If any ultraluxury automotive qualifies as “ubiquitous,” it is Bentley’s Continental GT. Between its Coupe, Convertible and Flying Spur sedan physique types, this household of grand tourers borders on inescapable on the earth’s poshest ZIP codes. In truth, Bentley’s offered upward of 66,000 models because the nameplate’s introduction in 2003, making the Continental the British model’s best-selling mannequin vary ever. (The four-door Flying Spur was a part of the Conti vary, however because the second era, the corporate has thought-about it a separate line.)As a consequence, some web snark retailers have sought to dismiss the Continental as “the Camry for rich people,” however they’re lacking the plot — regardless of its relative reputation, there’s nothing remotely abnormal about this household’s DNA. The newest proof? The 2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible. Historically, few ultraluxury vehicles have been as well-rounded as a Continental GT, and I am pleased to report that this new mannequin will solely burnish that repute. Simply put, this automotive is about as elegant a grand tourer as you will discover, and the truth that its roof disappears is simply an added bonus. This new droptop would not deviate from the GT’s styling canon, which has gone all however undisturbed since Bentley designers made the daring (and never uncontroversial) choice to dramatically enlarge the design’s primary interior headlamps to be noticeably bigger than their smaller outboard counterparts. The similar sweeping roofline, distinguished entrance grille and powerfully coiled rear haunches have carried on for 3 generations and 16 years to date. The new mannequin’s most noticeable departure is its almond-shaped taillamps that lend the rear finish a gimlet-eyed look. This design continuity means that over time, Bentley intends to evolve the Conti GT vary the best way its company cousins at Porsche have handled the 911. Indeed, like that German firm’s rear-engined icon, a lot of the Conti’s design language has unfold all through the corporate’s vary, together with sharing many similarities with the model’s SUV, the Bentayga. Despite acquainted appearances, the structure underpinning this third-generation 2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible is however new, having been first launched in 2018 on the coupe mannequin. Built atop the Volkswagen Group’s MSB platform, this Continental Convertible shares a lot of its unseen bits with Porsche’s present Panamera household. Those new company britches allow a substantial wheelbase stretch of 4.1 inches, a lot of which is fleshed out not within the curiosity of wanted rear seat room, however as an alternative for what Bentley amusingly refers to because the “Prestige Mass” — an extended dash-to-axle ratio. The entrance overhang is definitely shorter, and the rear overhang commensurately longer, lending your complete kind a extra streamlined look, particularly with the hunkered-down powered mushy prime in place. The largest takeaway, although, is healthier weight distribution front-to-rear for sharper dealing with. Officials say the brand new platform is 20 p.c lighter and 5 p.c stiffer than its predecessor. Even although this era options an aluminum chassis clad in bodywork of the identical, this two-door is nothing lower than a critical heavyweight. In truth, at over 5,300 kilos earlier than choices (about the identical weight as a well-dressed Ford F-150 crew cab pickup), the Convertible is round 375 kilos heftier than its already porky hardtop sibling. As I came upon by caning the Continental Convertible via the picturesque Andalusian mountains of Southern Spain, there is not any disguising the Continental’s appreciable width on slender, winding roads. However, the brand new chassis works wonders for making this automotive really feel much less ponderous and extra exact than any car of this heft ought to — particularly one with an enormous gap the place a roof would usually be. Much of its magical efficiency could be attributed to the automotive’s new energetic anti-roll bars, which depend on a 48-volt setup for each quickness and energy. The system can uncouple the anti-roll bars at will for clean, straight-ahead working, and rapidly lock them as much as nook practically as flatly as any light-weight sports activities automotive. A brake-based torque-vectoring system additional aids maneuverability whereas working imperceptibly. The energy prime drops in 19 seconds. Roof up, this new era is as quiet because the last-generation hardtop coupe.
Richard Pardon/Bentley
You’d assume that with 21-inch wheels as customary and elective 22-inch models as fitted to my tester (a part of a $12,755 Mulliner Driving Specification package deal), the Continental Convertible would possibly journey in a flinty trend, however no less than on well-maintained Spanish tarmac, journey consolation wasn’t a difficulty — even firmed up in Sport mode. The automotive’s air suspension has been redesigned to make use of 60 percent-larger, three-chamber air springs, and the adaptive dampers had been well-behaved underneath all circumstances. Those huge wheels allow sufficient elbow room for a set of suitably enormous brakes, too: 16.5-inch discs with 10-piston calipers up entrance, matched by 15-inch rotors and four-piston hats out again. For my cash, these metal brakes match the lighthearted character of a convertible higher than a set of racier carbon-ceramics would possibly, providing reassuring stopping energy with out noise or extra mud. The Conti’s customary all-wheel-drive system has been comprehensively reworked, too, and the automotive operates largely as a rear-wheel driver now, although it will possibly push practically 40 p.c of accessible torque to the entrance wheels within the automotive’s default “Bentley” settings or Comfort mode. When the drive selector dial is ready to Sport, the entrance wheels can solely obtain as much as 17 p.c energy, a choice that helps curb understeer that beforehand intruded upon the GT’s driving enjoyment. You’re taking a look at 626 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque.
