Overview & Reviews
Abundance. Wretched excess. More than adequate. If any of these phrases gives you a warm, fuzzy feeling, then you'll probably fall in love with the Bentley Continental GT. And we mean this in the best possible way. For those with deep enough pockets, this is one indulgence we wholeheartedly endorse.
The Bentley Continental GT luxury coupe owes its name and heritage to the glory days of Bentley, when cars such as the R Type Continental coupe of the early '50s offered the wealthy a fast, stylish and comfortable way to traverse Europe or North America. Sadly, the next three decades saw Bentley become nothing more than a clone of Rolls-Royce (which had purchased Bentley in the early 1930s).
Sometime in the 1980s, the company decided it wanted a distinct identity and returned to its performance roots with cars such as the Turbo R. After being bought out by Volkswagen in the late 1990s and benefiting from that company's vast resources, Bentley began turning out ever more irresistible luxury sedans, coupes and convertibles.
The first of these models was, in fact, the Bentley Continental GT. Though some of its components are shared with other VW products, the Continental GT boasts a number of key attributes for well-heeled car enthusiasts, including blistering performance courtesy of a twin-turbo 12-cylinder engine, the all-weather confidence of all-wheel drive, a sumptuous cabin that typifies the marque and, of course, the prestige factor. And at far less than $200,000, we dare say it even strikes us as a good value for those with warm fuzzies in their hearts.
Current Bentley Continental GT
The current Bentley Continental represents the second-generation model, which debuted in the 2011 model year. This new model is not a major departure from the previous GT, amounting to more of a light refresh. Bodywork has been sharpened slightly, with a more upright grille, LED running lights and a more prominent trunk bustle. Improvements were also made in regards to handling, power output, rear-seat comfort and the previously outdated infotainment interface.
With twin-turbocharged W12 power, the finest materials furnishing the cabin and a powerful, bulldog-like presence, the Bentley Continental GT and higher-performance GT Speed and near track-ready Supersports have few peers. Combining effortless performance with an interior that is the epitome of the coachbuilder's art, the Continental GT is a prime example of a grand touring-oriented exotic luxury coupe.
The Continental's standard engine is a 6.0-liter, twin-turbo W12 that pumps out 567 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque and sends its power to all four wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission. With a 0-60 time of just 4.4 seconds and a top speed of 198 mph, the Continental GT is a supercar in every sense. The Continental GT Speed gets the twin-turbo W12 boosted up to 600 and torque is upped to a whopping 553 lb-ft. The GT Speed was the most powerful automobile Bentley ever produced until the introduction of the Continental Supersports, which is covered in a separate review.
As one might expect, the Bentley Continental GT comes loaded with features. Highlights include 20-inch wheels, parking sensors, four-zone climate control, xenon headlights, adjustable suspension damping, 10-way power front seats, a navigation system and an eight-speaker audio system. In addition to its more powerful engine, the GT Speed gains 20-inch wheels with 13 dual spokes, darkened chrome mesh grilles (upper and lower), diamond-stitch leather upholstery, three-spoke steering wheel and other upgraded interior trim. The Supersports sacrifices some of these features for the sake of weight savings.
Options include a wide array of wheel choices, adaptive cruise control, a rearview camera, carbon-ceramic brake rotors, ventilated front seats with massage functions, a wood-trimmed steering wheel, an 11-speaker Naim audio system and a six-CD/DVD changer. The Mulliner Driving Specification package includes special 21-inch wheels and unique leather and interior trim.
Should a potential buyer wish to further set his Continental GT apart from all the others littering Rodeo Drive, he may choose custom colors and interior trim not offered in the Bentley catalog.
Used Bentley Continental GT Models
The first-generation Bentley Continental GT debuted in 2004 with only one style available. Until 2008, the Continental was available in a Diamond Series trim package that was essentially replaced by the GT Speed for '09. Audiophiles should note that the available iPod adapter available in the Continental GT prior to '09 was poorly designed, treating the iPod as if it were a six-CD changer. The infotainment interface remained woefully out of date until the arrival of the second-generation GT. The Supersports and Series 51 dawned for 2010.
The Continental's standard engine produced 552 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque and the six-speed automatic transmission was slightly slower to shift than the current model, but performance was still comparable. A more powerful Continental GT Speed arrived for the 2008 model year with power output increased to 600 hp 553 lb-ft of torque.
User Reviews:
Showing 41 through 50 of 58.00-
The Bentley - 2006 Bentley Continental GT
By Ryan Andrews - November 2 - 12:46 amThis is one fantastic car. Its fast, handles well, has great looks, and has a Bently badge which makes it that much better. I like to drive with the paddle shifters, tap the left one to downshift an the turbos propel you to great speed within seconds an lets you hit very high speeds, which doesnt take very long. Its steering accuracy is superb at all speeds which makes the car feel lighter than it is. It wieghs about 5,200 pounds, but the steering makes it feel like its a mere 2,100 pound Miata. The brakes never fade or give up, I went from around 80 to 0 mph with in a few seconds to avoid rear ending a car in heavy LA traffic, most cars would have squeky, faded brakes, this thing never gives up. I love it!
