe at "typical cruising speeds."

2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible: 8-speed dual clutch auto transmission
2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible: 8-speed dual clutch auto transmission

Top-down driving is possible even in cooler weather thanks to a newly designed neckwarmer that's both warmer and quieter than the previous model as it circulates warm air around the headrests. There's also heaters in the seats, armrests and the steering wheel itself, so the bloody-minded among us should be able to keep the roof open through the drier parts of a British winter.

Pricing and availability details for the Continental GT Convertible have yet to be announced, but you can expect it to be north of the Continental GT Coupe's US$225,000 starting point. Enjoy a video below.

Source: Bentley

The New Continental GT Convertible | Epitomising the Spirit of Grand Touring | Bentley Motors

View gallery - 23 images
4 comments
4 comments
guzmanchinky
Soooo, I just picked up an E400 convertible which: Has all the same features including self driving on freeways and boring roads. Heated headrest vents, steering, armrests Air suspension that goes from soft as a 60's Caddy to hard as a rock depending on the setting And costs $90,000 fully optioned except for awd. And (probably, hopefully) is more reliable. And looks better (but that's just an opinion)... :)
mrhuckfin
Always loved this car, but was curious why getting over 20 MPG isn't noteworthy in a car like this? Also in what world is 20 MPG not considered economical? I've never owned anything newer then 25 years old but even with a V6 I still only manage about 22 MPG combo driving in my Mitsubishi 3000 GT so I'd consider what this Bentley get's down right fuel miserly! ☺
DavidB
Highly appropriate video, as it shows two people too young to have earned their fortunes personally and too wealthy to care that they're driving a vehicle that's gulping down our dwindling supply of fossil fuels and spewing toxins into the air that their designer babies will one day be left to breathe.
aksdad
I want to see a video of it doing 200 mph. With and without the top. What I'm picturing in my mind is hilarious.