THE 2020 BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT

Introducing a new world of grand touring:

The 2020 Continental GT

A NEW ERA

Heralding a new era of power, exquisite craftsmanship and cutting-edge automotive technology, the 2020 Bentley Continental GT is a brand new car, from the ground up. Keeping the iconic shape of the car that debuted in 2003 at the Geneva Motor Show and received a substantial upgrade and facelift in 2011, the new GT is the third generation of Bentley’s extremely successful grand tourer – one of the most popular grand touring exotics on the market.

The GT made its physical debut when it was unveiled at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show, and production began in 2018. In November 2018, the Bentley Continental GT Convertible was introduced and went on sale in 2019, celebrating the brand’s 100th Anniversary..

We took a beautiful Ice-white 2020 Bentley Continental GT with Blackliner Specifications and a Mulliner Interior Package on a test-drive from Vancouver, BC to Pemberton, BC, in mid-May. It was a beautiful Spring day and enjoying this amazing automobile and the breathtaking scenery quickly made us forgot the daily news. If, at all, this was social distancing in style!

Designed to delight every sense, this is a car to see, feel, hear and appreciate.

THE DESIGN

The distinctive flowing lines of the original Bentley GT have made it a huge success in the world of the rich and the famous. No wonder that at the end of the production many of us were worried about what the fully redesigned third generation would look like. Well – a big thumbs up! The Bentley designers did an amazing job. It kept the overall shape with its sleek lines carving a sharp path through the air. Each and every detail of this car has received an unbelievable amount of attention and it clearly shows.

The long wheelbase and short nose lend the car a sense of dynamism, even when viewed at a standstill.

THE INTERIOR

Like that of every Bentley, the shape of the fascia is inspired by the wings of the Bentley badge. It sweeps up from an elegant centre console and reaches out towards the doors, where the surface continues, surrounding the front occupants in a seemingly unending ring of handcrafted leather and wood.

If you like the exterior (and how can you not …) you won’t get disappointed entering the cabin. The craftsmen at Bentley have masterfully combined an old-world elegance with modern technology. And no, it does not ‘look or feel Audi.’ At all. Yes, the trained eye may find a few controls and buttons that are shared with other high-end Porsches and Audis, but overall this symphony of wood, fine leather and metal is truly uniquely Bentley. And again, you can make this interior your very own: As in other Bentleys, you can choose from a striking range of hides and interior colour splits, hand-cut from grade-A leather hides. When it comes to lacquered wood veneers, you better take your time: The choice of contemporary dual veneers starts with a mirror-like Grand Black finish, with the owner’s choice of Crown Cut Walnut, Dark Fiddleback Eucalyptus, Liquid Amber or Tamo Ash, Koa, Burr Walnut or Dark Stained Burr Walnut. For those who prefer a single veneer, there are eight choices. Combined with the finely knurled controls – and should you like metals there is even an available three-dimensional metal surface for the centre console – this is one of the nicest interiors we have seen in a long time.

About the technology: A massive 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system heralds the centre console. And should you prefer a more traditional look – on the push of a button the screen rotates, switching to a gauge panel with a thermometer, compass and chronograph.

Our car was equipped with a head-up display, night vision, a Top View Camera, Traffic Sign Recognition, Pedestrian Warning and City Assist – as well as Active Lane Assist, Active Cruise Control with Traffic Assist, and Bentley Safeguard Plus. Needless to say, the Bentley comes with an abundance of customizing options for the sound system, which can give you up to 1,500 watts, delivered through 16 speakers via a 16-channel amplifier.

We also really enjoyed the fantastic seats, with an electrically adjustable headrest, rolling nose, adjustable bolsters, heated armrests and the addition of both ventilation and massage functions.

THE DRIVE QUALITY

Body roll is reduced with Bentley Dynamic Ride (optional on V* models), an innovative 48V Electronic Active Roll Control system. As the car enters a corner, it engages automatically, continuously adjusting the anti-roll bars. On rougher road surfaces, it constantly monitors the suspension settings and adapts accordingly, for a luxurious, smooth ride.

Although the Bentley Continental GT is a substantial car with some big wheels, it’s adjustable multi-chamber air suspension combined with the active wheel-drive gives you a very comfortable ride quality. Set to “B” (the default Bentley mode) or “Comfort”, the Continental glides over most pavements without transmitting any type of harshness to the interior. Put into “Sport” mode, the GT’s new eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, the active stabilizer bars, all-wheel drive, torque-vectoring system, and the adapted air suspension do a great job to catapult the car in 4 seconds (with the twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8; 542 horsepower and 568 lb-ft of torque) from 0-100km/h, or 3.7 seconds with the completely new 6.0 litre, twin-turbocharged W12 engine (626 horsepower and 900 lb-ft of torque).

BOTTOM LINE

We love it! We fell in love with the first generation, enjoyed the many upgrades of the second generation, but the third generation brings it to a whole new level. The ride quality is fantastic, there is ample power for any situation, the sound from the exhaust pipes, even in the noise shielded cabin, and the luxurious interior … all of this makes this one of the most desirable luxurious yet sporty grand tourers out there. We have driven many fantastic high-end coupes and the Bentley Continental GT ranks right at the top of our list.

Available as a coupe or convertible.