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Next Time Around Will Be Ferrari! - 2005 Bentley Continental GT
By John Telerico - September 11 - 5:00 amThe interior of the Bentley Continental GT is pretty, but it has no headroom even without a sunroof. This car also has poor overall handling. The engine is strong off the line and above 70 mph. Its braking is no better than a Lincoln Navigators. The Continental GT is just too heavy. If you are over 6 feet tall, forget about comfort. Its quality has not met my expections, especially considering the fact that I had to wait a year for my ordered car to come in. This is a good car, its but far from great. It truly does nothing great.
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A Quality Ride - 2005 Bentley Continental GT
By keith - June 8 - 5:50 amAfter a Mercedes-Benz S55, the Bentley has restored my faith in expensive quality cars. The driving experience is all that I expected and the quality of build inside and out is first rate. Its performance is astonishing for such a heavy car but it translates to relatively poor mileage. The stereo is great but sat/nav is fiddly to use and very basic in its features. Servicing has been hassle free with all costs covered under the warranty and the dealership has taken care of any problems. The rear seat accomodation is tight but if I wanted a 4 seater I would have got the sedan! All in all I am very satisfied with the car and it fulfilled all my expectations. I highly recommended it.
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As Good as it Gets - 2005 Bentley Continental GT
By Jimbo - February 9 - 11:26 pmAwesome performance.. Had MBz for 25 yrs. -- build quality of the Bentley is awesome. Dealership experience great. Has some quirks -- what good (anglo/german) product doesnt. Its a different level of ownership experience. Service -- awesome. Have my order in for Convertible -- only way anyone will get Gt out of my hands.
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continental GT - 2004 Bentley Continental GT
By dajavoo - November 13 - 10:00 amSuperb Vehicle, gives a presence of dominance on and off the road!
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Bentley Continental GT - 2005 Bentley Continental GT
By Blake - August 29 - 12:16 pmSmooth to drive and a LOT of horsepower. Before I bought the GT I test drove the Aston Martin DB9. Theres nothing like a Bentley compared to the DB9.
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Nice to look at, disappointing to own. - 2005 Bentley Continental GT
By Ernie - June 28 - 7:20 pmThis car is a big disappointment. Im a car nut, and the interior is gorgeous. But the car is no fun to drive. Visibility is terrible, drivetrain doesnt harness power smoothly, and dealer experience has been lousy. By comparison, my 2004 Jaguar XJR is a delight to drive and a bargain-- at half the price, its very fast, has MORE features, has never even required dealer service and handles with nimbleness the Bentley cant approach. The Bentley is a stop-light ego builder, no doubt. But it feels like a date with Madonna might feel-- everyone looks at her and envys you, but somehow when youre alone together you realize shes not the woman you want so spend your life with!
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Best Car Ever! - 2004 Bentley Continental GT
By Normboat - May 20 - 10:00 amThe most unbelievable vehicle I have ever driven, much less owned. It makes most other cars toy-like, and shows the marked difference between cars. Blows away others. A true wonder of the combination of engineering and luxury.
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Car of Cars - 2008 Bentley Continental GT
By jordegcam - April 15 - 12:16 amTraded in my 2006 Maserati Gransport for a 2008 Black Bentley Continental GT Coupe. Wow! The styling is all at once beautiful, sporty, elegant, and eye-catching. While I miss the throaty roar of the Massy, the elegance and power of this Black Beauty is enthralling. The creature comforts, the interior, the modern features are beyond compare. This has to be the worlds best car. The Bluetooth feature apparently has been improved, my iPhone works well with it seamlessly. The drive is comfortable, yet very powerful. With a 0 to 60 of 4.6 seconds and 552 horsepower, this is a far better buy than a Ferrari Scaglietti, in my opinion. No regrets so far after 5 days!
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Disappointed in Bentley - 2006 Bentley Continental GT
By Let down by Bentley - March 23 - 9:30 pmThis is a great car with one major exception. Using the phone, after you dial a primary phone number there is no way to dial an extension while driving. I cant use the car for business calls. The car sits in the garage. If you need to use this car phone to dial an extension after you dial your office, forget it. Make sure to check it out for yourself before purchasing this car. I would like to get a Flying Spur but with the phone the way it is, Im getting a MBZ S600 or S65. Also, if you are tall the seat belt pulls down on your shoulder. Last, the air conditioning is weak. All this being said, this car is a GREAT drive.
