Having been introduced in 2003, Bentley’s Continental GT is officially the oldest model in the British automaker’s lineup. Thus, the 2011 Bentley Continental GT has been brought up to date with a look that puts it more in-line with the brand’s Mulsanne flagship, while under the bonnet, a new 4.0-litre V8 engine will join the tweaked W12 in 2011.
Most noticeable in front are the gemstone headlights peeking out from behind newly-extended wings, moving the front fender/front bumper panel gap downward. Also, the grille surround has officially become part of the bonnet’s lines and now houses the front license plate as well.
Similar changes have taken place at the rear, where Bentley borrowed the Mulsanne’s “double horse-shoe” theme. On either side of the boot, the rear fenders have gained some more definition and the car’s taillights are slightly more squared-off. The overall package increases track width by 41 mm in front and 48 mm at the rear.
Apart from the styling, changes are taking place under the bonnet too. The 2011 Bentley Continental GT will be available with two choices of engine. The brawny 6.0-litre twin-turbocharged W12 that produces 423 kW and 700 Nm of torque remains, but for the first time in the Continental range, a new 4.0-litre V8 will available in late 2011 – producing 40% less CO2 emissions than the W12 engine.
With the extra 11 kW and a weight reduction of 65 kgs, the W12-powered Continental GT is good for a claimed 0 – 100km/h sprint of 4.4 seconds and a 318 km/h top speed. Bentley remains tight-lipped on the performance an power figures of its new 8-cylinder engine but the company says, “high-output”, so don’t expect it to be too slow either.
In combination with the revised W12 engine, the 6-speed automatic transmission now allows ‘double downshifts’. The wheels, 20- or 21-inch, now receive power in a 40:60 split between the front and rear versus the outgoing model’s 50:50.
Inside, there’s a facelifted dashboard with new touchscreen infotainment unit and 30 GB hard drive. The entertainment system boasts TV/DVD/Telephone/MP3/iPod functionality and connectivity, all linked to an 11-speak sound system by Naim. Redesigned front seats provide an extra 46 mm of legroom for rear passengers.
It seems Bentley has succeeded in updating its most popular model, while retaining its recipe for success. Come the end of September, we expect to see it parked next to the new Mulsanne at this year’s Paris Motor Show.
