Bentley Continental

Step inside the opulent cabin and you’d instantly feel like royalty. The choice of premium grade leather that clads the steering wheel, gear shifter, trims, doors, and seats makes the inside of the Bentley stylish and elegant without any sense of tackiness. There’s zero plasticky feels here as the soft-touch leather is paired with a walnut veneer. The dashboard is streamlined and ultra-modern. The state-of-the-art technology includes a fully digital instrument cluster that sets as the background of the 3-spoke hide trimmed steering wheel with paddle shifters. The star of the dashboard however is the Bentley rotating display which feels like it came straight out of a James Bond movie. At first, the veneer section of the center fascia displays three analog dials with polished chrome bezels—a homage to the long heritage of Bentley. Then, when the engine revs up, the section rotates to reveal a 12.3-inch high-resolution touchscreen infotainment display which is compatible with Apple CarPlay only, sorry Android users. It also comes with Bluetooth and WIFI audio streaming and is partnered with a 10-speaker sound system. The dial control for the four driving modes is located at the center console. There’s a choice between Comfort, Sport, Custom, and Bentley Mode. To maximize cabin space, there’s a cooler in the glove compartment, cubbies, and cupholders scattered around the vehicle, and 12-volt power sockets and USB ports are strategically placed in the center of the front and rear seats to keep all four passengers connected. There is even one power socket in the trunk. Ambient lighting adds to the overall vibe of the trip.

Bentley’s exterior design is classic elegance. Its head-turning presence comes not in a flashy, flamboyant way, but in its quiet beauty and finesse. The strong stance of the Continental begins on its front façade. The robust hood with double crease highlights the massive chrome matrix front grille with chrome surround and center bar. It is flanked by round Full LED matrix headlights with supplementary lamps with a cut-crystal effect. On the lower bumper is a matching matrix grille. Go on the side of this Bentley luxury sports car and you get aerodynamic curves that highlight the rear fenders, chrome wing vent, and polished bright ware on the side windows. At the rear are a ‘B’ badge on the trunk lid, elliptical full LED taillights with the same cut-crystal effect, twin oval stainless steel tailpipes, and a deployable rear spoiler. This English luxury sports car measures 4,850 mm long, 2,187 mm wide, 1,405 mm tall, and a wheelbase of 2,851 mm. The GT rides on a set of 21-inch five tri-spoke painted alloy wheels and comes in 17 choices of exterior paint color while the GT V8 is fitted with 20-inch ten-spoke painted alloy wheels and available in 7 exterior paint colors.

Driving the Continental is beyond compare. The immersive technology makes driving this luxury grand tourer very interactive and exciting at the same time. The four driving modes adjust the power and torque to the driver’s preference. Comfort mode makes the most of the chassis and drivetrain for a serene cruising; Sports mode maximizes the engine’s power for a more spirited response; Bentley mode is a perfect balance of the Comfort and Sport; while the Custom mode allows the driver to configure the settings according to preference. Steering is on point which can easily tackle the curves and turns. The powerful engine responds instantaneously to gearshifts seamlessly. The suspension system for the Bentley Continental is handled by air suspension that includes a three-chamber air spring with continuous damping control and 4 height settings. The GT also gets an additional Bentley dynamic ride system that counteracts body roll forces via negating lateral forces to keep the tires squarely on the road for a smooth and cushioned ride. Riding comfort is top-notch with superb insulation to block out any noise, vibration, and harness.

The Continental GT is packed with a 6.0-litre turbocharged W12 engine that produces 635 PS of power and 900 Nm of peak torque. The engine is capable of accelerating from 0 – 100 kmph in 3.7 seconds and can reach a top speed of 333 kmph. Fuel consumption is between 9.5 – 16.7 L/ 100km depending on road and traffic conditions while carbon dioxide emission is at 278 g/ km. The Continental GT V8, on the other hand, is powered by a 4.0 liter V8 Petrol twin-turbocharged engine that delivers 550 PS of output and 770 Nm of torque. It has a top speed of 318 km/h and can go from zero to 100 km/h in just 4.0 seconds. Fuel efficiency is pegged between 8.9 – 15 L/ 100 km depending if its urban, extra-urban, or a combination of both. Carbon dioxide emission is at 255 g/ km. Both GT and GT V8 engines have a fuel capacity of 90 liters and are mated to an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission with Active All-Wheel-Drive.

When it comes to braking power, the Bentley Continental is fitted with iron brakes with black painted brake calipers which is further enhanced by adaptive brake lights, Bentley Safeguard—a pre-sense braking system, collision prevention assist, pre-crash rear, and multi-collision brake. Other safety features worth mentioning are the front and rear park distance control, rain-sensing windscreen wipers, navigation system with voice command, keyless entry and ignition, exit warning, blind-spot warning, park assist, engine stop/start button, alarm and immobilizer, complete airbag system, and reversing camera with graphic screen representation. There’s also the adaptive cruise control with optional radar sensors that automatically allows the vehicle to slow down or accelerate depending on the speed of the vehicle in front. Other safety, convenience, and driver-assist features are optional add on.

Besides the powerful engine, state-of-the-art tech features, and opulent interior, the Bentley Continental is very desirable because it is above all, a status symbol. It got the looks, the performance, and a rich heritage to make it ultra-appealing to those who can afford the premium luxury.