Bentley Continental GT Speed: Sophisticated Power Player

Motoring Channel Staff - 8/August/2007

Crewe, England — With the release of the new Continental GT "Speed" model, Bentley has brought to market the most powerful production Bentley ever. It's also the first Bentley to top 200mph (322km/h). 

Clearly the 'Speed' moniker is more than justified.

Bentley has opened the order book for the new model and will be available by years end to early birds, and is packed with the kind of luxury features that most Porsche owners could only dream of. The Continental GT Speed successfully combines an opulent cabin with the levels of door-slamming speed that rivals many exotic cars.

With the unveiling of the Continental GT Speed, Bentley chairman and chief executive Dr Franz Josef-Paefgen said the new model is one of the most potent yet: "The Continental GT is a highly successful, modern-day Bentley icon. The new GT Speed, with its harder-edged character and sportier driving experience, builds on this success."

The reason for the outrageously powerful coupe? Most exclusive vehicles like this are beyond reason, but according to Bentley it wants to appeal to new markets. "...the GT Speed extends the appeal of the Continental GT coupe to driving enthusiasts who place a high value on outright performance and agile handling."

In other words, it wants Ferrari and Porsche customers who want to impress their passengers with more than just outright power.

But power is not lacking in this instance. Under the hood of the new model is a demonic 448kW (600hp) 12-cylinder engine that develops 750Nm of torque. The W12 engine is essentially two V6 engines cobbled together and sharing the same crankshaft.

Linked up to the Continental GT Speed's AWD transmission, the Bentley can speed from zero to 100km/h in 4.5 seconds. Such acceleration is staggering, as is the vehicle's top speed of 326km/h (202mph).

The standard Continental GT makes less power, 412kw (552hp), because it doesn't have all the tweaks made on the Speed's engine, such as the the use of lower friction, lighter-weight components and a new engine management system.

As well as a more powerful engine, the Continental GT Speed also gets wider 9.5 x 20-inch alloy wheels and high performance Pirelli P Zero tyres as standard. Both models benefit from the new look front end, "defined by a wider, lower air intake and more upright radiator grille," that Bentley claims will improve airflow.

With its huge 6.0-litre twin turbo 12-cylinder engine, the Continental GT Speed is not lacking in power, and destroys the zero to 160km/h (100mph) spring in just over 10 seconds, but it did need to go on a diet. Tipping the scales at 2385kg, the previous modelContinental GT was one of the world's heaviest coupes.

Though the both the new Continental GT and Continental GT Speed models are 35kg (77lb) lighter, due mainly to the reduction in weight of the suspension and cooling system components, any reduction is a good thing for drivers.

On the road, the Continental GT Speed has a few styling cues that set it apart from its 'regular' cousin. Only eagle-eyed Bentley fans will be able to spot the differences, and they are as follows:

• Front grille and lower air intakes in dark-tinted chrome matrix

• Wider 'rifled' sports exhaust tail pipes

• Mulliner Interior (drilled alloy pedals, knurled chrome/hide gearlever, diamond quilted hide upholstery

The chassis for the blitzing new British bulldog has also been updated. In addition to the wider 20-inch wheels of the high performance coupe, the Continental GT Speed gets fade-resistant carbon ceramic brakes available as an option. With a "harder-edged" chassis including a lowered ride height, stiffer spring/damper settings and thicker anti-roll bars, Bentley claims the new 'Speed' model has improved agility and body control.

Steering response has also been changed, with a retuned speed-sensitive Servotronic system, solid-mounted front subframe and stiffer rear bushings, all of which are aimed at involving the driver more deeply through fast corners. There's also a new 'Dynamic' mode to the uprated Bosch 8.1 ESP system, which has a "progressive intervention to cater for the more spirited driver," according to the company.

Other new aspects of the new Bentley Continental GT range include two new exterior paint colours, Cumbrian Green and Granite, plus a pair of new leather hide colours, Newmarket Tan and Cumbrian Green. Green inside and out would be a sight!

Bentley believes that the all-wheel drive Continental GT changed the face of the luxury coupe market and attracted a wider audience to the Bentley marque. It also represented the first step in Bentley's renaissance, positioning the company at the pinnacle of both technology and consumer aspiration. 

Since its launch, demand for a sportier version of the Continental GT was met by the successful introduction of the 2005 GT Mulliner Driving Specification and the limited edition GT Diamond Series in 2006, to celebrate 60 years of Bentley at Crewe. 

And now the Continental GT Speed is born, building on the historic 'Speed' nameplate that was first used by Bentley in 1923. With it's dominant 448kW 12-cylinder twin turbo engine propelling it from standstill to 100km/h in just 4.5 seconds, and with the levels of luxury you normally find on a Rolls Royce, the new Continental GT Speed is equal parts prestige and power.

The new Bentley coupe's are available to order from August 2007.

Related articles:
- Bentley Arnage T (2007)
- Bentley Continental GTC (2007)
- Bentley Azure (2006)
- Bentley Arnage Drophead Coupe (2006)
- Bentley Continental Flying Spur (2005)
- Bentley Arnage Limousine (2005)
- Bentley Speed 8 (Racecar)