Automotive

Changes for third-gen Continental GT are more than skin deep

Changes for third-gen Continental GT are more than skin deep
The new Bentley Continental GT is powered by a W12
The new Bentley Continental GT is powered by a W12
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The new Bentley Continental GT is powered by a W12
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The new Bentley Continental GT is powered by a W12
The W12 Continental GT hits 100 km/h faster than the old flagship Conti
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The W12 Continental GT hits 100 km/h faster than the old flagship Conti
The Continental GT is a longer, lower looking car than the model it replaces
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The Continental GT is a longer, lower looking car than the model it replaces 
The design of the new Continental GT borrows from the EXP10 concept
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The design of the new Continental GT borrows from the EXP10 concept 
The EXP10 Speed 6-inspired styling is handsome, and doesn't deviate from the Bentley formula too far
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The EXP10 Speed 6-inspired styling is handsome, and doesn't deviate from the Bentley formula too far
The Continental rides on active anti-roll bars that rely on a 48V electrical system
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The Continental rides on active anti-roll bars that rely on a 48V electrical system 
The profile of the new Continental GT is slicker than that of its predecessor
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The profile of the new Continental GT is slicker than that of its predecessor 
There's no mistaking the new Continental GT for anything other than a Bentley
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There's no mistaking the new Continental GT for anything other than a Bentley 
The new Continental GT is faster and more economical than the model it replaces
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The new Continental GT is faster and more economical than the model it replaces 
The new Continental GT has a lighter body than that of its predecessor
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The new Continental GT has a lighter body than that of its predecessor 
The Continental GT looks similar to its predecessor
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The Continental GT looks similar to its predecessor
The Continental GT will debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September
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The Continental GT will debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 
The new Bentley Continental GT
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The new Bentley Continental GT 
The details within the headlamps of the Continental GT make it look more expensive
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The details within the headlamps of the Continental GT make it look more expensive 
The crystal-effect of the Continental GT headlamps could have been lifted straight from a concept car
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The crystal-effect of the Continental GT headlamps could have been lifted straight from a concept car
The Bentley badge is beloved by old- and new-money alike
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The Bentley badge is beloved by old- and new-money alike 
Bentley credits new aluminum body panels for the sharper edges on the Continental GT
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Bentley credits new aluminum body panels for the sharper edges on the Continental GT 
The crystal details on the brake lights of the Continental GT mirror that of the front end
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The crystal details on the brake lights of the Continental GT mirror that of the front end 
Behind the wheel of the new Bentley Continental GT
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Behind the wheel of the new Bentley Continental GT 
There are an abundance of trim options for the Continental GT
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There are an abundance of trim options for the Continental GT
The widescreen display in the Continental GT folds away to reveal a simple wood trim or trio of analog dials
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The widescreen display in the Continental GT folds away to reveal a simple wood trim or trio of analog dials 
The wood veneer in the Continental GT when the widescreen display is folded away
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The wood veneer in the Continental GT when the widescreen display is folded away 
The screen in the Bentley Continental GT
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The screen in the Bentley Continental GT 
A third option for the folding central display in the Continental GT
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A third option for the folding central display in the Continental GT 
Owners are able to choose from a dizzying array of different colors and trim materials in the Continental GT
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Owners are able to choose from a dizzying array of different colors and trim materials in the Continental GT 
The Conti has usable back seats, although you'll want the four-door Flying Spur for long trips with tall passengers on board
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The Conti has usable back seats, although you'll want the four-door Flying Spur for long trips with tall passengers on board
The gorgeous detailing on the Continental GT seats
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The gorgeous detailing on the Continental GT seats 
Circular air vents are a Bentley design staple
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Circular air vents are a Bentley design staple
The interior trim on the new Continental can be customized to match the owner's wildest dreams... for a price, of course.
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The interior trim on the new Continental can be customized to match the owner's wildest dreams... for a price, of course. 
The detailing on the new Continental GT
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The detailing on the new Continental GT 
Crisp edges on the Bentley Continental GT
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Crisp edges on the Bentley Continental GT 
The new Bentley Continental GT is powered by a W12, hooked up to an eight-speed automatic gearbox
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The new Bentley Continental GT is powered by a W12, hooked up to an eight-speed automatic gearbox 
The new Continental GT
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The new Continental GT 
The new Continental GT
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The new Continental GT 
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It looks scarily similar to the second-generation car from the outside, but (we promise) you're looking at the third-generation Bentley Continental GT. Underneath its typically-Bentley sheetmetal is a reworked W12 engine, along with a fresh technology suite and a stunning new interior, all of which are sure to appeal to olde-world aristocrats and new-money ballers alike.

