Refined, classy and powerful Under the auspices of the Volkswagen group, Bentley broke all traditions in 2003 with the introduction of the original Continental GT (CGT). It brought Bentley to the masses by becoming more affordable. By Renaldi Hutasoit
The New-Generation Bentley
While the old-school Bentley models, such as the Arnage, demanded a price premium exceeding a quarter of a million dollars, the CGT was priced at a whopping US$100,000 less. This has proven to be a smart move, and eight years on, the entire Bentley lineup is based on the CGT platform, except for the flagship model, the Bentley Mulsanne.
You could be forgiven for not being able to spot the difference between the original and the new Bentley CGT. Bentley even admits that the changes made from the original to the new CGT are of the evolution and refining sort. The CGT has been the focus of the entire Bentley collection since its introduction in 2003, so changes are subtle since the success of the new-generation CGT is a very important one for Bentley.
The new exterior now has bolder and highly defined forms. The familiar haunch line, echoing that of the original 1950s R-Type Continental, now has even sharper radii to create distinct surfaces giving a wider, longer and more sporting feel. If you take a closer look, the hood is now longer and emphasizes the powerful stance of the new car. The front fender wings and trunk are constructed using the method called “aluminum super-forming,” which allows production of a large single panel without any seams.
Aggressive facial features
At the front, the most noticeable difference is the new headlight arrangement. While both the new car and the original have four headlights, the new car has more aggressive facial features, because on each side the two headlights have distinctly different sizes. Bentley has managed to interpret the classic look into a more muscular and aggressive design. Further, the headlights have jewel-like detailing with Xenon and LED technology. At the rear, the new CGT bears new wraparound rear lights with floating LED lamps to provide a distinctive signature, unlike any other car on the road.
As we enter the car, the CGT greets us with an ultra-luxury interior with sensuous form, but with full consideration to practicality. All Bentleys can be prepared based on each customer’s wishes and desires, deciding on such things as the colors and materials used on the interior. With 17 types of hides for the interior, there surely is a selection to suit any would-be CGT owner. The front Cobra-like seats are produced using complex thin foam layers that provide softness at first touch, but excellent support over longer journeys. The rear occupants will now find a happier place in the new CGT, as there is an additional 46 millimeters of leg room, making the CGT a real long-distance touring vehicle for four.
Bentley has also equipped the CGT with as swanky infotainment system worthy of a car priced around six and a half billion Rupiah. The British audio specialist, Naim, created an 11-speaker system exclusively for the new CGT using Dirac Dimensions digital signal processing that virtually alters the position of loudspeakers to transform the new CGT cabin into an auditorium. The system is supported by the all-around glazing, under-floor shields and interior soundproofing. All of which makes it the car best in class in terms of refinement. If you have had the privilege of riding in the original CGT and were impressed by the quietness of the cabin, know this; the new car interior noise level is 10 percent quieter still. The CGT also has a large eight-inch touch-screen with navigation and a 30-gigabyte hard drive built in. Although laden with features, Bentley managed to assimilate technology with classic and classy detailing very well.
24 Hours of Le Mans
Ever since Bentley won four consecutive ’24 Hours of Le Mans’ races in the 1920s at the hands of a group of wealthy British motoring enthusiasts known as the Bentley Boys, the marque has been synonymous with power and speed. Although both new and original CGTs share the same engine configuration—the six-liter twin turbo W12, the new CGT now has 567 horsepower, up only 15 horsepower from the original 552. However, in a 2.3-ton car such as the CGT, torque is what counts to accelerate it and, in this case, Bentley wringed out 50 nm more torque from the engine. Not only is the power and torque increased, the new car is also lighter by about 65 kilograms, which further improves the power-to-weight ratio of the new CGT.
Thankfully, this newfound power is not wasted on the drive train. The new CGT has a new six-speed automatic transmission with steering wheel-mounted shift paddles. This transmission is able to complete a shift 50 percent quicker (now only takes 0.2 seconds) and enables double downshifts similar to the most recent and most sporting incarnation of the original CGT, the Supersport. The new CGT can now reach 100kph from rest in mere 4.6 seconds and on to a top speed of 318 kph.
Similar to the original CGT, the new one will only be available in all-wheel drive. Despite criticism from the motoring press when the original CGT came out, I do believe that this is the reason why the CGT has been so successful. Many CGT target markets live in four-season regions and all-wheel drive vehicles can offer the highest safety margin over all kinds of road conditions. However, this time around it looks like Bentley wanted to silence any standing criticism of the CGT’s handling. The new CGT now splits the power 40:60 front to rear to make the new CGT feel more like the sportier rear-wheel-drive setup, as opposed to the previously used 50:50 split. The new power split allows better mid-corner acceleration and less under-steer when powering out from a turn, thus allowing more control on the car’s cornering attitude via the throttle. Another aspect that makes the new CGT more agile is the revised traction control that enhances driver involvement.
Attitude and Poise
For the suspension, Bentley returns to the use of coil springs as opposed to air suspension in the original CGT, coupled with solid aluminum cast-forged suspension components and Continuous Damping Control, or CDC, that constantly monitors the car’s attitude and poise. The CDC adjusts the suspension settings hundreds of times a second to deliver a supple ride at low speeds and increased control as your speed climbs. As a result, the new CGT suspension is able to provide better handling without sacrificing ride comfort.
If you think about it, the Bentley CGT could arguably be the perfect GT. Of course, there are other GTs such as the new Ferrari FF and the Mercedes CL65. Both are more powerful than the Bentley CGT and the Ferrari FF also has a similar all-wheel-drive setup. On paper, the Ferrari may seem to have everything it needs for a clean sweep, but it is quite a bit more expensive and it does not look anywhere near as elegant as the Bentley. On the other hand, while the CL65 is a great car, I find it to be soulless. If you have money to burn and want have only one car to go with your new estate just outside Monte Carlo, the Bentley CGT should be your choice.
Specs: Bentley Continental GT
Engine: Six-liter twin-turbocharged W12
Power: 567 horspower @ 6000 RPM
Transmission: ZF six-speed automatic with Quickshift and steering wheel-mounted paddle shift
Body: Steel monocoque
Top Speed: 318 kph
Video Preview
—
Specs for the MINI Countryman
Engine: ALL4 1,598-cc inline four-cylinder gasoline engine
Power: 120 horsepower
Top speed: 182 kilometers per hour
—
This article appeared in DA MAN’s ‘WHEELS’ column in the October/November 2011 edition, to buy back issues click here.