2018 Bentley Continental GT revealed, to be shown at 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show
The 2018 Bentley Continental GT was revealed by British luxury car maker Bentley Motors on Thursday. The new Continental GT is lighter, more powerful and posher than before. The 2018 Bentley Continental GT will be showcased at the upcoming 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany. In a first, the Bentley Continental GT also gets a dual-clutch 8-speed transmission to more efficiently transfer the 635PS power and a time-warping 900Nm of torque from the twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre W12 TSI engine to the road. If the older Continental GT set a benchmark with styling that balanced the fine line between modern shape and stately presence, the 2018 GT pushes the envelope further with its sharper body lines and a more sophisticated interior.
Bentley Motors has developed a new adaptive chassis for the third generation Continental GT which uses Bentley's intelligent 48-volt Dynamic Ride System to control ride comfort and limit lateral roll for precise handling. The front-mounted W12 engine is placed further back in the chassis for better weight distribution.
The new chassis which has lost 80kg owing to new materials and techniques and the result is that the car now gets to 100kmph in a rushed 3.7 seconds, and onwards to a top speed of 333kmph. The 2018 Bentley Continental GT also gets a Sport Launch mode, for those precise race-style take-offs. The front wheels are now 135mm further forward, to ensure the cabin, as the nose, sits lower.
On the styling front, the exterior gets sharper lines, with more defined details. Inspired by the EXP 10 Speed 6 concept car, the styling is more muscular, pronounced especially at the haunches. The car still retains the classic outline from its predecessor. Crystal-cut effect on the Matrix LED headlamps distinguishes the front on the new GT, while the completely new taillamp design changes the view from the rear. The car is equipped with 21-inch wheels as standard and has the option for 22-inch wheels.
Inside, the cabin gets high-quality leathers, sustainably-sourced veneers, and technical finishes inspired by Swiss watches. The centre console appears to be a glossy-veneer, but it features the Bentley Rotating Display, with a 12.3-inch touchscreen display housed in a three-sided unit, which revolves the veneer to reveal the touchscreen as well as three analogue dials. Bentley claims the 2018 Continental GT to be the best grand tourer in the world. Given the history of the model, the claim may not be so tall for this opulent continent-crosser. In addition, Bentley's Mulliner customisation suite of options will also be available for customers with specific trim, colour and material requirements.