Introduction: The Continental GT is actually the progeny of Bentley's parent company, Volkswagen. For longtime Bentley fans, such an arrangement could be viewed as blasphemous. Having the storied British marque owned and controlled by Germany's largest automaker may not represent what W.O. Bentley originally planned when he started his company over 80 years ago. However, the new Continental GT coupe is the most exciting vehicle to wear that famous "B" emblem in 70 years. Not only is it the best Bentley ever made, it is one of the best ultraluxury coupes currently available. Though some may consider the exterior styling controversial, it is certainly distinctive. The wow factor continues inside the Bentley coupe where the interior materials and control layout conspire to create an outstanding cabin. This is not surprising when you consider the parent company's penchant for great interiors. If $35,000 buys an Audi TT's excellent interior, and $65,000 gets you the even more striking cabin of the A8, you can imagine what Volkswagen-Audi is capable of producing for $150,000. Real metal accents and supple leather throughout the Continental GT's cabin highlight the old-world design elements, such as the push-pull vent controls and deep-set gauges. Even the door-mounted window switches and the levers for moving the front seats forward are made of real metal. Under the hood resides a 552-horsepower W12 engine, which feeds power to all four wheels. The suspension is made up of double wishbones in front and a multilink setup in the rear. Air springs incorporating infinitely adjustable electronic dampers allow the driver to select different modes for optimal handling and ride comfort. Besides a rear seat best suited for children, the only real negative with this car is the lack of a true Formula One-style manual transmission. The Continental GT offers only a six-speed automatic transmission, though it includes paddle shifters just ahead of the steering wheel that are as easy to utilize as those in the Aston Martin Vanquish and Ferrari 575M. The transmission can be set in a sport mode for more aggressive automatic shifting, or a Tiptronic mode for manual shifting via the paddles. In many areas, the Continental GT has set new benchmarks. Its interior quality and control layout are as well executed as anything we've driven. Its combination of comfort, performance and luxury is unprecedented. Regardless of its origin, W.O. would be proud.
Body Styles, Trim Levels and Options: The Continental GT is available in one well-appointed trim level. Besides the requisite luxury accessories found in any ultraluxury automobile, Bentley offers a host of customization options based on individual buyer's needs. Power accessories abound, including multiadjustable leather seating. The audio system features digital signal processing for outstanding sound reproduction. A CD changer is included, but it is inconveniently mounted in the glovebox.
Powertrains and Performance: The Continental GT comes with a 6.0-liter, twin-turbo W12. This power plant is good for 552 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed automatic in the only transmission choice. However, a paddle-shifted Tiptronic function is included, and gear changes are swift and trouble-free.
Safety: Standard safety features include stability control, traction control, side and head airbags for front and rear passengers, front and rear parking sensors, four-wheel ABS and child safety-seat anchors.
Interior Design and Special Features: Interior controls, though complex, can be easily mastered without having to consult the owner's manual. Bentley uses a large dial (similar to a BMW iDrive controller) to scroll through the car's many functions, but it combines multiple buttons that allow fast access to each of the car's major systems. Each control function also features a graphical element that clearly displays what you are doing in the center stack area. Tasteful wood, leather and metal accents abound. Luggage space is surprisingly accommodating, and offers plenty of room for the requisite golf clubs and shopping bags.
Driving Impressions: The Continental GT weighs in at a hefty 5,300 pounds, but you'd never guess it after flinging the car through the twisties or hammering it to quickly merge with freeway traffic. The car's air suspension has multiple settings for comfort or performance. The coupe's ride height is also adjustable to aid high-speed stability, and a rear spoiler deploys from just below the rear window to create downforce. Wind noise is minimal at 80 mph, and the Bentley feels buttoned down at nearly twice that speed. Likewise, the twin-turbo W12 produces tremendous thrust at will. Braking is similarly effortless with short stops and superb feedback through the pedal.
