2007 Bentley Continental GTC

Bentley Continental (Coupe/Convertible/Saloon), 2003-2013

The Bentley Continental family was in production from 2003 to 2013. Styled in house, it is a front-engine, all wheel drive range seating four adults.

The Continental range was launched in 2003 with a single model, the Bentley Continental GT. Based on the underpinnings of the VW Phaeton, it utilised all wheel drive and a W12 engine created by mounting two VR6 single-block vee engines on a common crankcase in the traditional vee-formation. It was followed in 2005 by the Bentley Continental Flying Spur, a four door derivative, and the following year the open Bentley Continental GTC was launched to complete the range. A facelift, weight reduction and revised power steering were introduced as part of a facelift for 2007, which also brought the option of the Speed package. A Speed variant - available in all body styles - offered an additional 50bhp, lower ride height, revised suspension settings and bushings, a dynamic mode for the ESP and darker chrome tinting to the grilles at the front. A limited edition Supersports variant of the GT and GTC models, offering a further 20bhp and even more sporting suspension revisions.

Bentley launched an all new Continental range for 2011, which would incorporate a new V8 variant. The Flying Spur would continue to 2013, before its replacement with a new generation car that bore less of a direct resemblance to its two door sister cars.

The Continental GT was an entry level Bentley, targeted at Ferrari GT and Aston Martin buyers - making the DB9 and 612 Scaglietti among the closest rivals for the sporting Bentley coupe. The saloon perhaps had more convincing rivals in the shape of the Mercedes S65AMG and the Jaguar XJR, while the Maserati Quattroporte would certainly have appealed to a similar audience. An interesting alternative today would be the Volkswagen Phaeton W12 - the same outstanding chassis underneath, a far more subtle exterior, and with a rarity factor beyond that of the Bentley. Older Bentleys such as the Turbo R are now a similar price to Continental GTs and Flying Spurs, and may be a tempting alternative.