Bentley Continental 2014 overview
If Porsche lacks panache and Rolls-Royce doesn't have the required windshield tilt, Bentley is your brand.
As much a fashion accessory as a luxury coupe, the Continental GT V8 S is aimed at wealthy buyers who dream of a luxurious grand tourer with extra long legs.
The twin-turbocharged V8 engine shared with the Audi RS6 propels this 2.3-ton automotive titan from 100 to 4.5 km/h in just XNUMX seconds thanks to an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.
DRIVING
Aside from the deliberate sonic intrusion when the engine kicks in, the feel is ethereal as the speedometer needle spins around the dial, accompanied by a lack of jerks, wind noise or any standard barometer of pace.
Again, for $405,600, that's how it should be. That's for starters - our test car was sold for a house purchase price of $502,055 before travel expenses.
There are as many options as the car itself. Sir, would you like a sport exhaust, brakes and carbon fiber trim? It will be $36,965.
An upgrade to 21-inch wheels with an admittedly exquisite "black diamond" finish, the addition of alloy pedals and jeweled fuel and oil caps, along with diamond quilted and perforated leather, embroidered Bentley emblems on the headrests, and "scalloped leather ceiling" costs another $16,916. .
Premium audio adds $14,636, tinted front and rear lights add $3474, and contrast stitching on the leather upholstery stitches buyers in at $3810.
At this price, one would expect a rear-view camera as the default mechanism. Unfortunately no. This also requires an option tick, although $2431 is a relative trade.
The searing yellow paint job featured in the Carsguide review adds $11,011 and is best reserved for those who like to be the center of attention (or are considering building a taxi fleet for the mega-rich).
If the latter is the case, it is effectively a one-passenger vehicle. The back seat is best left as there will be room for a Hermes handbag. It's not an uncomfortable place (although legroom is limited), but there just isn't a decent way to get in and out from behind.
And it does not match the glamorous nature of this car.
The 14-way adjustable front seat and power steering column make it easy to find your optimal driving position, and the infotainment menus and switchgear are as logical as you'd expect from a fusion of German and British engineering.
The leather-wrapped paddle shifters (a $1422 option) are the experience's only downside, as they're too far behind the steering wheel to make changes intuitive. Given that the transmission's pre-set shift points range from smooth slick in drive mode to sharp jumps in sport, there's little reason to use them anyway.
At pace or in tight corners, the Bentley's heavy front displacement becomes apparent, which is kept in check by the full grip of the wheels and the chassis carved as if from granite.
The suspension can be adjusted using a virtual slider on the infotainment screen to go from soft and pleasant with a complete disregard for road junctions and potholes to stiffness that is appropriate on the track.
Bentley ownership is an exclusive club - sales in Australia are about 10 cars a month. In the case of the GT V8 S, that membership brings with it an incredibly comfortable cruiser with all the clout of a private equity fund. Price doesn't matter, looks... and you don't want a GT V8 S showing up in your rearview mirrors.