What would happen if you took VW's flagship car, the Phaeton, draped it with sexy coupe bodywork, added 2 turbos to the engine, and finished the interior in real wood, leather, and metal? You'd have a Bentley Continental GT. The Bentley shares its basic architecture with the VW Phaeton. The Bentley's engine is a twin-turbo version of the Phaeton's 6.0-liter W-12 engine, and that engine is placed in front of the front axle, just like in the VW. The suspension setup is also nearly the same, with air springs and multiple links front and rear. The Bentley's interior is mostly unique, but the steering wheel and switchgear are obviously from the VW parts bin. So is the Bentley worth nearly double the price of the VW? Or should we ask the more appropriate question: What's in a name? That is something that only your banker or your psychoanalyst can answer. We can tell you that the Bentley is full of contradictions. It is an extremely luxurious car, but it doesn't have the feeling of bespoke craftsmanship that Bentleys have traditionally been known for. The Continental GT is Bentley's "entry level" car, but it is easily the fastest Bentley ever. Bentley's engineers assure us that no part larger than a shoe box is shared between the VW Phaeton and the Continental GT, but the Bentley suffers from obvious compromises resultant from sharing its layout with the VW. The interior is full of real wood and aluminum, but the shiny grille on the front of the car is actually chromed plastic. The biggest contradiction of all is the one stemming from the disparity between what you hear and feel and what the speedometer says. There is simply no sensation of speed at any velocity you're likely to encounter. Acceleration could be compared with taking off in a jet; it is so linear and smooth that after it begins, it continues unabated seemingly in perpetuity. "You can't tell how fast you're going" has become a standard cliche when used to describe large luxury cars, but the Continental GT certainly elevates the requirements for that cliche's use to a new level. Wind noise is almost nonexistent even at double the highest speed limit in the U.S. and the suspension manages both to filter out bumps and avoid any wallowing. At 75 mph you could literally close your eyes and swear you were going 10 mph. Indeed, the Continental GT may be the ultimate Autobahn luxury cruiser. If there is one thing this car does better than perhaps any other, it is eating miles in complete luxury and isolation at speeds comparable to a plane. Our own Georg Kacher shepherded a Continental GT to speeds over 200 mph on a private track (Automobile, December, 2003). The only problem with the Continental GT's prowess at these speeds is that it comes at the expense of agility. The VW corporate architecture that puts the engine in front of the front axle does help make the car safer and more stable at 180 mph, but at speeds you can actually drive it and retain a license, it makes the car feel positively huge and unwieldy. Even with the electronically adjustable suspension set to its sportiest mode, there is a lot of brake dive, and if we're going to discuss turn-in, we'll have to defer to one of our esteemed colleagues from Power & Motoryacht. So this car isn't exactly agile. Is it fair to expect it to be? Probably not. The Continental GT is more about luxury and style than tearing up back roads. The sheer volume of high-quality wood, leather, and machined aluminum in this car's interior would surely impress anyone who'd never been in a Bentley or Rolls-Royce before. Even a jaded Mercedes-Benz S-class driver might be wowed by the real metal accents and the prominent Breitling clock. The materials and switchgear are a substantial cut above anything available from your local Mercedes or Lexus dealers. Many on our staff find the interior faultless. That said, the feeling of tailor-made craftsmanship isn't there to some of us. Previous Bentley owners we've heard from find the overall effect cold and common compared with the Bentleys they are accustomed to. We doubt Bentley concerns itself much with these folks anyhow; the company expects 75% of Continental GT's to be sold to so-called "conquest customers," people who haven't owned previous Bentleys. Sharon Osbourne and Denzel Washington, both of whom have reportedly purchased Continental GT's, will surely enjoy their cars. The Continental GT's only real competitor in the mid-$100,000 grand touring coupe segment is the Aston Martin DB9. The DB9 feels more special inside, and it is more involving and fun to drive. The DB9's better weight distribution pays off in more neutral handling and faster responses in transitions. On paper, the Bentley should be much faster, what with its 100-horsepower power advantage. But look at curb weight figures and the Bentley's advantage is flipped on its back. The Bentley is a staggering 1375 pounds heavier than the Aston Martin. When power to weight ratios are compared, the DB9 is actually better by about 11 percent - a significant advantage. The Bentley can't catch up until it is well into triple-digit speeds, where only aerodynamic drag and power matter. The DB9 won't reach 200 mph (it tops out at 186 mph), but at speeds driven by all but the most flagrant flouters of US speed laws, it is the quicker car. Where does that leave the Continental GT? Frankly, we're a bit divided on the issue. Some of us are smitten with the car's elegant interior, license-shredding top end, and commanding presence, while the rest of us are disappointed with the enormous weight, mediocre handling, and feeling of being a tarted-up VW. In the end, it doesn't matter what we think. Bentley has sold out production of the Continental GT for at least the first year.
The stunning Bentley Continental GT coupé will now have even further visual appeal with the creation of an optional range of contemporary design features packaged as the Mulliner Driving Specification.
Designed by Bentley’s bespoke coachbuilding division, the Mulliner Driving Specification is being offered in direct response to customer demand for a more overtly sporting character to the Continental GT.
Bentley is also announcing enhancements to the standard specification 2005 Model Year Continental GT. In addition a new range of factory and Bentley Mulliner options is also being introduced, further increasing customer choice and the ability to specify a car to suit their needs.
OVERVIEW
• Optional Mulliner Driving Specification is the first significant product development for Bentley Continental GT since its launch.
• Created in response to customer demand for further sporting feel.
• Introduces Bentley Mulliner craftsmanship to Continental GT range.
