Bentley Continental GT (Third Generation)

For over a decade and a half, the Bentley Continental GT reshaped the luxury GT genre hand in hand and whether you love it or hate it, this grand tourer, along with its British craftsmanship and German engineering, has been stapling down the open roads for years and with the advent of the all-new model, the new Continental GT is ready to pen a new story for the playboys elsewhere.

2018 Bentley Continental GT

2018 Bentley Continental GT interior

Starting at 150,000 Pounds, the all-new Bentley Continental GT is literally all-new inside and out and while this all-new model is a clean slate compared to the previous generations, the classic Continental GT feel still remains and it promises to be quite as smooth as a bottle of Skin Bracer.

Outside, the styling draws inspiration from the EXP 10 Speed 6 Concept, and although less radicalized compared to the concept, it's still a beauty worth beholding when parked next to the Aston Martin DB11, it's fair to say that it's got more glitz compared to the other car. Whether you take it on the Stelvio Pass or the Swiss Alps, you can really see the true beauty from within. As for the inside, it's more futuristic than the previous model and Bentley states that the screens have improved retina display, which is as clearer as your new iPhone. Good but the handcrafted interior is something to touch at because with all that leathery and proper wooden trim bundled through this futuristic interior, the new Continental GT shows that it's like Downton Abbey meets MI6. How's that for a fancy living?

Despite being called designed, handcrafted, and engineered in Britain, the new Continental GT runs on an all-new platform derived from the second-generation Porsche Panamera, which is a luxury saloon worth pleasuring, and powering it is a brand new 6.0L W12 TSI engine producing 626HP of power and 900Nm of torque. With the 8-speed DCT and 4WD system which works pretty much like the Panamera of today, it does 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds and onwards to 207mph. It even comes with a Sport Launch mode which lets the car launch like a pro, which is pointless for a luxury grand tourer like this but it's worth a shot having fun with it.

Because it runs on a new platform, the new Continental GT works in both ways as a West Coast cruiser and a Silverstone surfer at the push of the button. In Comfort mode, it feels civilized to drive like a luxury car and it's got that Skin Bracer feel to it. Feels good but when engaged in Sport mode, and when taken to the track, the new model demonstrates its mild but menacing character from within although the Electric Power-Assisted Steering works nicely on city streets, expect some torn ligaments from your arms because the harder it gets, the twitchier the car becomes and responding to full-paced driving calls for even more challenging feats. Despite the added challenge while handling this House of Cards, the new Continental GT could become your new favorite the more you drive this luxury grand tourer for a change.

So, could this be your new favorite GT car at the moment? Considering everything the new model has done for drivers like you, it can be either a yes or a no but either way, it shows how much the Continental GT has evolved for over a decade and a half and there are so many stories to write about with this new model.

Photo: Bentley Motors