2011 Bentley Continental GT: First Look

By Lyndon Conrad Bell

Lyndon Conrad Bell

Contributing Writer

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2011 Bentley Continental GT

2011 Bentley Continental GT

Enlarge Photo

2011 Bentley Continental GT

Enlarge Photo

2011 Bentley Continental GT

Enlarge Photo

2011 Bentley Continental GT

Enlarge Photo

An evolution rather than a revolution, at first glance, one might be hard pressed to see the differences between the new model and the outgoing version of the car. The new front-end treatment isn’t radically different, though it does have a crisper, more refined appearance. It's less busy than before, with smoother surfacing, a more upright grille and larger air intakes. At the rear, the trunklid is resculpted and is somewhat reminiscent of the design used on the new Mulsanne introduced earlier this year.

The interior features a new touchscreen-driven infotainment system, boasting Google Maps and a broad array of entertainment choices. The navigation system in the previous car was never quite up to the competition, so this new system is quite welcome indeed. As for the instrumentation and the climate control system, the overall layout remains unchanged, but all of the components are redesigned. The seats have been redesigned as well.

The Continental Bentley’s 12-cylinder, twin-turbocharged engine now makes 567 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. The six-speed automatic Quickshift transmission enables double downshifts. Thanks to advanced FlexFuel technology it can also run on unleaded gasoline, bioethanol (up to E85) or any mix of the two, Bentley says.

For the first time, the Continental GT series will offer a V-8 engine in late 2011. According to Bentley the 4.0-liter V-8 will deliver a 40 percent reduction in emissions compared with the W-12 engine and will offer a class-leading CO2 emissions-to-power ratio with Bentley levels of performance and refinement. What those levels are, haven't quite been discussed just yet.

Both engines will be coupled to an all-wheel drive system with a 40:60 rear-torque bias (compared with the 50:50 bias of the original Continental GT). This setup will allow the new Continental GT to respond more like a rear-drive car, while still offering the grip afforded by all-wheel drive. Understeer is said to be mimimized during hard cornering, allowing the experienced driver to control the car’s line and balance via throttle control. The front and rear tracks are wider, and 21-inch wheels are now available which should also contribute to more grip and stability.

No pricing, or on sale date has been announced yet. We'll be reporting from the 2010 Paris auto show next month with more details.