• Mulliner Driving Specification package will comprise:
– 20-inch 2-piece, 7-spoke alloy sports wheels with bespoke Advan Sport 275/35 R20 tyres – Drilled alloy sports foot pedals and footrest – Sporting gear lever finished in knurled chrome and hide – Bold two-tone leather and veneer combinations – Diamond quilted hide to facings, doors and rear quarter panels – Embroidered ‘Bentley’ marque emblem to seat facings – Indented hide headlining – Dark-stained Burr Walnut or Piano black veneer.
• Additional factory fit and Bentley Mulliner options will be available for purchase separately on all Continental GT models. These will comprise:
– Two-tone hide trimmed multi-function steering wheel – Cross-stitching to seats and door panels – Aluminium facia panels – Vavona and Olive Ash premium wood veneers – Embossed ‘Bentley’ marque emblem to seat facings – Lambswool rugs or deep pile carpet mats with hide trimming – Mulliner alloy fuel filler cap.
• The standard specification Bentley Continental GT now comprises:
– Voice activation for in-car telephone in six languages – Increased interior trim option with addition of Magnolia hide – Carpets and seatbelts that can be matched to either the main or secondary hide colour.
• The price of the new 2005 Model Year Bentley Continental GT in the UK will be £112,750 (including VAT).
• The cost of the optional Mulliner Driving Specification is £6,000.00.
• Orders will be taken from October 2004.
Bentley Mulliner Driving Specification in detail
The new Mulliner Driving Specification is the first significant product development for the Continental GT since its launch. The new package also marks the first occasion that Bentley Mulliner, the world’s most respected coachbuilder, has been able to demonstrate its unique skills on the Continental GT.
The Mulliner Driving Specification will be available to Bentley Continental GT customers as a complete package and is designed to enhance the sporting appearance of the car by introducing contemporary materials and tones to the already exquisite cabin.
“When the Continental GT was first launched we intentionally made more of a grand touring statement in terms of its visual feel, especially inside the car. The GT has proved to be an unequivocal sales success around the globe. However, some potential buyers have demanded the Continental GT reflects a more overtly sporting character, so the Mulliner Driving Specification was the obvious next step.”
Robin Page, head of interior design, Bentley Motors
To fulfill those requests for a more sporting character, the new package comprises 20-inch two-piece alloy sports wheels, drilled alloy sports pedals, a new gearlever with knurled top and aluminium surround, diamond-quilted hide for the seats, doors and rear quarter panels, indented hide for the roof headlining, embroidered ‘Bentley wing’ seat emblems and a choice of piano black or dark-stained burr walnut veneer.
The mighty Bentley Arnage T seemed like the perfect place to start when Bentley Mulliner’s design team considered how to create a Continental GT with a more sporting appearance. The Arnage T’s use of diamond quilted hides and aluminium trim options to the pedals and facia gives it a distinct and purposeful look – a powerful representation of the Bentley theme.
Those same materials are used to make the Mulliner Driving Specification the most contemporary Bentley yet. Bold, two-tone leather and dark veneer combinations give the car a modern yet distinct feel, much like a fashionable driving watch. By combining heavily lacquered, dark veneers with lighter seat leathers, the Continental GT’s interior becomes a place of intent and focus. The use of dark woods also acts as a helpful contrast to the beautiful, jewellery-like switchgear and brighter trim that is introduced with the Mulliner Driving Specification.
“Creating a different feel is as much about the tactile nature of a car’s interior as producing a stunning overall design. When people hold a beautifully created, handmade steering wheel or rest their feet on drilled alloy pedals, it’s those little touches that combine to give a really big overall impression.”
Robin Page, head of interior design, Bentley Motors
Even the appearance and feel of the beautiful leather hides used for the Continental GT have not escaped the attentions of the Bentley Mulliner design team. Diamond quilting has been applied to the seat cushions and squabs in both the front and rear as well as the door and rear quarter panels. This diamond pattern is a classic Bentley performance cue and is as much a nod to the heritage of this great sporting marque as it is the perfect design tool for the Mulliner Driving Specification.
The hides used to line the cabin headlining have also been given a distinctive addition in the form of embossed indentation. This look, much like the back of the iconic leather driving glove, is another subtle reference to the car’s potential. Simple devices though they are, both the fluting and hide indentation have specific purposes, as Robin Page explains:
“The Mulliner Driving Specification has a slightly different flute pattern to the Arnage T. In the Arnage T we use a squarer diamond shape, but in the Continental GT it is a more recognisable ‘playing card’ diamond. If you look closely you will see that the diamond is reflected in the knurled texture we have applied to the new gearlever and they have tremendous impact when you put them together.”
