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 Improvements were also made in regards to handling, power output, rear-seat comfort and the previously outdated infotainment interface.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 51 through 58 of 58.00-
Time in Motion - 2005 Bentley Continental GT
By R. Olander - February 12 - 10:16 amWow! The Bentley Continental GT is a new benchmark. The interior workmanship is excellent and the exterior looks great from the front and side views. Its rear legroom is a liitle skimpy, but Bentley delivers on the 1952 Continental R concept. This vehicle will be a real classic. It was worth the wait.
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Terrible electronics - 2005 Bentley Continental GT
By 05bntly - December 23 - 4:33 amThis car is absolutely gorgeous, is a blast to drive, but it is the worst quality new car I have ever owned. The electronics in the car fail in one way or another about every three weeks. One fourth of the miles on the car have been put on going back to the dealer for repairs. It is so bad, the car now qualifies for a buyback under my state Lemon Law. I am very disappointed with the quality of the electronics. Also, the customer service is very much below my expectaions for a car in this price range. My advice to anyone considering buying one is to wait till they get all the bugs worked out of the electonics in the car.
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2006 Bentley Continental GT - 2006 Bentley Continental GT
By 2andout - August 20 - 8:00 amPower, handling, braking is superb. Enough GVW to be classified as a light truck but nimble as a Ferrari in the turns. Quiet yet throaty. This is the best car in class that I have ever owned. Double insulated glass. Everything leather. Check out the interior trim. Hardly a sign of plastic anywhere. I rate this car based on performance, appearance, reliability. I give it 10+ in every category. It has bluetooth yet the iPhone does not work with it. The navigation in the 06 is by cd, not the greatest. Nobodys perfect.
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bently - 2004 Bentley Continental GT
By Mark Adams - May 10 - 3:03 amthis is a great car.
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Bentley did it! - 2005 Bentley Continental GT
By bob - February 18 - 12:03 pmI just picked up my Continental GT last week. I have only wonderful things to say about it. It is an awesome vehicle with a great combination of power and luxury. I previously drove a Mercedes-Benz and cannot believe the difference in handling and power between it and my Bently. My only complaint is that the cupholders are not really functional, but I can live with that issue.
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The Best of the Best - 2005 Bentley Continental GT
By larry sarf - February 13 - 8:16 amThe 2005 Bentley Continental GT is a great automobile. Its comfort is unbeliveable and its performance is so surprising. It definitely is the greatest car I have ever owned.
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Pattsys Baby Bentley - 2004 Bentley Continental GT
By Pattsy Taylor - January 30 - 10:00 amI love my Bentley very much because it drives so well and plus it drives real smooth on the road. I have recently put some 23s on my bentley and I am loving it a lot. I am thinking about getting my husband one for his 35th birthday.
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2004 Bentley Continental - 2004 Bentley Continental GT
By Joel - January 17 - 6:16 pmThe 2004 Bentley Continental is an excellent car. It is fun to own. o Mine has had no problems.
