Bentley Continental GTC Speed car review

The V-12 motor is lifeless. Extensive are living the V-12.

In the coming many years, supercar corporations like Lamborghini, Bentley and Rolls-Royce have all declared section-outs of their V-12 engines as they roll into the age of hybrid and electric autos. In the meantime, they are launching 12-cylinder masterpieces as odes to the ultimate in petrol power – and wealthy clients are snapping them up at a history clip.

In other terms, at the quite major of the vehicle current market, the 12-cylinder is dying, and demand has hardly ever been stronger.

With the king of combustion hitting the stop of its road, Bentley has launched the Continental GTC Speed. It truly is a “W-12” road burner, in which where a few banking companies of four cylinders are arranged in a kind of “W” configuration. Its raw power is matched only by its refined interior.

Despite a value tag approaching $400,000, the GTC Speed is quickly advertising out. Bentley CEO Adrian Hallmar, explained there are “very couple accessible” right before Bentley rolls the last of its 12-cylinder engines off the line in April 2024.

“These designs are presently just about offered out,” Hallmark told CNBC. “It truly is the conclusion of a fantastic era.”

So with the Continental GTC Pace, Bentley has determined to celebration like it truly is 1999.

The design I drove carried a value tag of $384,000. Its shade is termed “Kingfisher,” a luminescent, shimmering blue that, like it truly is namesake hen, was born to fly. It was loaded with some of Bentley’s most well-liked selections, like 22″ black-painted “Velocity Wheels,” a touring offer for added ease and comfort and generous helpings of carbon fiber.

Inside, the GTC Velocity was dripping with luxury increase-ons, from the contrast stitching on the seats (with “Kingfisher” and “Beluga” colored threads) to the Bang and Olufsen audio system, precision diamond quilting and the deep-pile overmats for included foot convenience.

My preferred options, also one particular of the most common, is the “rotating exhibit,” wherever a portion of the carbon-fiber dashboard flips more than when the car starts off to reveal its electronic display, kind of like the supercar edition of the top secret wall in a mansion library. It costs an excess $6,600 — but hey, when you are spending $380,000 for a car or truck, what is actually an further six grand? (About 70% of Bentley homeowners are like it.)

The most beautiful section of the Continental GTC Speed is the travel. As befits a car or truck with multiple personalities, The GTC Velocity has three driving modes: ease and comfort, custom, Bentley and enhanced activity. Driving in comfort and ease manner is like floating on a cloud, even on pot-gap ridden streets of New York and New Jersey. Bentley method presents a equilibrium involving convenience and sport.

You could quickly think about convenience mode ferrying its well-heeled driver to the country clubs in Southern California and Southern Florida, two of Bentley’s biggest marketplaces. All-wheel steering will help for these unusual events when you have to park the motor vehicle yourself as a substitute of getting a valet do it.

Switch to sport method, nonetheless, and the W-12 roars like a dragon roused from snooze. The suspension tightens into a crouch and the GTC goes to -60 in 3.6 seconds. It can strike a leading speed of 208 mph.

Even with an unladen pounds of over 5,300 lbs ., the Continental GTC Pace can take corners, stops and accelerations like a significantly nimbler supercar. Its unique windscreen and aerodynamics make it possible for major-down driving even at higher speeds without a hair out of spot.

Absolutely sure, there are improved pure sports vehicles and superior luxurious ease and comfort rides. But arguably no vehicle places the two alongside one another – with the screaming swan music of a W-12 – rather like the Continental GTC Velocity.