Bentley
Speaking of energy: There is a few. Quite lots, really. The Continental GT Convertible is motivated by 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged W12 engine borrowed from the Bentayga, the place the engine debuted a few years in the past. The new engine employs each port and direct injection, delivering 626 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque, the latter approaching boil from simply 1,350 rpm. Accelerating to 60 miles per hour is estimated to take 3.7 seconds, however Bentley has often been modest about acceleration occasions, and it would not shock me if if this mannequin is just a few tenths faster. Top pace is pegged at a follicle-frazzling 207 mph, however there’s energy nearly in every single place under that — it takes some time to recalibrate your proper foot in order that you do not blast into the following nation if you’re merely trying to overtake a tractor trailer. The Continental has all the time been surprisingly muscular, however “base” fashions like this one usually do not brag about it a lot in relation to sound. Twist the drive mode dial into Sport, and you may hear some modest audio pyrotechnics on overrun, however should you’re anticipating pops and burbles such as you would possibly discover in an Aston Martin DB11 Volante’s V12, nicely, assume once more. This convertible could also be able to driving heroics, but it surely would not actually ever shout about it. I perceive the maturity of such an strategy, however I would not thoughts the power to dial up a bit extra noise. Bentley’s inevitable GT Speed and/or V8 fashions might crow a bit extra loudly, but it surely’s too quickly to inform. A brand new AWD system preserves rear-drive dealing with values extra usually.
Richard Pardon/Bentley
Fuel financial system estimates haven’t but been launched, however the outgoing mannequin registered 12 miles per gallon metropolis, 20 freeway and 14 mixed. Given its barely lighter curb weight, stop-start system and extra refined transmission, I might count on a slight nudge upward, however doubtless no more than a digit or two.Speaking of transmissions, if there’s something radically completely different on this third-generation Continental’s efficiency arsenal, it is the gearbox selection: an eight-speed dual-clutch unit. If you learn that and alarm bells began going off in your head, you are not alone. DCTs have lengthy been the selection of premium sporting equipment, however even the perfect of them commerce away low-speed refinement in favor of responsiveness. (This usually manifests as occasional lurches and clunks at or under 5 mph, as you would possibly expertise inching ahead in a flip lane.) Naturally, that type of conduct could be unacceptable in a luxury-first proposition like a Bentley, so I used to be involved. I will not say that the corporate’s engineers have utterly vanquished such conduct, however I can say that 99 p.c of consumers will not discover or assume to query Bentley’s choice to go along with one of these cogswapper. Bentley’s GT vary lastly has the up-to-date inside it is lengthy wanted.
Richard Pardon/Bentley
The ZF field, shared with Porsche’s Panamera however independently tuned, is probably the most refined DCT I’ve ever skilled. The plus aspect of the equation, in fact, is that twin-clutch gearboxes ship unassailably faster shifts, each when in full automated and when taking part in with the paddles. The bedrock of the GT’s enchantment has all the time been that whereas it is able to supercar ranges of efficiency, it is also a really completed on a regular basis driver, and the brand new twin clutch should not endanger that repute.As you’d count on, the guts of the Bentley possession expertise is its inside, and this one may be very good certainly. By the top of its predecessor’s mannequin run, the Continental’s cabin was beginning to really feel its age, each in supplies and particularly by way of tech, so right here is the place probably the most work was referred to as for. The new inside rectifies all that each superbly and fragrantly: Its leatherwork is just gorgeous, particularly with the accessible diamond-in-diamond quilting. According to officers, there are as much as 310,675 stitches — 1.74 miles — of thread in every automotive. (Also within the pantheon of absurdist inside numbers: Each automotive makes use of 10 sq. meters of wooden veneer — that is 108 sq. toes.) Infotainment dated the earlier Conti probably the most, however the brand new system is up-to-date (though not fairly pretty much as good as Audi’s newest MMI).
Richard Pardon/Bentley
The cabin’s largest enchancment, nonetheless, is inarguably the brand new 12.3-inch touchscreen that packs all the things from Wi-Fi to Apple CarPlay (sorry, Android Auto customers), in addition to a Google Street View and on-line POI search. The gauge cluster has gone absolutely digital, too, to raised preserve tabs on a phalanx of accessible energetic security options, together with lane-keep help, adaptive cruise with site visitors jam help, pedestrian warning and infrared night time imaginative and prescient. Unfortunately, these superior driver help methods come as a part of very pricey possibility packs, bundled together with different options like a really good head-up show and traffic-sign recognition. An inductive telephone charger and extra temper lighting are standalone extras. The new infotainment works nicely and appears nice, but when all of that display screen real-estate sounds just a little overwhelming, Bentley will fortunately give you a dose of what it is calling “digital detox” — the choice to cover the middle show by rotating it out of view, secreting it behind strong veneer when parked or a trio of analogue gauges (temperature, compass and chronometer) on the transfer. Like any good celeb remedy session, this seemingly easy possibility prices large bucks: It’s over $6,000 simply by itself, however for plutocrats trying to wow passengers, it has few equals.
If you are getting the sense that it is simple to bloat the sticker value of your dream Bentley, you are choosing up what I am placing down. While a 2019 Continental GT Coupe begins at $214,600, the Convertible begins at $236,100, which means the privilege of folding that mushy prime in 19 seconds prices practically $22,000 simply by its lonesome. That’s simply the beginning, although. My Orange Flame tester options an eye-watering (however not atypical) $61,030 in choices, swelling its backside line to $297,130. That’s nonetheless about $50,000 shy of the bottom value of the (markedly much less highly effective and fewer athletic) Rolls-Royce Dawn. Of course, searching for to use rational monetary thought to an inherently irrational phase of the market like six-figure convertibles is a idiot’s errand. Suffice it to say that should you can afford one thing on this class, you may and can buy what you need. Nearly any automotive at this stratospheric value stage will impress a driver on many ranges, however few will impress so completely and utterly because the 2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible. Combining supercar ranges of efficiency with plutocratic luxurious, long-legged, all-weather touring chops and a heaping serving to of tech, you are as soon as once more taking a look at one of many world’s most completed and well-rounded vehicles accessible at any value. Oh pleased day.
Richard Pardon/Bentley
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