The Bentley Continental is the quintessential Bentley of the trendy period.
From the inception of the primary technology again within the late Nineties to its public launch in 2003, the Continental has remained the Bentley to have. Now in its fouth technology, the brand new 2025 Bentley Continental GT Velocity has ditched its iconic W12 engine and gone the way in which of a plug-in hybrid, so does it nonetheless have the identical enchantment?
To place in numbers simply how profitable the Continental has been for Bentley, the 100,000th instance of the mannequin will probably be constructed early in 2025. With out Continental, there can be no Bentley.
So for the British model to ditch its iconic 12-cylinder engine and go hybrid is a large threat, however to not embrace change and stay stagnant, is a fair larger threat.
The fourth-generation Conti brings with it lots of firsts: a brand new V8 twin-turbo plug-in hybrid powertrain that’s shared with Porsche, a completely new structure beneath the automotive that enables for greater than 80km of pure electrical driving and an entire new technology of inside know-how methods.
WATCH: Paul’s walk-around video of the 2025 Bentley Continental GT Velocity
Its additionally the primary time that Bentley has launched the Continental GT Velocity coupe and convertible previous to the bottom fashions.
Maybe taking a observe out of Porsche’s playbook and going for the top-spec variants first, the Continental GT Velocity will enchantment to Bentley loyalists and people who need the flagship with the very best efficiency first up, as an alternative of getting to attend for the gradual rollout of lesser grades, as was the case earlier than.
Earlier than we get into the technical particulars of the brand new Continental, let’s deal with the aesthetics first, as a result of there are some vital departures in that division as properly.
Bentley says the brand new Continental’s design is akin to a ‘resting beast’. Bentley designers took inspiration from the type of a ‘tiger stalking its prey’, which can also be why the largest design change to the entrance of a Bentley mannequin in a really very long time is debuting with the fourth-generation Continental.
Excluding one-off coachbuilds by Mulliner, the final Bentley to not have 4 spherical headlights on the entrance was made in 1959, so it’s been a really very long time since we’ve seen Bentleys with with single headlights.
In lots of respects and given the numerous departure from what was earlier than, the brand new new headlights outline the brand new face of Bentley.
There is a component of simplicity to the brand new frontal design, with cleaner and extra muscular strains that Bentley says give the automotive a extra aggressive and centered look.
As you’d anticipate from a Bentley, it’s not only a common headlight however extra like a chunk of tremendous jewelry. Rise up shut and you’ll discover a really distinct reduce crystal impact and illuminated sample under the projectors. Bentley says these highlights are just for the GT Velocity, whereas different Continental variants may have their very own distinct design.
The rear of the Continental presents the identical theme of muscular simplicity. There isn’t any longer a deployable spoiler within the bootlid, with Bentley designers having gone for a clear aero floor as an alternative. The diamond-cut impact smoked gray tail-lights themselves mix superbly with the brand new rear bumper and exhaust system.
There will probably be a wide range of wheel decisions for the brand new Continental, however the launch vehicles pictured right here had been on 22-inch GT Velocity-specific rims.
How does the Bentley Continental examine?
View an in depth breakdown of the Bentley Continental in opposition to equally sized autos.
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How a lot does the Bentley Continental GT price?
Two variants of the Bentley Continental will probably be provided at launch.
| Mannequin | Value earlier than on-road prices |
|---|---|
| 2025 Bentley Continental GT Velocity | $581,900 |
| 2025 Bentley Continental GTC Velocity | $639,800 |
To see how the Bentley Continental GT strains up in opposition to the competitors, take a look at our comparability instrument.
What’s the Bentley Continental GT like on the within?
Bentley and Rolls-Royce interiors are the benchmarks of the automotive business. Each manufacturers enable clients to principally construct an inside from virtually any materials (together with stone) and customise to a level that’s unrivalled by some other model.
With that being the case, whereas the brand new Continental GT Velocity is a major design and mechanical change from its predecessor, the inside may be very a lot a Bentley, being extra of an evolution than a revolution.
There stays the identical stage of unimaginable craftsmanship as earlier than, with new choices of darkish tinted and black chrome color schemes that exchange the intense surfaces on the within, which Bentley says will give the automotive a much more trendy look.
There may be the choice for brand new 3D patterns within the doorways and within the seats – which we discovered extremely snug – and the model has stored its rotating show, so you’ll be able to have the widescreen touchscreen choice or three analogue gauges. It’s a pleasant method to have a digital detox and produce again among the old-school components of what made these vehicles so particular.
Though it’s technically a four-seater, the again seats will not be made for adults on lengthy commutes. It can do the job for when you’ve got some company or youngsters that want the area for fast journeys, however that is basically a two-seater with choice for 2 further momentary occupants.
The inside has a novel wrap-around really feel that Bentley says is supposed to be like a cocoon. It’s actually an extremely snug place to be and, given this is among the world’s greatest GTs, it’s a perfect automotive to be in for consuming up lengthy freeway miles or going out for a leisurely drive on any given day.
