As a seasoned automobile enthusiast with decades of driving under my belt, I must say that the Bentley Continental GT Speed left me utterly spellbound. Having driven everything from classic muscle cars to modern supercars, this grand tourer stands out as a remarkable achievement in the world of luxury motoring.
Have you ever embarked on an extensive journey by car? Although ‘grand tour’ might sound familiar, reminding you of a simple road trip, there are numerous elements that contribute to selecting the ideal vehicle for such a trip. Some automobile brands have mastered this; let us clarify that Bentley is one of them.
For many years, the Bentley Continental GT has been a key model for British luxury carmaker in the realm of grand touring vehicles. Its impact can be seen and heard as soon as it takes to the road, with its striking design and immense power. To keep things interesting, I must say that the latest version is truly exceptional, not just slightly better but significantly so.
First things first, let me clarify – indeed, it is electrified. We’ve made this clear before and we’ll do so again: adapt to the change. If you were to analyze the situation thoroughly, hybridizing the current 4.0L twin single-scroll turbo V8 becomes quite reasonable. This isn’t about efficiency or being environmentally friendly. It’s about logic – it offers an incredibly smooth ride, the power is instant when required, and there’s a substantial amount of power available whenever you need it. Pair this with a luxurious build that matches its price tag of over $300k USD, and the 2025 Bentley Continental GT Speed could easily become your preferred Grand Tourer.
We had an exceptional experience driving the latest brute coupé for approximately 100 miles through the picturesque Swiss Alps. Here’s what we learned from the journey.
It’s the Best Looking Continental GT of Them All
As a dedicated Bentley enthusiast, I’ve always admired the raw, powerful presence of the Continental GT Coupe. Its extended hood and robust rear fenders have always given it an intimidating posture, veering more towards muscular menace than elegant grand touring elegance. The latest model retains that essence but with refinements that make it irresistibly alluring.
The most notable transformation can be seen upfront, where a fresh pair of eyes mark the beginning of a new design phase for Bentley. Previously, we cherished the quad headlights, as they were unique and instantly recognizable as Bentley, but it’s hard to deny that the sleek “eyebrows” aren’t quite appealing too. The headlights have also been integrated into a bumper with sharper contours, all within a hood that is flatter and less rounded. In comparison to the first generation, which was criticized for being excessively round and curvaceous, this latest Continental GT embodies its design language more faithfully and articulates the “Grand Tourer” essence more effectively.
At the back, the extended LED tail lights appear more modern, and a fundamental design principle suggests that larger components enhance a broader line, making the new Continental GT’s rear look quite expansive. The trunk has been revamped with a more pronounced, sharper edge, which assists in downforce without requiring an active spoiler to deploy. This not only simplifies the design and improves aerodynamics, but fewer moving parts are always beneficial. Our car was coated in Gravity Grey, a rather understated color, suitable for those preferring something less flashy; however, consider opting for the 22″ “Tiger Claw” wheels in silver, as our all-black ones were quite unremarkable.
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It’s Still Extremely Luxurious
To us, Bentley symbolizes pure luxury in every aspect. Its price tag reflects this opulence, its image exudes elegance, and its clientele anticipate nothing less than excellence from its performance. Therefore, a Grand Tourer that not only boasts power and smoothness on the exterior, but also offers an impressively equipped and exceptionally comfortable interior is ideal for this brand.
Initially, we were quite fond of the door panels featuring the quilt pattern, but our admiration grew unexpectedly as we discovered they weren’t made of some exotic material – truth be told, they seemed more like fabric. Despite this, the design was sharp and caught our attention each time we opened the doors. The incorporation of leather accents, particularly baby blue against a dark wine backdrop, left an indelible impression on us. However, if you’re not drawn to this color combination, rest assured that Bentley offers a wide array of customization options through its Mulliner program for your personal preference.
Thankfully something that hasn’t changed much from the first-to-third generations is the choice of materials inside that feel ultra premium, such as the polished aluminum vent pulls, the metallic paddle shifters, swatches of alcantara above and in front of you, etc. We’re usually not a huge fan of carbon fiber interiors – real or not – but following the grain with our fingers across the entire dashboard and seeing it’s all uniform and perfect is once again something you expect from Bentley, and alas they didn’t disappoint. Needless to say, our spirited cruise through the Swiss Alps was nothing short of spectacular, inside and out.
Hybrid Drive Makes It an Amazing Grand Tourer (As It Should)
Moving on to the topic of cruises, it’s worth noting that the Bentley Continental GT Speed has now transitioned into a hybrid model. Whether you’re pro or con, a hybrid engine (or perhaps a fully electric vehicle in the future) aligns perfectly with the concept of a grand tour. Let’s delve deeper.
The whole point of a grand tour drive is dependent on a few key factors: speed via smoothness, a refined drive, an elegant interior and, naturally, enormous power. And if electric/hybrid power accomplishes all this, what are we really arguing about? During our briefing we weren’t surprised to learn that our 2025 Continental GT Speed was “the most powerful GT ever” – marketing jargon for “well, duh.” But as we saw the numbers roll out, the advancement was what shocked us the most, as power rose from 659 PS (650 hp) and 900 Nm (664 lb-ft) to 782 and 1000 (771 hp, 737 lb-ft) respectively. A 120 hp and 107 lb-ft increase is massive, naturally accounting for the added hybridized weight of course. So while you may wax lyrical about “the good ol’ V12,” the 4.0L twin-turbo V8 and electric motor pairing still put a giggle in our bellies.
Despite not being designed primarily for sharp cornering like a swift, agile roadster, the CGT Speed surprised us with its impressive handling capabilities. It effectively absorbed sudden impacts and bumps, as well as smoothing out uneven surfaces effortlessly. We barely noticed any pitch or roll during acceleration and braking. Initially, we were worried about the carbon ceramic brakes since they made a squeaky noise during our initial, cold drive. However, once we “warmed them up,” they functioned smoothly. In essence, despite its heft (Bentley didn’t reveal the exact weight), the Conti GT Speed lived up to our expectations for a grand tourer, particularly during our two-hour test drive.
Instead of asking if the Bentley Continental GT Speed sets the new grand tourer standard, we can phrase it like this: The Bentley Continental GT Speed is continually being refined as the epitome of what a grand touring car should be, encompassing a harmonious blend of power and efficiency, thrill, handling, unparalleled comfort, and more. After our brief encounter with it, it’s evident why Bentley markets the Continental GT as the ultimate vehicle for your exceptional trips, and the decision to make it a hybrid by the engineers at Crewe, England was well-justified, period.
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2024-10-01 02:26