New Bentley Continental GT revealed: see why it could be the perfect company car
June 25, 2024 by Jamie Edkins
Car changing is a big deal
This is the new Bentley Continental GT, and it’s ditched the W12 engine in favour of a greener plug-in hybrid V8.
- New Bentley Continental GT revealed
- Gentle design evolution
- W12 engine ditched in favour of hybrid V8
- 782hp and 1,000Nm of torque
- Up to 50 miles of EV-only range
- Available to order now from £236,600
Your eyes don’t deceive you, this is the new Bentley Continental GT. It may look a lot like the old car, but there are some significant changes under that slinky bodywork.
The 6.0-litre W12 engine is no more, with a plug-in hybrid 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 taking its place which could make it the perfect candidate for a CEO’s company car with its tax-friendly status.
New Bentley continental design
We’ll get onto that new engine later, first let’s check out the design changes over the outgoing Continental GT.
It may have a very similar sleek silhouette, but that shape goes all the way back to the first-generation car of the mid 00s. The biggest change has happened up front, where you have new headlights inspired by those found on the limited-edition Bacalar.
It’s the first time since the 1950’s that a Bentley has had two headlights rather than four, and the grille is more imposing than before as well. You have new 22-inch alloy wheels, and the side skirts are more aggressive-looking.
Moving to the rear you have similar oval tail lights to the Bacalar, albeit with a swanky new LED signature. The bumper has also been redesigned, and there are new exhaust surrounds as well.
New Bentley Continental GT engine and performance
You may be mourning the loss of Bentley’s stunning 6.0-litre W12 engine, but take some solace in the fact this new 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged hybrid engine is a lot more powerful thanks to an electric motor in the eight-speed gearbox.
The old Continental GT Speed put out 660hp and 900Nm of torque, whereas this new car has 782hp and 1,000Nm of torque. This means it’ll do 0-60mph in 3.3 seconds, making it 0.3 of a second quicker than its predecessor. The top speed remains the same at 208mph.
The chassis is fundamentally the same as the old car’s, however there have been some important tweaks to improve the driving experience. You have new adaptive dampers with a wider spread between comfort and sportiness, and there’s also a new torque vectoring system at the rear which can split the power between the wheels to slingshot you through corners.
New Bentley continental GT plug-in hybrid system
So what is it that makes this car so good for company car drivers? Well this new Continental GT is a lot greener thanks to the plug-in hybrid system, emitting a claimed 36 g/km of CO2. To put that into perspective, this V8-powered 208mph luxury coupe has the same emissions as a Kia Niro plug-in hybrid.
It’s these low emissions which will land the Bentley in a low Benefit In Kind bracket, so if you’re the CEO of a multinational business then this could be the perfect company car for you.
Another advantage to the plug-in hybrid system is that it’ll do 50 miles on electric power alone, making it ideal for wafting around town in serene silence.
New Bentley Continental GT interior
Stepping inside the new Bentley Continental GT everything looks and feels pretty familiar. The overall layout and design is very similar to before, although there are some new materials to choose from. You can have 3D-effect leather, for example.
The infotainment system has been upgraded as well with sharper graphics and a new manu layout. It’s faster to respond to your inputs than before, and the digital driver’s display is clearer as well.
New Bentley Continental GT price and release date
The new Bentley Continental GT is available to order now, with first deliveries starting in early 2025. Prices start from £236,600, making it around £27,000 more expensive than the outgoing car.
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