We additionally obtained to briefly expertise the Continental convertible, which has the identical roof mechanism because the earlier mannequin. It opens and closes at as much as speeds of round 48km/h. The Continental has all the time lent itself properly to a convertible physique and the brand new fourth-generation automotive is not any completely different.
There are an entire array of recent inside options which we hope to expertise on the automobile when it arrives in Australia over the following few months, however a selected one price noting is the brand new air-conditioning system that Bentley claims has a particulate matter filtration perform utilizing air ionization.
Primarily, your Bentley will ionize the air if it feels the standard is under requirements, eradicating particulates earlier than it enters the cabin.
It additionally has some intelligent applied sciences for routinely switching to recirculation when getting into dangerous air high quality areas like tunnels.
Bentley manages to mix its benchmark inside high quality craftsmanship with a number of technological options you’d in all probability not anticipate.
Though we’re but to verify if it will likely be out there in Australia, the brand new linked providers app means that you can park your Bentley remotely after which summon the automotive again to you, all utilizing your smartphone.
Homeowners can handle plug-in hybrid charging in addition to cabin preconditioning for these notably scorching or chilly days. Which means that other than turning on the air-con earlier than you even step inside your Bentley, now you can activate the warmth seaters as properly.
Like another OEMs, Bentley has additionally determined that it needs to personal the in-car infotainment journey, reasonably than passing it on to Apple or Google for its mirror methods (which it helps).
As such, you’ll be able to obtain the Spotify app immediately into your Bentley, which implies you don’t should have a cellphone linked to the automotive. We discover this situation reasonably pointless and unlikely to get a lot use.
We had extraordinarily restricted time with the brand new Continental and as such didn’t get to expertise the automotive’s infotainment system as a lot as we’d’ve preferred, however we had been impressed by the velocity and high quality of the screens.
Bentley is lucky sufficient to have entry to different Volkswagen group product applied sciences, so we anticipate a easy and bug-free expertise.
| Dimensions | Bentley Continental GT Velocity |
|---|---|
| Size | 4895mm |
| Width | 2187mm |
| Peak | 1397mm |
| Wheelbase | 2851mm |
To see how the Bentley Continental strains up in opposition to the competitors, take a look at our comparability instrument.
What’s beneath the bonnet?
For the previous couple of a long time, Bentley has been the largest vendor of 12-cylinder engines globally. That has all modified now, with the W12 despatched to the historical past books and changed by the brand new 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 plug-in powertrain, which the corporate co-developed with Porsche.
Whereas admitting that working with Porsche on the undertaking proved difficult, what the top consequence has bestowed upon us is probably the most highly effective Bentley ever launched. This sees a mixed energy output of 575kW and 1000Nm of torque, which is claimed to ship the brand new Continental from 0-100km/h in simply 3.2 seconds and a high velocity of 335km/h.
Matched to an eight-speed dual-clutch automated transmission, the brand new V8 engine is less complicated than the one which got here earlier than it. There aren’t any twin-scroll turbos or further complexities, which implies it may possibly now run leaner (and warmer) for higher effectivity. That is all as a result of the electrical powertrain helps compensate for the place the engine beforehand needed to fill within the gaps.
The V8 by itself develops a powerful 441kW, nevertheless it’s the addition of the 140kW e-motor that sits throughout the gearbox that modifications the Continental’s character completely. Because of its Samsung-supplied 25.9 kWh battery, which sits behind the rear axle, the Continental is ready to drive in electrical mode for over 80km. This electrical powertrain – with its 450Nm of torque – is sufficient to get the common proprietor round their every day commute with out ever participating the V8.
The completely different modes within the automobile will enable the motive force to select how a lot energy is deployed or whether or not the battery cost ought to be held (notably helpful in Europe, the place designated electric-only zones are mandated). You too can cost the battery completely utilizing the V8 engine, although this is able to defeat the aim of utilizing clear power to cost the battery at house.
You possibly can plug the automotive in at house and it’ll cost on AC energy at 11kW, which implies in simply over two hours of charging per evening the Continental can basically act like a full-blown EV, after which when the occasions involves have some enjoyable or go for an extended commute, the V8 engine will probably be prepared and keen to take over.
Bentley was very eager to level out to us that the brand new powertrain is considerably higher than its iconic W12, not simply by way of effectivity and gasoline economic system, but additionally in efficiency. The corporate sees the primary rivals to the Continental because the Ferrari Roma and Aston Martin DB12, each of which lack an electrical motor and are as such outdone by the Bentley by way of energy and torque.
| Specs | Bentley Continental GT |
|---|---|
| Engine | 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine |
| Engine outputs | 441kW 800Nm |
| Electrical motor outputs | 140kW 450Nm |
| System outputs | 575kW 1000Nm |
| Battery | 25.9kWh battery |
| Transmission | 8-speed automated |
| Pushed wheels | AWD |
| Weight | 2459kg (kerb) |
| Gas economic system (claimed) | 10.3L/100km |
| Electrical driving vary (PHEV) | 81km |
| CO2 emissions | 29g/km |
To see how the Bentley Continental strains up in opposition to the competitors, take a look at our comparability instrument.