Like the previous model, the latest Conti is powered by a twin-turbocharged W12, but it produces 626 hp (467 kW) of power and 900 Nm (664 lb-ft) of torque for a 100 km/h (62 mph) sprint time of just 3.7 seconds. Those figures make the range-topping, continent-crushing Continental GT Speed Black Edition look a bit slow and underpowered, something we didn't think we'd be saying any time soon.

That prodigious power is put to the road through an eight-speed automatic gearbox. The old 60:40 rear-to-front all-wheel drive setup has been replaced with a smarter on-demand system that defaults to rear-drive under regular conditions, before shunting torque to the front axle when the situation demands it. Combined with start-stop and the ability to run as a six-cylinder, the system helps deliver 12.2 L/100 km (23.2 mpg) on the combined cycle.

The Continental GT looks similar to its predecessor
The Continental GT looks similar to its predecessor

Along with the reworked powertrain, the new car rides on a totally new chassis that benefits from the 48-V roll-control system popping up across the Volkswagen Group. A set of electronic actuators on the front and rear anti-roll bars, controlled by a standalone 48-V electronic system, are able to actively fight roll when you turn into a corner by stiffening the anti-roll bars, before slackening off for a comfier ride on less-than-perfect roads.

The system debuted on the Audi SQ7, and has since appeared on the Bentley Bentayga. Drivers are able to choose how sporty the suspension setup is, along with the powertrain and steering, using the Driver Dynamics Control switch on the dashboard. Interestingly, the 48-V electrical architecture can also support a volt-boosted turbocharger, but Bentley hasn't taken advantage of the technology in the Continental.

Smarter anti-roll bars work in tandem with a new electric power-assisted steering system with a variable rack ratio that's designed to smooth out annoying imperfections in the road surface without making the car feel vague and disconnected. Whether the average owner will notice the difference on a twisty road remains to be seen, but they will undoubtedly appreciate the fact it also opens the door for lane-keeping assist, traffic-jam assist and auto parking.

The widescreen display in the Continental GT folds away to reveal a simple wood trim or trio of analog dials
The widescreen display in the Continental GT folds away to reveal a simple wood trim or trio of analog dials 

The overhauled Continental has been given a stunning makeover inside, headlined by the new rotating display. On first look, you'd assume the 12.3-in touchscreen was a permanent fixture atop the dashboard, but it's actually part of a three-sided rotating panel. Depending on their mood, drivers are able to choose between the screen, a flush-fitting extension of the wood veneer, or three analog gauges. It's very cool, like a more sophisticated take on the switchable driver display in the McLaren 720S, but we shudder to think how complex it'll be to repair in a few years time.

As for the rest of the cabin, it's a stunning leather-lined cocoon for the uber-rich, with the usual staggering array of trim and color options ensuring no two cars are the same. With that said, the basic architecture – rising center console, low-set air vents, flush widescreen display and flat dashboard – looks suspiciously similar to that of the new Porsche Panamera. Bentley owners aren't likely to notice, but it's still worth noting there are inherent similarities between cars that share Volkswagen Group underpinnings, regardless of how much they cost.

Thankfully, there are no similarities between the four-door Porsche and two-door Bentley on the outside. The nose of the new Continental is similar to that of its predecessor, with four headlamps flanking the bold grille. It looks longer and lower than the old car in profile, and the brake lights borrow heavily from the EXP 10 Speed 6 concept. We aren't the last word in style, sure, but it's a handsome beast to our eyes. And even if you don't like the way it looks, the fact it's 80 kg (176 lb) lighter than the previous W12 Continental is still good news.

Pricing for the new Continental GT hasn't been announced, but the car will make its debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show next month.

Source: Bentley

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