It's hard not to feel a tad jaded in our business. Every week I'm presented with a new vehicle, and sometimes it gets to be so mundane and humdrum, one car kind of just blending into the next. It's not that I mean for it to be like that, just that it happens—sad, but true. I love my job and I love cars, but in today's market, everyone is playing the one-up game, which means most cars are basically the same with a very few minute changes to make them stand out from the crowd—hopefully.
And then I get to drive something like the 2012 Bentley Continental GT, and my childish excitement for automobiles and driving bubbles back to the surface in one big glorious rush.
Well, stand out from the crowd the Continental GT most definitely does, and in all the right ways. Some might think the Continental GT isn't a “real” Bentley. It's sporty, aggressive, some might even go so far as to say it's not refined—at least not as far as Bentley standards go. And to those people I'd say: You're just jealous.
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Oh, alright, not all of them are. Some are diehard Bentley enthusiasts who feel the Continental GT is such a departure from the opulent, sophisticated, classic look of a Bentley that it's almost blasphemous. Well, to those people I say: sit behind the wheel and tell me again the Continental GT is a potmark on Bentley's flawless complexion. But before you do, take a closer look at the beefy front lip and classy front grille mesh coupled with the quad headlights in classic Bentley fashion. Let your eye drift back across the aerodynamically-shaped roofline and body, taking note of the muscular haunches flexed above 20” rubber, and how the stubby, almost plain rear end finishes off the Bentley Continental GT in automotive perfection.
You'd never know this was a 2012 model and not the previous-gen version. There are very few, if any, changes that have been made to the design, just a few body cuts and creases as well as a wider track and stance for better handling (which I think is more than alright). Otherwise, the Bentley is virtually unchanged. Some might see this as counterproductive, or even lazy, from a manufacturer in an industry that's built on change and all things “new.” But when it comes to Bentley, I say the more they stay the same, the more incredible they are.
Look beyond the feline-shaped sweeping windows (that open fully in one beautifully-shaped silhouette across the front and back seats), and you'll be greeted with an opulent interior befitting the kind of prestigious owner willing to dish over $240,000 (base price). Since everything about this vehicle is bespoke—right down to the colour palette, stitching, wood-panelling and any other accessories you might wish to add (Bentley baby seat? Cigar humidor? Armour plating?)—you may never step into two identical Bentleys, ever.
As I looked at my black and cream-coloured leather interior accented with piano-black inserts, that feeling of prestige and opulence nearly overpowered me. Everything about the interior of the Bentley Continental GT is beautifully sculpted and refined. Even the aeronautical-inspired push/pull knobs for the air vents are so simple, even cheap-feeling, and yet they make a statement.
Like sitting in the study of an old English manor, the cockpit of the Continental is as inviting as it is functional, with all essential buttons and knobs well within reach and easily manipulated so that you can focus on the most important thing: driving your Bentley.
Grab hold of that sturdy, leather-clad shift knob, press your thumb firmly down onto the ceramic “B,” select “D” and revel in what makes a Bentley a Bentley.
photo : 2012 Bentley Continental GT,
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Outfitted with Bentley's 6.0L twin-turbocharged W12 powerhouse, the Continental pushes out 567 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. While not as powerful as the Continental GT Supersports Matt inevitably drove (because, of course, he had to go for the speedy one), the GT has enough grunt to please anyone who has a need for speed behind the wheel of a Bentley. Coupled with the car's continuous AWD as well as a 6-speed automatic transmission and steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters (that I actually thought were quite badly placed and a bit too large), and the Continental can take flight with the right amount of room and the driver's confidence.
True, the Bentley Continental GT is a bit of a whale. With an over 5,000-lb curb weight, it's definitely no Calista Flockhart, but that doesn't seem to matter when the W12 is asked to perform with a gentle touch of the throttle—and I guarantee you'll ask it to perform again, and again, and again, and again... It virtually floats over all surfaces, but not in a disconnected poopy suspension way, more in a we-don't-want-your-diamonds-to-jostle-around-too-much-when-you-corner-like-that way.
The Continental GT is touted as a 2+2, but as is usually the case with supercars in this segment, the back seats are more an afterthought than an actual functioning part of the car. But, really, do you care about the back seats when you're driving a Bentley Continental GT? Um, no. They will be the farthest thing from your mind, trust me.
A few years ago I drove a Bentley Continental GT Speed. That was my first introduction to the brand, and what an introduction it was. I learned almost immediately what it meant to drive a car of a different caliber, to drive a car in another stratosphere both on a price level and a quality level. And I was in love from the moment my finger brushed the start/stop button. It was a short-lived affair, but one I hoped to relive again. Driving the 2012 Bentley Continental GT brought those feelings rushing back, and while this affair was even shorter-lived, it was just as hot and steamy and I can't wait for the next encounter.
