Some brands are synonymous with performance and nobility. Probably because of their royal affinities, English cars have this aristocratic aura that clearly sets them apart from the mass of lowly people’s cars.
What may seem like a very haughty statement is in fact the result of a few days’ worth of testing the all-new 2007 Bentley Continental GTC, the world’s fastest convertible.
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| The prestigious English brand was founded in 1919 by Walter Owen Bentley. |
Very few automobiles are as charming and as head-turning as this one. Truth be told, the stately figure and commanding presence of the Continental GTC force others to pay special attention. After all, when this massive grille with distinctive “B” logo appears in your rearview mirror, you can’t help but to marvel in awe.
Even at idle, the extravagant size of the big Bentley is impressive. In convertible trim and with the canvas roof neatly deployed, it sure is slightly more discreet. But when the roof is tucked away, forget about subtlety: the Continental GTC throws itself at you, no matter what angle you admire it from — especially in that steel blue coat (officially, Silverlake).
Royal saloon
The irresistible charm of the Bentley Continental GTC doesn’t end when you open the doors. Actually, life inside is all about luxury and opulence. Ultra high-quality materials and flawless fit and finish are obviously on the menu. There’s leather everywhere, including on the dashboard, which creates a modern, classy environment and emphasizes said dash. Sophistication is such that the centre stack features a Breitling watch, a supreme icon of British aristocracy.
However, high class does not necessarily mean high functionality. Some of the controls, like those of the satellite-based navigation system, almost require an Oxford or Cambridge degree to be fully mastered from the start.
As for interior comfort, front passengers have absolutely no reason to complain. They benefit from nicely supportive seats with seemingly endless adjustments that make it very simple to find a great driving position. On the other hand, rear occupants will have to make sacrifices during long drives because the room is limited and the seats are less than comfortable. This is true regardless if the roof is up or down. The interior offers premium noise insulation thanks to double laminated side windows that neutralize excess noise.
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| The ultra-opulent interior is worthy of the royal family. |
Coach drive
As soon as you apply the slightest pressure on the throttle, the Bentley Continental GTC surges forward with authority, producing a near-symphonic sound. The W12 twin-turbo engine that growls under the hood vigorously and seamlessly generates 552 horsepower, delivering perfectly linear accelerations.
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| This 12-cylinder engine puts a whopping 552 horsepower at the driver’s disposal. |
Razor-sharp and precise, the steering easily fulfills its duties, offering plenty of road feedback to the driver while being judiciously assisted to make maneuvers easier.
The suspension is quite simply exceptional. Featuring a pure comfort mode as well as a sportier mode, it can adjust to the varying road conditions. The transition between the two modes is immediately felt and keeps the chassis stiffer in order to avoid heavy body roll, even in more spirited actions.
Obviously, the brakes are very powerful. If you’re not careful enough or if you did not adjust the suspension correctly, this behemoth will have a strong tendency to nosedive, thus not only affecting passenger comfort but also significantly increasing stopping distances.
It would be hard to talk about such a massive vehicle without saying a few words about storage. While the interior compartments are virtually inexistent, the rear trunk is humongous, easily swallowing a mountain of luggage and then some.
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| Trunk space is impressive, even when the roof is down. |
Of course, it would also be hard to overlook fuel economy. I drove slightly more aggressively than the average folk and, considering the series of tests we had to perform, it proved impossible to achieve a result lower than 29 L/100 km.
But that’s nothing for those who can afford a car like the Bentley Continental GTC, which retails for about $250,000. And it’s a fairly small investment to enjoy the pure pleasure of driving this world-class machine.
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Comfort, luxury, styling
Acceleration
Performance
Handling
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Could use a bit more storage room
Roof mechanism is fairly slow
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Asking price
Photos: Ray Watson
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