Bentley extreme

Powered by a 600-hp W12 engine, the Continental GT Speed is the most powerful production Bentley ever built and the first to top 200mph (322km/h).

Its 600bhp (610PS) W12 engine develops 15 percent more torque and nine percent more power than the standard Continental GT.

Inspiration for the GT Speed came from the legendary ‘Speed’ models that first appeared in 1923.

The main performance figures are a top speed of 202mph (326km/h) and a 0-60 mph sprint time of just 4.3 seconds (0-100km/h in 4.5s) – while the standard Continental GT has a top speed of 198mph (318km/h), and a 0-60mph sprint time of 4.6 seconds (0-100km/h in 4.8s).

Technical highlights include a new chassis tune, wider 9.5J 20-inch wheels and bespoke performance tyres as standard fitment. Fade-resistant carbon ceramic brakes are available as an option.

Both the Continental GT and the GT models have benefited from an extensive range of technical improvements, from engine efficiency, to weight savings and electronic controls.

From the official Press Release:

The design

The Continental GT has received many accolades for its distinctive, muscular and elegant style. It has redefined the concept of the contemporary Grand Touring coupe: forward looking yet faithful to Bentley’s design heritage.

Above: the new GT Speed (left) and the 2003 GT (right), originally presented at the 2002 Paris Motor Show

Classic sculpted coupe design cues such as curvaceous rear haunches, short front overhang, prominent front grille and longer rear overhang echo the look and feel of some of the great Bentleys of yesteryear.

The style of the GT has stimulated customer interest like no other Bentley to create a modern-day design icon. For the latest iteration of the Continental GT success story, the enhancements of the car’s exterior are therefore intentionally subtle, as Director of Design, Dirk van Braeckel explains: “Our objective was to convey the performance potential of the new GT Speed model, while retaining all the design cues so valued by our customers.”

The principal changes to the frontal appearance are common to both the GT and the new GT Speed. The subtly revised front grille, now more vertical, has a more pronounced square edge accentuating the GT’s distinctive Bentley profile.

Beneath the grille, the all-new lower bumper design features a wider central air intake that emphasises the sporting stance of the new models. Chromed bezels around the headlamps complement the new frontal design.

The Continental GT Speed is distinguished from the Continental GT by its dark-tinted chrome matrix grille to the main and lower air intakes. Bright chromed grilles may be specified at no extra cost.

At the rear, a black lower bumper valance and wider, rifled exhaust tailpipes emphasise the GT Speed’s sporting character, reinforced by new multi-spoke 20-inch sports alloy wheels. As an option, these may be specified with a dark chromed finish.

Interior

The GT Speed’s cabin is based on that of the Mulliner Driving Specification (a cost option on the standard GT). It includes a choice of veneers (Burr Walnut, Dark Stained Burr Walnut and Piano Black), Diamond-quilted hide seats with embroidered Bentley emblem, indented hide headlining, a sports alloy gearlever, three-spoke multi-function sports steering wheel, drilled alloy foot-pedals as well as ‘Speed’ logos to the treadplates.

A range of Mulliner options provide further opportunities for personalisation including fascia panels, header and centre console in bright aluminium or, unique to the GT Speed, dark tint aluminium (compatible only with Dark Stained Burr Walnut veneer or Piano Black veneer and single tone interior colour scheme). The Continental GT also benefits from a new Bentley ‘B’ brake pedal.

Continental GT and GT Speed customers have a choice of 16 ‘standard’ paint colours and 17 premium grade leather hide colours, including two new exterior paint colours (Cumbrian Green and Granite) and two new interior leather hide colours (Newmarket Tan and Cumbrian Green). Customers also have the option to select from the Arnage colour palette or choose Bentley’s colour-matching programme to produce a bespoke colour of their choice.