There are fast performance cars, and there are majestic, elegant cars. Then, there is Bentley. If there’s one brand in the world that can equal Rolls-Royce in grace and sophistication, while at the same time matching a Ferrari or an Aston in performance, it’s Bentley. This dual personality is natural for a brand that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans for four consecutive years from 1927 before succumbing to Rolls-Royce ownership.
Sportiness is in Bentley’s blood, so is stateliness. So when Volkswagen nervously took over the reins of this illustrious marque in 1998, it knew well the overwhelmingly huge responsibility that came with it.
And its first right step towards resurrecting the eminent label was the launch of the Continental GT in 2003. So besotted with it were the world’s rich and famous that the Crewe factory with its capacity of close to 10,000 cars a year couldn’t meet orders.
A new era was born. Now, with the 2012 version of this grand tourer, Volkswagen claims to have captured the grandeur as well as the sportiness of the brand’s past.
Refined aggression
With a 6.0-litre W12 that’s good for 567bhp and 700Nm of torque, it’s logical to expect an intoxicating experience behind the wheel. But you’ll be disappointed if you’re looking for the buzz of a roller-coaster ride in the 2,320kg GT. Make no mistake, the Continental GT is fast, really fast. It races from 0-100kph in just 4.6 seconds and goes on to a top speed of 318kph. But, it’s not roller-coaster fast, it’s Airbus A380 fast.
It’s refined performance at its best. You won’t realise you’re doing speeds way above legal limits until you glance at the speedometer. The savage power from the W12 is harnessed by the ZF six-speed transmission and unleashed through the Torsen all-wheel drive system with a 40:60 torque split.
In a nose-heavy car, this rear-biased split helps minimise understeer during mid-corner acceleration. And powering out of bends at ridiculous speeds is something you’ll do in the Continental GT more often than you’d think.
Its grip on the tarmac is incredible, thanks to a wider track front and rear as well as an upgraded electronic stability system that adapts to your driving style. Meanwhile, the continuous damping system ensures a smooth, comfortable ride at cruising speeds, while lowering the car at greater speeds. The standard 405mm front and 335mm rear ventilated discs are impressively up to the task of bringing the behemoth to a halt, but if that’s not enough for you, carbon ceramics are available as an option.
At 552bhp, the previous Continental GT wasn’t lacking in power, but Bentley has deemed it necessary to add 15 more horses to the W12. And with 65kg shaved off the total weight, this translates to a six per cent boost in the car’s power-to-weight ratio. The auto ’box has its shift times reduced by half to just 200 milliseconds now and allows double downshifts, so if the need arises you can drop from sixth straight to fourth in an instant. It also offers accurate rev-matching during downshifts by mimicking manual
throttle blips.
Command respect
All these factors make the Continental GT a more than decent driver’s car, but at close to a million dirhams, this is not a car that one would buy for the thrills. If it’s intense excitement and a drive that’ll scare you silly you’re looking for, there are many other cars out there for this kind of money, or much less. But those who buy a Bentley do it for its elegance and the all-important prestige factor. And Volkswagen has indeed got that aspect right with the Continental GT, at least with the styling.
Despite the fact that the GT’s underpinnings are still that of the VW Phaeton, the elegant, sophisticated lines on the super-formed aluminium hark back to the grand old days of the storied British icon. Even while sticking to tradition, the designers, led by their Belgian chief Dirk van Braeckel, have succeeded in infusing an element of aggressiveness in the GT’s looks. It’s also more aerodynamic than before, with drag now reduced to 0.33Cd.
However, the cabin is a bit of a let-down. It’s handcrafted all right, and it’s got the choicest hide and wood wherever you turn or touch. But the class and style seen on the outside are somehow missing in there. For a start, Bentley could have done better than just pick a few buttons, knobs and an LCD screen from the Volkswagen parts bin. It’s no doubt a great cabin even by luxury car standards, but falls short of what you’d expect in a Bentley, mainly because of mismatched VW bits.
The seats are comfortable, and are now slimmer, freeing up 46mm of legroom for rear passengers. They’re also lighter as the heavy integrated seat belt assembly from the previous model has been moved to the car’s body and comes with automated belt presenters.
Adding to the car’s overall refinement is the noise-dampening technology used, including anti-vibration panels, acoustic glazing and underfloor shields. The audio system is a bespoke 11-speaker unit from Naim that features a unique digital signal processing technology that creates a concert hall ambience in the cabin, which will be appreciated as the W12’s exhaust note isn’t particularly sonorous.
Verdict
It’s safe to assume that someone who can afford a Continental GT will already have a handful of other cars in his or her garage. Perhaps an Italian exotic for weekends, a German luxury saloon for the daily chores and a high-end four-wheel drive for veering off the beaten track. A Continental GT will cost less than all three of these put together, while offering a combination of all their capabilities in one superb package. That’s exactly what made it a runaway hit when it was launched first. With the 2012 GT, Bentley has bettered itself in every aspect.
Sony Thomas
Specs & Ratings
- Model Continental GT
- Engine 6.0-litre W12
- Transmission Six-speed auto, AWD
- Max power 567bhp @ 6,000rpm
- Max torque 700Nm @ 1,700rpm
- Top speed 318kph
- 0-100kph 4.6sec
- Price Starts at Dh975,000
