Bentley Continental GT(2022) Review

The old Bentley Continental GT is a suet pudding of a car. For all its six-litre twin-turbo W12 performance and technical mastery, it is difficult to ignore the fact that, behind all the wood, leather and expensive paint are the underpinnings of a 2003 Volkswagen Phaeton. At the time the Volkswagen proved a perfectly logical, cost-effective platform from which to showcase British design, engineering, and craftsmanship. But it is 2022 and the world has moved on. Ladies and gentlemen, I introduce to you the latest creation to come out of Crewe, the all-new state of the art Bentley Continental GT.

The first thing that hits you when you walk up to the new Continental GT is its all new muscular, menacing aesthetic. Being the V8 variant, this example benefits from gloss black detailing in place of the usual flashes of sparkly regal chrome, which is befitting of a car designed to appeal to a younger, trendier customer. An all-new superformed aluminium body is responsible for its taut appearance; look closely at the line that runs from the bonnet to the rear haunches. It is powerful and confident, gently tapering off as it directs the eyes to the oval rear lights which themselves mimic the shape of the rear tailpipes, which like before are presented in a subtle figure-of-eight shape.

Under the bonnet the 542bhp V8 sits lower and further back in the chassis and being 50kg lighter than the signature W12 lends itself to a sportier, more dynamic drive. But it is the gearbox that is the real triumph. Swapping out the outdated torque converter slushmatic for a more advanced double clutch PDK system as found in the likes of the Porsche Panamera has brought the new Bentley closer in feel to the low-slung exotic supercars which it has always competed against but never matched in terms of spine-tingling excitement. Ultimately, whether you’re embarking on your yearly pilgrimage to Spa Francorchamps or attending your nearest Sunday morning Cars and Coffee meet, the Continental will get you there in its own sumptuous, suave, effortless fashion.

It is only once you peek inside that you really come to grasp the way in which Bentley has met its brief by crafting a motor car that is both opulent yet extraordinarily refreshing in its interpretation of the meaning of contemporary luxury. The ‘Côtes De Genève’ engine turned aluminium mechanical trim finisher, for example, replaces Henry VIII’s sideboard in what contributes to a delectable interior environment.

The irritating trend present in almost all new cars of a tablet-like display stuck unceremoniously onto the dashboard has, thankfully been ignored by Bentley who have instead opted for a James Bond-style centre screen. Transitioning between three analogue dials, a gadget-crammed infotainment system, and a classic piano black fascia, the unique setup beautifully combines old and new like none of its competitors. An SAS-spec night vision system, unobtrusively integrated Head-Up-Display, and heated, ventilated and massage quilted Mulliner leather thrones finish off the cabin to create a first-class automobile.

With the new Continental Bentley could have gone down the easy route of rehashing what they already had – by adding the odd exterior detail here and there and fattening the options list they would have sold cars, but they wouldn’t have set the world alight. Instead, by sticking to and seeing through a vision of detailed, intuitive, and imaginative luxury Bentley have truly redefined what a performance grand tourer needs to do to compete in the twenty first century. As I jump in the driver’s seat, select drive, and gradually accelerate away, the engine burbling gently in the background, the seatbelt tightens slightly, as if to say, “Relax. I’ve got your back. Enjoy the drive.”

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