New Bentley Continental GT Speed Coming Soon: Specs, price and release info

In a world where we’ve already become accustomed to electric Porsches and hybrid supercars like the Lamborghini Revuelto, the news of a Bentley Continental GT plug-in hybrid seems somehow less shocking. Following in the footsteps of the hybridised Bentayga and Flying Spur, the Bentley Continental GT Speed gains a plug, but in doing so it becomes the most powerful Bentley to date. According to Bentley this is now a supercar you could use every day.
• Available as either a coupe or a convertible, the Continental GT is Bentley’s muscular grand tourer • The Bentley Continental GT Speed gains a new single headlamp design, updated software, and a promise of sharper handling • With a claimed 50-mile electric-only range • It has a 0-62 time of 3.2 seconds and 782 horsepower • Available to order now • Likely to cost upwards of £170,000

This is the first time an updated convertible and coupe Continental GT have been launched at the same time. The most notable external change is to the front headlights, morphing from two distinct circular clusters on each side into one. This is the first time they have been combined on a mainstream Bentley since the 1950s, giving the car a look of narrowed eyes adorned with a flick of eyeliner. We’re sure Bentley is hoping it is reminiscent of the ultra-exclusive coachbuilt Mulliner Batur, but we can’t help noticing strong Fiat 600 vibes as well! At the back the taillight clusters have also been updated, though from the rear the car is still very much recognisable as a Continental GT. There’s a new a bright ‘Tourmaline’ Green paint colour available too, though you could already have your Continental GT in almost any colour under the sun.

Inside, little has changed. It remains sumptuous, plush, and full of detailed embroidery and quilting. Again, this is an area where you can have pretty much your own specifications, with a seemingly endless list of contrast stitching and embossing options thanks to Bentley’s bespoke Mulliner division. The central screen is still hidden behind a handcrafted piece of veneer which revolves at the push of a button to reveal three different sides. You’ll now get wireless smart phone mirroring, some additional driver aids and an app allowing you to pre-condition the cabin or a park the car remotely. There’s a focus on wellness too, with the air conditioning adapting to the external air quality.

The drivetrain is where the majority of the updates have been made. Gone is the iconic W12 engine and instead the new Continental GT Speed combines a 4.0-litre petrol V8 with an electric motor. Bentley is describing this as an Ultra Performance Hybrid, propelling the car from 0-62 mph in as little as 3.2 seconds. The new system has been designed to reduce both emissions and improve the power delivery through the eight-speed automatic gearbox. We look forward to experiencing the promised silky-smooth driving experience. The introduction of a 25.9 kWh battery helps bring the Continental GT ever closer to a near perfect 50:50 weight distribution. With this and other tweaks to the suspension and chassis the new Continental GT should handle better in sport mode and be even more comfortable in comfort mode. Like all hybrids there are different drive mode options. These include a pure electric mode with an official range of up to 50 miles, a regenerative braking mode to recoup as much energy as possible back into the battery, and an electric boost mode to maximise the power. However, Bentley wants to draw our attention to the charge mode where the engine is used to power the wheels and charge the battery. Usually, this mode is one we avoid in other hybrids as it makes the engine work harder and impacts fuel economy, but Bentley suggests this is the best way to ensure the additional electric power is always available.

You can enquire about the new Continental GT Speed now. Pricing has not been confirmed but it’s likely to cost you upwards of £170,000 for the coupe and even more for the convertible.

What other cars from Bentley are due this year?

Earlier in the year Bentley unveiled the ultra-exclusive Mulliner Batur convertible, the last car to be made with its famous W12 engine as the rest of the line-up starts to go hybrid. Not only is Bentley branching out with new powertrains, but it’s also diversifying by adding its name to a motorbike in collaboration with Ducati. We wouldn’t be surprised to see more luxury lifestyle products on offer in the future.

While Bentley will consider the Continental GT Speed to be in a class of its own, it does have competition from the likes of the Aston Martin DB12 and the Ferrari Roma.