Robin Page, head of interior design, Bentley Motors
A final visual aid to help create that unmistakable sporting presence is the introduction of a new 20-inch two-piece alloy sports wheel to replace the standard 19-inch versions currently available on the Continental GT. This seven-spoke rim has a combination of chrome and silk finishes while retaining the distinctive ‘Bentley Motors’ hub.
The new two-piece sports wheels also wear a brand new tyre created exclusively for the larger rim. Designed on behalf of Bentley by Yokohama, the Advan Sport 275/35 R20 tyre provides significant benefits for drivers looking for even sportier handling and improved steering feel and response.
The culmination of an intensive development programme carried out by both Bentley and Yokohama engineers, the new tyre has a lower sidewall that provides sharper turn-in feel and precision. The Advan Sport manages to deliver increased performance without noticeable reduction in overall ride quality, meaning drivers will continue to enjoy the unparalleled luxury of a Continental GT and now benefit from its increased sporting characteristics.
New specification and options for all Continental GT customers
As well as the new Mulliner Driving Specification, Bentley is announcing changes to the 2005 Model Year Continental GT. The car’s standard specification is being enhanced, and a new range of factory and Bentley Mulliner options is available for purchase individually.
The standard specification Bentley Continental GT will now come with telephone voice activation system that can operate in six languages, allowing the driver to operate the in-car telephone using steering-wheel mounted controls and voice dialling. In addition to voice activation, customers also have the option to delete the privacy telephone handset currently mounted in the front passenger armrest, thereby freeing up additional storage space.
New interior trim options are also added to the standard specification. For the first time the Continental GT is available with an additional main hide colour – Magnolia. The car’s carpets can also be specified to match either the main or secondary hide. Lastly, the seatbelt colour can also be matched to either the main or secondary hide colours, regardless of the carpet colour chosen.
New factory-fitted options that are available for purchase individually include a two-tone, hide trimmed multi-function steering wheel which is recommended for cars with contrasting main and secondary hide colours.
The new range of individual Bentley Mulliner options for the Continental GT brings the unparalleled craftsmanship of the Mulliner coachbuilding division to every customer. This year marks the 80th anniversary of HJ Mulliner’s first commission for Bentley Motors and since then the Mulliner name has established itself as the world’s leading creator of coachbuilt cars.
Now Mulliner options can be specified individually for the 2005 model year Continental GT, meaning customers can create individual statements with every car ordered. The new range consists of a beautiful Mulliner alloy fuel cap with a Bentley ‘B’ badge and knurled finish for improved grip, that mirrors the interior switchgear design cues.
To provide added visual appeal to the seats and door panels, exquisite contrast and cross-stitching is being introduced. For single-tone interiors a list of approved thread colours is available. For two-tone interiors, thread for the main hide is matched to the secondary hide and vice versa.
To complement the new dark veneers and alloy trim of the Mulliner Driving Specification, aluminium facia panels can be ordered to replace the veneer on the instrument panel and centre console. Bentley Mulliner has designed these beautifully crafted panels to be combined with dark veneers and a single tone interior throughout the rest of the cabin, allowing the aluminium to make a full visual impact.
Two premium wood veneers – Vavona and Olive Ash – can be specified through the optional Mulliner range, as well as the choice of lambswool rugs or deep-pile carpet mats with hide trimming to provide added comfort and protection to the footwells.
The Continental GT success story continues
The announcement of the new Mulliner Driving Specification and 2005 model year changes for the Bentley Continental GT is just the latest chapter in the car’s brief but remarkable history. Sales of the four-wheel-drive coupé have exceeded the company’s wildest expectations and have driven Bentley to new sales records across the globe.
With demand showing no sign of diminishing, this incredible transformation in Bentley’s sales performance reflects the extraordinary public response to the Continental GT.
“There has been a brilliant reaction to the Continental GT in all our major markets. Whether you talk to dealers in the United States, Britain, Germany or wherever, the feedback is always the same – customers just love this car.
“We are very proud of this success story and the way that the Continental GT is flying the flag for Bentley and the British motor industry around the world. That’s why we are so pleased to be able to introduce the new 2005 model year Continental GT and the beautiful Mulliner Driving Specification, demonstrating clearly how well we respond to customer demand.”
Mark Tennant, marketing director, Bentley Motors
The 2005 model year Bentley Continental GT retails at £112,750 (including VAT), although the original price – which was announced more than 12 months ago – will still apply to all existing orders. The 2005 model year prices in full are as follows:
- UK £112,750 (including VAT)
- Euro zone €141,555 (excl sales tax)
- USA $155,990 (excl sales tax)
- Japan ¥19,900,000 (excl sales tax)
The 2005 model year Bentley Continental GT and Mulliner Driving Specification package will go on sale from October 2004.