How does the Bentley Continental GT drive?
We flew to the outskirts of Tokyo to a billionaire-owned personal racetrack resort referred to as Magarigawa. However the venue being maybe some of the spectacular driving experiences you’ll be able to ever have, the Continetnal merely didn’t go well with the monitor’s many blind corners or its tight and unforgiving traits.
Having stated that, in our very temporary variety of laps, it turned evident that the almost 2.5-tonne Bentley Continental is an engineering marvel. With its AWD system incorporating super-fancy torque vectoring applied sciences and an digital limited-slip differential, it manages to cover its weight reasonably properly.
Additionally, the big battery sits behind the rear axle and beneath the boot flooring, which signifies that for the first-time ever, we’ve a continental GT with a rear-biased weight distribution of 49:51 entrance:rear. Doesn’t matter the way you break it down, the automotive is inherently extra mechanically balanced than any of its predecessors.
Within the driver’s seat we discovered the brand new Continental tremendous responsive and really, very fast. There’s a sense of immediate torque because of its electrified powertrain and, whereas no person wants a automotive that goes from 0-100km/h in 3.2 seconds, when you’re spending near $700,000 on such automotive, efficiency is a prerequisite.
However when you’re anticipating a automotive with blistering efficiency, this isn’t it. That is an extremely quick GT that brings a brilliant luxurious expertise, nevertheless it’s not going to go face to face with a Porsche 911 GTS or Ferrari 296 GTB for outright efficiency.
Although we didn’t get to actually expertise the Continental on any tough highway surfaces, we used the monitor’s ripple strips to check the automotive’s new 48-volt energetic electrical anti-roll management methods together with the brand new dual-valve dampers. It’s honest to say the brand new Continental could be tremendous stiff in Sport mode and much more snug in Consolation, giving it a real dual-personality.
The steering and general really feel of the automotive was very assuring. The electrical powertrain and the V8 engine labored harmoniously collectively and we may barely really feel when one was kicking in over the opposite.
The eight-speed transmission additionally labored a deal with. The V8 engine turns itself off when wanted and since it now not has a starter motor, its reignition is tremendous easy and barely noticeable.
You possibly can drive the Continental to protect its battery for later or use each powertrains for max efficiency and you’ll decide EV-only mode, which is able to see the automotive burn up all its battery earlier than reverting to the engine. You possibly can keep in EV mode till you hit 75 per cent of throttle or get to speeds above 140km/h.
One factor we do miss from the brand new Continental is the W12 and the previous-generation’s V8 exhaust observe and engine sound.
Sure, the brand new one nonetheless crackles and pops in sport mode, nevertheless it’s overtly silent the vast majority of the time. Bentley says it resisted any temptation so as to add synthetic noise, preserving all that you just hear fully natural, with not even a speaker enhanced sound monitor contained in the cabin.
Whereas we admire the authenticity of the expertise, it solely highlights the unlucky world wherein we dwell in in the present day, the place regulators have tried their greatest to kill any enjoyment one may discover from the car.
Bentley has additionally launched a set of recent energetic security methods, which we didn’t get to check out. Nonetheless, the Continental can apparently monitor as much as 5 vehicles close by, which means it may possibly navigate its approach round visitors and drive semi autonomously. We are going to stay skeptical of such claims till we get to check them in Australia.
Is the Bentley Continental GT protected?
The brand new Continental has not been independently safety-rated presently and is unlikely to be sooner or later given the restricted variety of vehicles bought.
We’d take an informed guess that given Bentley is a part of the Volkswagen group of manufacturers, its security and occupant safety methods are world-class and, if it was examined, it might obtain the very best rating for occupant safety.
How a lot does the Bentley Continental GT price to run?
There may be presently no info round servicing prices or service intervals for the brand new Bentley Continental.
To see how the Bentley Continental strains up in opposition to the competitors, take a look at our comparability instrument.
CarExpert’s Tackle the Bentley Continental GT
The fourth-generation Bentley Continental is a masterpiece of engineering and the daybreak of a brand new product cycle for the British model.
The power to supply the very best of each worlds by way of low-emission motoring with electrification in addition to driving enjoyment by way of a better efficiency V8 is not any simple feat.
However to place that every one collectively in a brilliant luxurious and extremely personalisable package deal that makes you by no means need to depart the cabin is one more feat that solely a model like Bentley may execute.
Whereas Rolls-Royce sits on the tremendous luxurious facet of the equation and types like Ferrari, Lamborghini and even Aston Martin try to sort out the efficiency mantle, Bentley sits proper within the center, the place most patrons would additionally prefer to be. For that purpose, there isn’t a higher GT on the planet proper now than the brand new Bentley Continental GT Velocity.
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