(Motorsport-Total.com/Motor1) – Bentley is introducing the new edition of the Continental GT Speed ​​and its open counterpart, the GTC. The W12 is history, the future is plug-in hybrids with biturbo V8s. Who would have thought that when the first modern “Conti GT” came out in 2002.

Bentley has cleverly developed the Continental GT and GTC visually, making the series look a little flatter and tighter than before. Let’s take a look at the key data: 4.89 meters long, 1.97 meters wide, almost 1.40 meters high and a wheelbase of 2.85 meters. Curb weight: 2.5 tons, plus 22-inch tires. Trunk: 260 liters for the GT. Tank: 80 liters.

The new plug-in hybrid in the GT Speed ​​consists of a 4.0-liter biturbo V8 with 600 hp and 800 Nm of maximum torque. There is also an electric motor with 190 hp and 450 Nm. Bentley specifies the system output as 782 hp and 1,000 Nm. Sound familiar? Indeed. Just look at a Porsche Panamera or Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid closer to …

The battery has a capacity of 25.9 kWh, it takes 2 hours and 45 minutes to “fill up” on a fast charger. At home it takes up to 8:30 hours. What is important for Bentley’s future is not so much the range of 80 km in pure electric mode but the CO2 value (WLTP) of less than 50 g/km. For comparison: old Conti Speed ​​with W12 it was a smooth 311 grams.

Not only is the new Conti GT Speed ​​set to be the most powerful Bentley road car in the company’s 105-year history, but its launch also marks a major milestone in Bentley’s Beyond100 strategy, which aims to become a leader in sustainable luxury mobility with the availability of plug-in powertrains across all model ranges.

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Photo gallery: Bentley Continental GTC (2024)

The latest chassis technology includes active all-wheel drive with torque vectoring, four-wheel steering, an electronic limited-slip differential, 48V active roll stabilization and new double-valve dampers, which together create “the most dynamic Bentley ever”, according to the manufacturer.

More from Bentley:

Bentley Flying Spur W12 Speed ​​in the test: Once again with everything
The Bentley Batur Convertible is a very expensive W12 hairdryer

To demonstrate its capabilities, Bentley will also announce on 25 June that the new Continental GT Speed ​​recently set an unofficial underwater speed record by reaching a top speed of 208 mph (335 km/h) in the world’s longest and deepest underwater road tunnel, the Ryfylke Tunnel in Norway. A film illustrating the tunnel journey will be shown at the launch.

There are no definitive prices yet. Up until now, the GT V8 cost 231,900 euros in Germany, while the W12 Speed ​​cost 291,300 euros. The open versions are almost 30,000 euros more.