► Bentley’s brawniest road car goes convertible
► No W12, but a 4.0-litre bi-turbo V8 PHEV
► Priced from around £260k in the UK
Does the new Bentley Continental GTC Speed need 771bhp? No, almost certainly not. But when have Bentleys ever been about what one requires? As you’d expect, the GTC Speed is a celebration of glorious automotive excess, yet even at this end of the market there’s been an element of compromise.
See, the previous Speed models were powered by a 6.0-litre W12 engine. This latest version however has been downsized to a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 with a 25.9kWh battery, thus making it the first time we’ve seen a Continental convertible with plug-in hybrid tech.
We’ve already driven the coupe equivalent and absolutely loved it, but given that convertibles occupy a slightly different place in the market how does Bentley’s most athletic drop-top handle its now electrified heart?
At a glance
Pros: Blistering performance, timeless styling, wonderful cruiser
Cons: Infotainment feels dated, boot space is small for a GT
What’s new?
From the outside, not a lot. The Continental GTC shape has stayed broadly the same since it launched in 2006, yet there’s no denying that the design (while tweaked over the years) has aged like a fine wine. As such, Bentley’s design team clearly didn’t want to change too much on this latest generation car, so what you’re looking at is an evolution of its predecessor.
New front headlamps with a horizontal ‘eyebrow’ are the most notable change at the front, while a redesigned rear showing off a new bumper, taillights, boot lid and exhaust pipes also feature. Tiger-claw style 22-inch wheels are also new and available in a variety of finishes.
What are the specs?
Clearly, though, it’s the engineering underneath that’s the biggest departure from the previous car. Now producing 771bhp and 738lb ft of torque, the Continental GTC Speed is the most powerful convertible production car Bentley has ever made and manages to get from 0-62mph in just 3.4 seconds. Top speed, meanwhile, is rated at 177mph.
Clearly, the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 plays a big part in this (on its own it makes 591bhp), but the 140kW electric motor (situated in the transmission) is a crucial part of the recipe. All-electric range is a claimed 48 miles, while a full charge can be done in around 2hr 45 minutes.
New twin-valve dampers also feature and promise less compromise between surface isolation and body stability, thanks to independent control of compression and rebound damping. What’s more, the hybrid powertrain (having the battery pack under the boot) means a perfect 49:51 weight distribution, thus allowing the active all-wheel drive system to send more power to the rear wheels.
What’s it like to drive?
Well first thing’s first – this is now a 2.6-tonne car. The switch from W12 to V8 means little when you add in the electrification element. In most scenarios, you really don’t notice the extra mass over the old Speed (although, it does feel heavier than previous V8 cars). What you get instead is a deeply polished, velvety driving experience that’s backed up by a beautifully integrated hybrid powertrain.
There’s no awkward or clunky handovers from V8 to electric motor and instead the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission is allowed to get on with its job and smother you with seemingly endless power. Should you wish, all-electric running is up to 87mph and it never feels strained without the engine.
However, as serene and responsive as it is, the grandeur of a flagship Bentley with a V8 engine is somewhat lost when the ICE is deactivated. For many, this won’t matter one bit, but for those who love the burble of an engine when the roof is down it’s a noticeable absence.
Wind things up, however, and the other side of the hybrid powertrain shows its face. 2.6 tonnes or not, the sheer pace of the GTC Speed is devastating. Traction is utterly superb. It takes but a moment to hook up and from then on in it’s a petrol-electric blend of ballistic forward motion that never seems to let up. Arguably, it has a better engine note than the W12 ever did.
Tip the car into a corner and there’s admirable agility (no doubt helped by the all-wheel steering), while torque vectoring and an electronic limited-slip differential help you put the power down. Steering feel and precision could be better, while there is some flex and shake through the chassis, but as an effective ground-coverer the GTC Speed takes some beating.
Roof down, the cruising manners are generally excellent even if we did detect what felt like more wind buffeting than expected at high speeds. The ride is plush 95% of the time (the odd crack or rut in the road can be transmitted strongly into the cabin) and, for such a large car, it’s surprisingly easy to drive around town – no doubt aided by the electric capabilities.
What’s it like inside?
If you were a fan of the interior on the previous gen Bentley Continental then you’re in for a treat. Without putting the cars back-to-back, the changes are almost imperceptible. No bad thing, when the old-school (there’s a fine line between old-school and dated, we’ll have you know) charm of Bentley is alive and well. Physical buttons and switches are aplenty and make a welcome change to many other luxury cars (even if some of the switchgear is clearly pinched from Audi).
Throughout, the wood, leather and alcantara feels of the very highest quality while new additions include a wellness seating option with Postural Adjust and Auto Climate for the front seats, plus a Dark Chrome Specification is also available to give a more understated look to the cabin. The Bentley Rotating Display still features in the middle, but it’s hard to argue that the infotainment system is a touch antiquated compared with rivals.
Before you buy
The Continental GTC Speed starts from around £260k (cheaper versions of the GTC will launch in due course), but as always with Bentley there’s myriad customisation options if you want to make the car completely unique. As rivals go, the Ferrari Roma, Maserati GranCabrio Trofeo and Porsche 911 Turbo S all offer four-seat drop-top experiences yet with differing personalities.
If you are leaning towards the Bentley for its GT credentials however, just bear in mind the measly boot that’s been cut down to just 134 litres due to the storage of the batteries. Not ideal for cross-continent jaunts…
Verdict
At a glance, the latest Bentley Continental GTC Speed looks like a car whose W12 heart has been wrenched out and replaced with a slightly more socially acceptable V8 plug-in hybrid powertrain that could not possibly be on a par with what came before. And yet, that’s untrue insofar as this is a better overall solution.
Bursting with power, flexibility and charm (hybrid or no hybrid, it’s still a V8), there’s also the added benefit of all-electric running if that’s your thing. Borne out of necessity it may be, but that doesn’t mean Bentley hasn’t done a stunning job with the soul of this car – and most of the bits around it. In fact, the biggest problem with it is the ludicrously small boot that will surely put off those hoping to use the Continental GTC Speed as a proper grand tourer.
