Bentley Continental GT

Model Overview

The Bentley Continental GT is the flagship two-door grand tourer from British ultra-luxury marque Bentley, hand-crafted at the brand’s ‘Dream Factory’ in Crewe, England. The lineage traces back to the 1952 R-Type Continental, an icon whose elegant styling and formidable performance defined the Continental bloodline. In 2003, the first-generation Continental GT debuted with a W12 engine, propelling Bentley back to the pinnacle of high-performance luxury grand touring. In June 2024, Bentley unveiled the fourth-generation Continental GT, introducing a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain for the first time and marking the model line’s formal entry into the electrified era. As of June 2026, the fourth-generation Continental GT is offered in two bodystyles—the Coupe and the GTC convertible—alongside a selection of variants including Speed, Mulliner, and Azure. In the Taiwan market, the 2026 Continental GT is priced from RM14,600,000 onwards.

Design Language

The fourth-generation Continental GT embraces a bold design evolution while staying true to its heritage. Up front, it retains Bentley's signature matrix grille, finished in gloss black with a chrome surround. The all-new ‘Harmony’ headlamps draw aesthetic cues from cut crystal. Extending outward from the oval clusters, the daytime running lights (DRLs) feature 120 individual LEDs that are independently controlled to deliver a smooth, graduated transition between illuminated and unlit zones. In terms of dimensions, the grand tourer measures 4,895 mm long, 2,187 mm wide (including wing mirrors), and 1,397 mm tall, riding on a 2,851 mm wheelbase. Round back, it features 3D diamond-patterned tail lights and a gloss black rear diffuser, complemented by twin oval chrome exhaust tips on either side. The Azure variant distinguishes itself with a bespoke vertical-vane chrome grille, further elevating front-end presence.

Inside, the cabin upholds Bentley’s hallmark coachbuilding craftsmanship. Taking centre stage on the dashboard is the Bentley Rotating Display, offering three facets: a 12.3-inch high-definition touchscreen infotainment unit, a trio of classic analogue dials, and an uninterrupted handcrafted veneer panel. The cabin is lavishly trimmed in hand-stitched Nappa leather, sustainably sourced wood veneers, and Dinamica upholstery. The seats feature linear fluting, while the bright chrome cabin accents can be blacked out via an optional dark specification package.

Powertrain and Performance

Across the range, the fourth-generation Continental GT is powered by a plug-in hybrid system paired with a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, permanently replacing the previous W12 engine. Bentley offers two states of hybrid tune:

• High Performance Hybrid : Fitted to the standard and Azure variants. The system delivers a combined output of 680 hp (500 kW) and 930 Nm of torque. It completes the 0-100 km/h sprint in 3.7 seconds, with a WLTP pure electric driving range of 80 to 84 km.

• Ultra Performance Hybrid : Reserved for the Speed and Mulliner variants. System output reaches an impressive 782 hp (575 kW) and 1,000 Nm, catapulting the car from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.2 seconds. It offers a WLTP pure electric range of 81 km and an overall driving range of 859 km.

Both setups are mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) and an all-wheel-drive (AWD) system. The Speed variant clocks a top speed of 335 km/h. Energy is stored in a 25.9 kWh battery pack positioned over the rear axle for optimal weight distribution. Courtesy of a 400V electrical architecture, the car can reach up to 140 km/h in pure EV mode.

Chassis and Handling

Underneath, the fourth-generation Continental GT benefits from an all-new dual-chamber air suspension setup paired with twin-valve adaptive dampers, allowing compression and rebound damping to be regulated independently by the electronic control module. The car also features Bentley Dynamic Ride, a 48V active anti-roll system that applies counteracting torque during cornering to suppress body roll. All-wheel steering comes as standard, markedly improving low-speed manoeuvrability (with a tighter turning circle) as well as high-speed stability. An electronic limited-slip differential (eLSD) works in tandem with torque vectoring by brake to deploy power cleanly to the road surface. The car achieves a 49:51 front-to-rear weight balance, making it Bentley's first series-production model with a rear-biased weight distribution.

Cabin and Features

Inside, the Continental GT comes standard with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster alongside the rotating centre touchscreen. The infotainment system supports multimedia, satellite navigation, and smartphone connectivity. Audiophiles will appreciate the First Edition’s 18-speaker Naim for Bentley premier sound system. In terms of seating comfort, the Azure variant pampers front occupants with 24-way power-adjustable seats complete with massage and automated climate functions. The open-top GTC variant is fitted with Bentley's seven-bow fabric soft top, available in seven exterior fabric colours (including tweed), which deploys or stows away in 19 seconds at vehicle speeds of up to 48 km/h. Boot space is rated at 260 litres.

Safety and Intelligent Driving

On the passive safety front, the Continental GT is equipped as standard with front, side, and curtain airbags. The active safety suite encompasses full-speed adaptive cruise control (ACC), lane keeping assist (LKA), autonomous emergency braking (AEB), blind spot monitoring/lane change assist, and a 360-degree surround-view camera. Under the skin, the 48V active anti-roll system, all-wheel steering, and electronic limited-slip differential work in unison to raise dynamic limits while reinforcing cruising stability.

Market Performance and Evaluation

The Continental GT remains one of the core sales pillars for the Bentley marque. However, the brand has faced persistent downward pressure in China, where Bentley’s full-year 2024 sales slid to 2,608 units, followed by just 884 deliveries in the first five months of 2025—a 20% year-on-year drop. In its financial disclosures, Bentley attributed the slump to ongoing market contraction in China. Serving as a crucial milestone in Bentley’s ‘Beyond100’ transformation strategy, the fourth-generation Continental GT completely replaces the iconic W12 with the new V8 plug-in hybrid powertrain. Industry reviews have lauded the fourth-generation model for comprehensively outperforming the outgoing W12 Speed in output and performance. Notably, with a top speed of 335 km/h, the Speed variant claims the title of the fastest road-going production car in Bentley’s history. In summary, the fourth-generation Bentley Continental GT pairs V8 plug-in hybrid performance with an impeccably crafted cabin and vastly evolved chassis technologies, cementing its status as an enduring icon and dynamic benchmark in the ultra-luxury grand tourer segment.