Bentley Continental GT 2015 review
After road testing the Bentley Mulsanne a couple of months ago, I ended up with the following question: “Will I spend my own money on it? Yes, if I win the lottery, but only if my winnings are enough to buy something smaller and more suitable for everyday driving. Ideally a Bentley GT.”
So, I spent a few days in a great looking Bentley Continental GT V8 S to see if it would fit my daily needs. The extra "C" in the name indicates it's a convertible, while the "S" indicates it's a sportier version with more power and a slightly stiffer suspension. However, if you win the million dollar lottery, you won't get a Mulsanne plus GT. The total request for a pair of Bentleys with the options we've tested is around $1.3 million.
Yes, and the "V8" in the GT's name tells you it doesn't have a 12-cylinder engine. Yes, this is the cheapest Bentley ever!
But enough about the price, we are paying a visit to the rarefied financial layers, which are far beyond the understanding of us mere mortals. What can be said about the car itself?
Styling
Unlike most other prestige brands that gave their convertibles a retractable hardtop, the folks at Bentley stuck to tradition and used a soft top. Naturally, it is driven by an electro-hydraulic installation. Of course, it is offered in a wide variety of colors, just like the Bentley body.
ENGINE / TRANSMISSION
The Bentley Continental GT V8 S doesn't use the same somewhat old-fashioned six-and-a-half-liter V8 found in the Mulsanne. Rather, it has a state-of-the-art 4.0kW 388-litre V8 twin-turbocharged engine based on the one used in some of Audi's top models, since Bentley and Audi are part of the giant Volkswagen group these days.
The torque picks up from as early as 1700rpm, where it peaks at a staggering 680Nm, meaning there's a grunt sitting under your right foot almost all the time.
The GT uses an eight-speed automatic transmission. It has the kind of torque that requires it to be engineered for all-wheel drive.
SECURITY
The all-wheel drive system, combined with powerful brakes and the latest electronic stability control systems, ensures the highest possible safety at high speeds.
The mid-size Bentley was designed from the outset to provide the highest safety ratings, and crash tests abroad have shown very high ratings.
DRIVING
Engineers did a great job not only in making the softtop GT run smoothly and fast enough, but also in keeping noise levels at the level expected of a hardtop coupe.
It has three layers to help dampen sound and the inner layer is a soft fabric.
Folding back the soft top of the Bentley GT reveals the kind of interior that the British do so well. It's all made from quality leather and wood, much of which is handcrafted at Bentley's factory in Crewe, England.
The Bentley Continental GT V8 S has a top speed, conditions permitting, of 308 km/h. But it's not just about speed, this big Brit can cover huge distances with minimal effort.
It's a big car, but it doesn't have much room for a backseat, four people can be carried, but two plus a couple of kids work well enough.
The front seats are similar to the individual saloons and can be painted in a variety of colors. We liked the dark gray corrugated blocks on our test machine. The support is good but geared more towards comfort so there is a tendency to slip if you want to go into a corner enthusiastically.
Despite the high cornering grip, there is no doubt that you are trying to defy the laws of physics with more than two and a half tons of equipment.
The engine sounds great, with a throaty purr that will instantly put a smile on anyone who loves high performance V8 engines.
The Bentley Continental GT V8 S is the most impressive piece of automotive engineering to feature a real British Bulldog. $446,000 isn't cheap, but how do you value prestige?
