Since the first generation was released in 2003, Bentley’s Continental GT has helped to define and establish the British marque as one of the world’s finest luxury automobile manufacturers. This June, Bentley is preparing to reveal the next stage in the evolution of the Continental GT, the first to utilize its brand-new Ultra Performance Hybrid powertrain.
Capable of delivering 793 hp and producing 1,000 Nm of torque, this new Bentley Continental GT will become the most powerful road car produced by Bentley during its 105-year history. The introduction of a hybrid powertrain brings benefits otherthan just power. The new Continental GT will have 50 miles of purely electric range, perfect for short trips across a city, and has a WLTP CO2 figure of under 50g/KM.
Alongside Bentley’s new Ultra Performance Hybrid powertrain, the fourth-generation Continental GT brings the latest chassis technology. Active all-wheel drive with torque vectoring, four-wheel steering, an electronic Limited Slip Differential, electric anti-roll control and new dual-valve dampers will make this Bentley’s most advanced vehicle to date.
[See also: Bentley Unveils Batur Convertible Coachbuilt by Mulliner]
It can be argued that the first generation Continental GT, was one of the most important releases in the British marque’s history. Effectively relaunching Bentley and resulting in a ten-fold increase in sales, the Continental GT reset the standard of what customers expected from a luxury grand tourer.
The success of the first Continental GT was followed by the announcement of its replacement at Paris in 2010, which launched with the W12 engine while a second 4.0 liter V8 was introduced in 2012. Generation three arrived in 2018, featuring a new engine, suspension, electrical architecture and fresh interior and exterior designs. For six years, the generation three Continental GT has helped keep the bar high when it comes to luxury grand tourers.
As the second most popular car in the Bentley lineup — behind the Bentayga — one in every three Bentleys sold is a Continental GT, making this upcoming release a big step for the manufacturer. It is expected that next year the 100,000th Continental GT in history will roll off the Bentley production line in Crewe, England. The introduction of the new Ultra Performance Hybrid powertrain looks likely to further establish Bentley as one of the leaders in the luxury GT space, increasing the company’s sustainability credentials while releasing its most powerful road car in history.
[See also: First Look: McLaren Artura Spider, a Hybrid Super Convertible]