Due for its first in-the-flesh appearance at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show, uber-Brit-luxury marque Bentley has pulled the wraps off their all-new Continental GT, successor to the 2011 version of the same name and third full iteration of what is by far their most popular model.
The all-new 2+2 grand tourer, upon first glance, takes cues from the EXP10 Speed 6 concept from back in 2015, especially that rear half, but the front is decidedly firm in its grip on the past. It almost looks like a more squat Bentayga when viewed head on, but its merits or inferiorities depend on interpretation. What we will say, though, is that it’s a more inherent muscularity, something its predecessor needed to accentuate with sportier trim to really hit home.
Of course, that body will be hand built, but the underpinnings upon which it rests will be shared across other makes and models from within the Volkswagen Group umbrella. Notably, this new MSB platform is currently used by the Porsche Panamera and should carry into the all-new Flying Spur limousine as well.
Overall, the new Continental GT measures 4805mm, which longer than the outgoing model and comes as a result of a 110mm increase in wheelbase and a nose that’s been extended by 135mm - the front and rear overhangs have been reduced, however. Also notable is its 25mm increase in width, like necessitated by that new platform. Through new construction methods and a more advanced architecture taken into account, the Continental GT is some 70kg lighter on average compared to an equivalently specified second-generation model, with improved torsional stiffness and weight distribution.
Bentley have not detailed their whole engine line-up for the 2018 car but have shed light on the improved 6.0-litre W12 TSI twin-turbocharged unit. It will now produce 467kW and 900Nm, and through the aid of a new 8-speed dual-clutch transmission (rebranded PDK?) sending thrust to all four wheels, the 0-100km/h dash takes 3.7 seconds, close to a full second faster than the model it replaces. Top speed, meanwhile, is 333km/h. It’s also more efficient, equipped with energy recuperation, advanced fuel saving presets, and the ability to shut off half of its cylinders when under light loads to effectively operate as a 3.0-litre six.
No doubt the spanking new 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, an engine that also premiered in the Porsche Panamera, will be introduced at some later point as a more affordable (and in some cases rear-wheel driven) alternative to the flagship 12-pot. Add to that the very real possibility of the new Conti GT adopting hybrid technologies.
To ensure utmost comfort even during these kinds of hard bursts of acceleration, not to mention the lateral forces it’ll be bound to face, Bentley have equipped each with an electrical anti-roll system, Continuous Damping Control, and a three-chamber air-spring system. The first two of those features utilise the car’s inbuilt 48-volt electrical architecture that allows more high-draw systems to operate. The car also features a new torque vectoring system that first appeared on the Continental GT3-R and Continental Supersports.
Inside, the cabin is most definitely the most modern interpretation of Bentley’s definition of pure class, mixed with more advanced features that buyers in general demand of today’s cars. It goes without saying that the finest leather and wood were selected to construct it, with impeccable levels of craftsmanship lavished throughout. Aside from this, the instrument cluster is now a fully digital panel, aided by a secondary 12.3-inch ‘retina’ high resolution MMI infotainment display in the centre replete with configurable home screen and support for Apple CarPlay. No Android Auto support, though - boo to users of Google’s mobile OS.
An interesting little semi-feature here is how the main infotainment screen is shown. It has multiple - we count three - sides that rotate depending on the need. Aptly, it's called Bentley Rotating Display, and can flip the screen side of the rotator to face the driver and passengers when the need arises but can hide the display when not in use, either showing a plain piano black and wood finish that lines up with the rest of the dashboard finish or one with three analogue dials to admire. James Bond would be a little jealous.
At launch, buyers can choose from the all-new Continental GT in either City or Touring specification. The former offers a more urban set of safety and convenience features such as a gesture-operated powered boot release, pedestrian warning system, traffic sign recognition, and active city braking (AEB) and a 360-degree camera.
Touring, however, also receives autonomous emergency braking but adds adaptive cruise control with the excellent traffic jam assist (cribbed from Audi, likely), active lane assist, a head-up display, and an infra-red camera array.
Wolfgang Dürheimer, chairman and chief executive of Bentley Motors, said: “Bentley has been at the forefront of luxury Grand Touring for nearly one hundred years. The new, third-generation Continental GT is the pinnacle of our design and engineering achievements and marks the next step in Bentley’s journey.
“We are the world leader in luxury mobility and our products and services define new luxury in the automotive world. The new Continental GT encapsulates our desire to innovate as well as celebrate our heritage and take the Bentley ownership experience to the next, unparalleled level.”
We’ll definitely have more on the third-generation Continental GT as it’s revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, so keep an eye out for that.
For more on Bentley cars, check out our Showroom.
