REVIEW

When Bentley released the Continental GT in 2004 it brought the legendary British Marque into the reaches of mere mortals, rather than the super-rich, but was never really a dynamic car – sure there were fast powerful versions, but none were sports cars. The second generation got a little more verve, though despite being all-new it barely looked any different. Now the third generation is out and represents a step-change for the Conti GT. Taking inspiration from the EXP10 Speed6 concept, the new styling is far more athletic, with a similar nose that’s much lower, and muscular rear arches leading to a rear-end far removed from previous models. There are oval taillights and a lower, more sharply creased boot lid all of which add up to a seriously good looking car. The new Continental GT is already lighter and more dynamically focused than the old model, but this V8 version takes that to a new level. The 4.0 litre twin turbo V8 has 542bhp, but combined with the fact that the engine weighs a lot less over the nose of the car, this V8 coupe is a much more rewarding drive. The V8 was the driver’s choice in the old line-up and it seems that will be the case here too!