Issue:
January
2012

By Manos Angelakis
Photography by Manos Angelakis and courtesy of Bentley Motors

2012 Bentley Continental GT

The new Bentley Continental GT is finally in the market and Paul Miller’s Bentley Parsippany (250 Route 46 West, Parsippany, NJ 07054), a leading luxury dealership in the US, unveiled the re-designed 2012 model at a showing in the XOJETS hangar at Teterboro Airport.

If you’re thinking of buying a 2012 Bentley Continental GT, consider that it is powered by a 6-litre twin-turbocharged W12 engine developing 567bhp / 423kW / 575PS at 6000 rpm and 700Nm / 516lb/ft of torque. The top speed of the GT is rated at 198 mph (318 km/h) and the new version can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds and to 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds. The acceleration from 0 to 100 mph (160 km/h) takes only 10.2 seconds with a combined cycle fuel consumption of 14.0 mpg (US) or 16.5 litres/100km. The power of the W12 engine is sent to all four wheels via a six-speed Quickshift automatic transmission, which halves shift times to just 200 milliseconds – half the time from the previous gearbox. Advanced FlexFuel technology allows the Continental to run on both standard unleaded gasoline and sustainable bioethanol or any mix of the two.

This rolling status symbol returns in 2012 with refreshed bodywork, more dynamic handling, improved comfort, more rear-seat legroom and up-to-date electronics. Power has been slightly increased. This coupe is an icon of ultra-refined performance; traditional Bentley power in a sizzling body.

The exterior changes are subtle, with the most prominent updates being LED running lights that encircle the headlights and a more pronounced trunk whose cover is now made of aluminum. By using more aluminum in its body construction, the Continental GT has shed 143 pounds by, amongst other refinements, also using new, lighter suspension components. Inside the cabin, the elegant cockpit with its double-stitched leather and metal switches remains, but there is a revised instrument panel featuring a mix of traditional analog indicators and modern LCD readouts. The new 8-inch infotainment screen -- a recent VW component -- is a refreshing addition, and buyers can opt for a Naim premium audio system featuring 30GB of internal memory for digital music. The standard Balanced Mode Radiator speaker technology and Dirac Dimensions™ digital sound processing deliver enhanced audio quality from an eight-speaker audio system that includes a CD player, satellite radio, 15GB of music storage and an iPod interface. A navigation system with Google Map compatibility and real-time traffic is also included. 

Most of the German-inspired design elements from the recent past have been banished from this updated model.

The four-passenger 2012 Bentley Continental GT comes in a very well-appointed trim level. Standard features include 20-inch alloy wheels, automatic xenon headlights, heated outside mirrors, front and rear parking sensors, heated 10-way power front seats with memory functions and four-way lumbar adjustment, a power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, premium leather upholstery, wood veneer trim and Bluetooth. As with all Bentleys, buyers can choose from an array of exterior and interior colors, embroidery, stitching, piping and wood or metallic trim. For the extra particular buyer, custom colors may also be specified -- for an additional price, of course.

The production model we saw at Teterboro will be delivered to Hip Hop’s business mogul, Sean “Diddy” Combs.

© May 2011 LuxuryWeb Magazine. All rights reserved.