Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Auto

That New Hotness: Bentley’s Continental GT Gets a Makeover

Miles Branman
By

Fourteen years – that’s how long Bentley’s current generation Continental GT has been in production. That’s longer than most dogs live, just for a bit of perspective.

Yes, Bentley’s iconic two-door has been in production for quite a while, and despite a moderate redesign in 2011, it has looked much the same since inception. For most cars, this would be the kiss of death, but the Continental GT has somehow remained attractive well into its golden years.

Recommended Videos

The original sports car’s prolonged appeal hasn’t stopped the UK automaker from developing a successor, however. With sleeker lines, improved technology, and more robust performance, the second generation Continental GT is striking all the right chords.

Related

With design cues borrowed from the EXP 10 Speed 6 Concept, the redesigned two-door retains the overall size and shape of its forbear while refining its physique considerably. Notable styling elements include a more rounded nose with Matrix LED headlights, slender oval taillights, and a soft-sloping lower character line that wraps from behind the front wheel arches around the rear.

Beneath the long bonnet is an updated version of the current car’s 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged W12 engine tuned to produce 626 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque. Like before, the massive engine can guzzle less fuel by deactivating cylinders when maximum performance isn’t required. When you do drop the hammer, however, the Continental GT will hit 60 mph in 3.6 seconds and continue accelerating to a top speed of 207 mph.

Some of the car’s performance capacity is due to a sophisticated all-wheel drive system, launch control system, and eight-speed automatic transmission. When the road gets curvy, Bentley’s Dynamic Ride (shared with the Bentley Bentayga) adapts the suspension to handle cornering G forces.

The new Continental GT also gains a host of driver aids like Active Lane Assist, Traffic Jam Assist, and Park Assist. In-car tech takes a leap with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system that hides when the car is off. Apple CarPlay is standard, but both the glorious Naim audio system with 18 speakers and 2,200 watts is optional.

Bentley will showcase its updated Continental GT at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show ahead of an on sale date sometime next year. Pricing is yet to be announced.

Editors' Recommendations

Miles Branman
Miles Branman
Miles Branman developed a passion for cars early on thanks to a neighbor’s collection of rare and exotic vehicles. What…
This is what the fastest motorcycle in the world looks like now
Do you know what the world's fastest bike is?
2021 Kawasaki Ninja H2R

Modern motorcycles have been through several advancements in design, powertrains, and electronics over the past few years. This makes the current crop of bikes some of the fastest machines -- even when you include cars -- on the planet. Interestingly, many motorcycle manufacturers have been simply estimating the speed of their bikes since they can’t just ask a rider to test drive their bikes at top speed but this doesn't mean the bikes on this list have exaggerated speeds.
Most of the bikes we spoke about are relatively new, so if you’re a speed demon, you must check out these bad boys for yourself. Yet, if you’re new to the world of motorcycles but enjoy cars in the fast lane, you should read about the best types of motorcycles and brush up on your motorbike slang before you jump headfirst into the world of fast motorcycles.

What is the fastest motorcycle in the world? 12 of the fastest
Motorcycles are much quicker in a straight line than cars because of their power-to-weight ratio.

Read more
Porsche, TAG Heuer team up for Carrera Chronograph honoring the 911, a timeless classic
A gorgeous timepiece in honor of a true classic
TAG Heuer Porsche watches on wheel

There are fewer sports cars as iconic and persistent as the Porsche 911. Performance has improved, and some features like natural aspiration and air cooling have gone the way of the dinosaurs -- but at its core (and in its styling), the 911 is pretty much the same rear engine beauty that Porsche unveiled back in September 1963. It is currently celebrating its 60th anniversary, as is a much-loved piece of chronography -- the TAG Heuer Carrera.

So it’s only fitting that TAG Heuer, an equally iconic Swiss watchmaker with strong racing links, has partnered up with Porsche to commemorate the German company’s flagship motor. The “Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche” is a beautiful chronograph and a fantastic bit of engineering. Its styling manages to cram in more references to the 911’s 60-year history than we can count without looking garish or overstated.

Read more
BMW, Mercedes Benz offer competing visions of our EV future
BMW is aiming high while Mercedes Benz is becoming more approachable
BMW Neue Klasse driving

Mercedes and BMW seem to have an awful lot in common. They’re both German automotive manufacturers, both companies have traditionally produced luxury vehicles, and like many manufacturers, they both believe the future is electric. But if you dig into that last point, things start to diverge.

It’s fair to say that BMW and Mercedes have different viewpoints on where exactly electric vehicles are, or at least should be, heading. Despite its long-standing luxury status, Mercedes is taking the accessibility route when it comes to EV production. The Stuttgart-based company believes that producing affordable electric cars and the increased uptake that comes with a lower price point is the secret to success when it comes to BEVs.

Read more