It must be annoying for anti-EV people when a plug-in car comes along that’s better in every respect than the pure-combustion one it replaces.
That’s pretty much the case with Bentley’s new performance flagship, the Continental GT Speed. We can’t say we won’t miss the gentle warble of the W12 that powered this and other Bentley models in the past, but the new V8 plug-in hybrid in the 4th-generation model trounces it.
Yes, yes, it still has a petrol engine under the bonnet; a heavily revised version of the V8 familiar from other Bentley models. But it's the electric stuff that really lifts the new GT Speed's game.
The 575kW/1000Nm PHEV is more powerful and faster than the old 467kW/900Nm W12 (in fact, it’s the most powerful Bentley ever), and yet when you’re happy to go slower you can enjoy 85km of guilt-free driving on a full battery charge.
It’s much heavier of course (by about 200kg), but it’s also better in the corners because the PHEV hardware is arranged in such a way that it achieves near-50/50 weight distribution.
It still has a petrol engine; a heavily revised version of the V8 familiar from other Bentley models. But it's the electric stuff that really lifts the new GT Speed's game.
This Bentley is a super-luxury coupe that starts at $515,000; and we do mean “starts”, because outrageous options are all part of the product at this level. The average Kiwi spend for this model is around $650k, apparently.
So let’s pretend that’s normal (it very much is for buyers of cars like these) and look at the GT Speed as a thing to use and enjoy.
Our car had flashes of yellow through the cabin, complete with a yellow leather cover for the key.
In fact, you can enjoy it just by sitting in it. The cabin is stunning in a true luxury-car kind of way and a beautiful mix of contemporary technology with the impression of olde-worlde craft. As ever with new-gen Bentleys, it’s exemplified by the rotating panel in the centre console; you can have traditional analogue dials in a polished wood setting, or at the touch of a button it flips around to serve up a full-size infotainment touch screen.
Bentley prides itself on the level of customisation available for the Continental, not to mention the pop-of-colour (our words, not Bentley's...) design themes. Our car had flashes of yellow through the cabin, complete with a yellow leather cover for the key. Does the cutout for the brand ”B” made it look like a one-eyed Minion? Make up your own mind; we definitely have.
So many firsts for the brand, so much tech. Is it an eco-PHEV or a performance hybrid?
It’s an indulgent car in both good and bad ways. The bad might include packaging; it’s great as a two-seater but despite the considerable exterior footprint, the rear seats are occasional at best. If there is an adult-somebody back there, the front-seat occupant will likely have to shuffle their seat forward, too, which removes a bit of dignity out of the travel experience.
The 260-litre boot is also paltry for a car of this size and touring ability, although you’ll be pleased to know you can buy custom-fit Bentley luggage sets to take maximum advantage of what’s there.
What this 4th-generation Continental is really about is the drive. So many firsts for the brand, so much tech. Is it an eco-PHEV or a performance hybrid?
It can be either. The big battery gives a claimed 85km EV range (it showed 70-80km during our charges) and enables the GT to waft along in guilt-free ultra-refinement. You can select a dedicated EV mode or simply let the car do the thinking.
As a performance car, the battery power contributes in a very different way: towards speed and more speed. It’s there to boost the output of the V8, which in turn sounds fantastic the harder you push it; in Sport mode the petrol engine will do its bit to help keep the battery charged up in quieter moments, so that you have as close as possible to maximum power available at all times.
You can also manually select Hold or Charge modes for the battery, although the latter was hardly ever available in our test car (simply greyed out on the menu). But there was rather a lot not working on our UK-specification test car (live services, for example), so we wouldn’t read too much into that.
The GT Speed excels at going in a straight line very, very fast for very, very long distances. But despite the 2.5-tonne kerb weight, it’s fairly nimble in the corners, too.
There are new twin-chamber dampers that give an incredibly broad range of suspension response. The near-perfect weight distribution helps, as does the 4-wheel steering and torque vectoring. Oh, and the tremendous mechanical grip available from that imposing footwear.
No, it's still not what you'd call sporty. But it flows from corner-to-corner in such an effortless way... at any speed.
The long-distance comfort and supreme performance of the Continental GT Speed do seem like overkill for Kiwi roads.
To really understand why Bentley makes this car you have to imagine setting out from your home in the UK, crossing the channel and powering across to Berlin for a week of business meetings, or down to Monaco for a week of relaxation. That’s what this car is really for; it’s in the name.
How much is the Bentley Continental GT Speed?
Base price is $515,000, but actual customer cars with options sell for so much more; the average Kiwi spend is $650k.
What are the key statistics for the Bentley Continental GT Speed?
The 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 and plug-in hybrid system make 575kW and a whopping 1000Nm. The transmisison is an 8-speed dual-clutch and it's all-wheel drive (with 4-wheel steer).
Is the Bentley Continental GT Speed efficient?
The answer to that depends entirely on how you look at this car. It can do 85km in zero-emissions EV mode, so there's some clean-cred there. But the hybrid system is really about speed and power, and if you enjoy that the Continental will take some pretty big drinks.
Is the Bentley Continental GT Speed good to drive?
It's an incredible blend of genuine luxury and effortless high performance. The speed in a straight line and around corners can seem quite surreal at times.
Is the Bentley Continental GT Speed practical?
No super-luxury coupe claims to be practical; if that's a priority you could buy a Flying Spur sedan or Bentayga. But still, given its footprint we reckon the Continental could do better in terms of rear-seat space and cargo capacity.
What do we like about the Bentley Continental GT Speed?
It looks sensational - wider and meaner than any Continental before it. The EV range is decent (well, the battery is really big), the performance is surreal and the cabin is incredibly luxurious.
What don’t we like about the Bentley Continental GT Speed?
That 2.2m width can be an issue on narrow Kiwi roads, it's a big car but only a 2+2 at best, the boot does seem quite small for a grand tourer.
What kind of person would the Bentley Continental GT Speed suit?
Somebody who wants a super-luxury super-coupe with great electric-technology, but retaining a sense of old-school sumptuousness.