Bentley Continental GT Convertible: Continent-crunching confidence

Launched a year after its fixed-head coupe sister, for the 2019 model year, the Bentley Continental GT Convertible is the third generation modern Continental since 2003, when the re-born nameplate became Bentley’s first all-new launch during the brand’s Volkswagen group era. Retaining a similar size, look and position in Bentley’s roster, the new Continental is, however, a more significantly different car than its two closely related predecessors. Fresher, more elegant and more detailed in design, the new Continental rides on a new platform and has a more palpable sense of occasion and luxury.

Classy character

Designed as a more modern, accessible and athletic car with tighter packaging and more muscular styling than the gloriously opulent and expansive land yachts of the Continental’s now historic era, the 2003-2018 generations were altogether different cars. With the third generation Continental, Bentley has kept the modern Continental’s broad brief largely unchanged, but have re-imbued it with both a sportier and more luxurious character. Sitting with seemingly lower, wider and more rearwards stance, the new Continental’s detailing, surfacing and profile seem better integrated and lend it greater gravitas and a clear sense of high-end luxury.

Based on a more rear-oriented four-wheel-drive platform shared with the current Porsche Panamera rather than the preceding two generations’ use of a modified Audi-derived Volkswagen Phaeton luxury saloon platform, the new Continental’s bonnet is longer and more indulgently luxurious. Meanwhile, the front pillars being brought further back and away from the wheel-arches. In turn, the wheelbase is longer and front overhang shorter. With the new continental, Bentley seems to have also mastered its big inner and smaller outer light corporate face aesthetic, while slim new oval rear lights are far more charismatic, distinctive and tasteful.

Quick and capable

Carried over but improved to be smoother, more efficient and more powerful, the new Continental GT Convertible is powered by Bentley’s modern signature 6-litre four cylinder bank twin-turbo W12 engine. A huge and powerful engine with comparatively compact dimensions it now employs stop/start technology and cylinder de-activation for reduced 14l/100km combined fuel consumption. Meanwhile, it now features a dual mass flywheel, in place of a torque converter, and powers all four wheels through a smooth, slick and quick-shifting 8-speed automated dual-clutch gearbox, and develops 626BHP at 6,000rpm and 664lb/ft torque throughout a broad and flexible 1,350-4,500rpm range.

Epic in scope the Continental GT Convertible’s 12-cylinders haul its 2,414kg mass with verve and vitality. Launching with vice-like traction, the Continental rockets through the 0-100km/h dash in scant 3.8-seconds, 0-160km/h in mere eight-second and onto a supercar-like 333km/h top speed. Phenomenally fast and flexible in delivery with its quick-spooling turbos, the Continental’s performance is muscular, responsive and seemingly indefatigable across the spectrum. Near silent when cruising, but with a harder, heavier and bass-laden urgency as revs rise, it is defiant against high-speed air resistance and effortlessly versatile when accessing its deep mid-range torque reservoir.

Committed cornering

Driving all four wheels, the Continental GT Convertible develops reassuring road-holding over low traction surfaces and through corners, where its huge staggered front to rear tyres grip hard at the tarmac, while its four-wheel-drive system apportions power where needed. A more balanced car than its predecessor, the Continental’s weighting is, however, still 55 per cent front-biased. That said, its four-wheel-drive is more rear-biased — sending up to 38 per cent power to the front wheels normally, and only 17 per cent in sport mode — for enhanced balance and unexpectedly nimble cornering agility for a car of this class and weight.

Defying its weight in how it pounces into corners, the Continental is a technological tour de force with an exhaustive list of technologies, not least of which are its driver assistance, safety and sophisticated suspension systems that reconcile its supple comfort and weight with confident and committed handling and stability. Riding on double wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension with adaptive air springs and continuous damping control for a smooth, wafting ride quality the Continental well irons out bumps, lumps and imperfections, and alternatively tightens for a sportier and more settled ride with firmer cornering body control.

Comfortable cruising

A car that is and does exactly what its name suggests with a high level of excellence, Bentley’s Grand Touring Convertible is a luxurious, comfortable, powerful, flexible and supremely confident high speed open top sports car designed for continent-shrinking journeys. More than just an Autobahn-stormer, it is highly adept through twisting roads, with tenacious four-wheel-drive grip and 48v powered active anti-roll bars that provide comfort over imperfections, but which alternately provide taut body roll control. Deceptively quick in how effortless, settled and confident it feels at speed, the GT Convertible is a thoroughly reassuring convertible even with its quick-folding and well-insulated fabric roof down.

Winner of the 2020 Middle East Car of the Year awards’ best Luxury Performance Convertible category, the GT Convertible is exquisitely appointed inside with fine quilted leathers, rich woods and real metals stylishly designed with attention to details like its organ stop vent controls, while cabin layouts are user-friendly. Fitted with innumerable safety, convenience and infotainment features, its cabin provides well-adjustable, hunkered down, supportive and comfortable front accommodation. Rear seats are, meanwhile, convenient for short trips and not intended for continental cruising, but do double as additional luggage room, given that the Middle East spec spare tyre eats up much of the GT Convertible’s 235-litre boot space.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Engine: 6-litre, twin-turbo, in-line W12-cylinders
• Bore x stroke: 84 x 89.5mm
• Compression ratio: 10.5:1
• Valve-train: 48-valve, DOHC
• Gearbox: 8-speed automated dual clutch, four-wheel-drive
• Ratios: 1st 5.966; 2nd 3.235; 3rd 2.083; 4th 1.42; 5th 1.054; 6th 0.841; 7th 0.678; 8th 0.534
• Final drive, F/R: 3.130/3.154
• Power, BHP (PS) [kW]: 626 (635) [467] @6,000rpm
• Specific power: 105.2BHP/litre
• Power -to-weight ratio: 259.3BHP/tonne
• Torque, lb/ft (Nm): 664 (900) @1,350-4,500rpm
• Specific torque: 151.2Nm/litre
• Torque-to-weight ratio: 372.8Nm/tonne
• 0-100km/h: 3.8-seconds
• 0-160km/h: 8-seconds
• Top speed: 333km/h
• Fuel economy, combined: 14-litres/100km
• CO2 emissions, combined: 317g/km
• Fuel capacity: 90-litres
• Length: 4,850mm
• Width: 1,954mm
• Height: 1,399mm
• Wheelbase: 2,851mm
• Track, F/R: 1,672/1,664mm
• Aerodynamic drag co-efficient: 0.32
• Boot capacity: 235-litres
• Unladen weight: 2414kg
• Weight distribution, F/R: 55/45 per cent
• Suspension, F/R: Double wishbones/multi-link, adaptive air suspension, 48V active anti-roll bars
• Steering: Electric-assisted variable ratio
• Turning circle: 11.51-metres
• Brake discs, F/R: Ventilated discs, 420 x 40mm/380 x 30mm
• Brake callipers, F/R: 10-/4-piston
• Tyres, F/R: 275/35ZR22/315/30ZR22