The first modern Bentley I truly fell in love with was the Continental GT Speed. It was a first-generation car, which I drove way back in 2008, on a memorable blast from Crewe to North Wales and back.
The regular Continental GT always felt a bit too much like a cruiser to me: effortlessly fast, but soft and remote with it. More luxury car, less focused GT. The Speed fixed that, with a soupcon of extra bite and attitude. I’d still take a Porsche 911, but now understood the allure of the Bentley.
Generation two came and went, with a Speed version available from the start. But while the third generation arrived in 2018, we’ve had to wait until now for the Speed version to arrive. Why the delay?
Because Bentley has been rethinking its approach. Rather than making the Speed just a bit racier than a regular Continental GT, it’s decided now’s the time to create more separation between the two variants. And this means making the Speed sportier than ever.
Indeed, the company is officially calling it the “most capable, performance-focused Bentley ever”, which show clear intent. Yes, it has 659hp, will do 0-62mph in 3.6 seconds and 208mph flat-out, but it’s the way the new Speed goes around corners, rather than the straights between them, that’s the story here.
And so, to Silverstone, for a suitably track-based first drive of this autumn’s new mega-Conti, set to cost upwards of around £180k.
Bentley Continental GT Speed: First impressions
The Continental GT is a big, striking car, packed with graceful lines, jewel-like details and visual presence. The Speed doesn’t aim to overawe it with sporty addenda, so the main visual clues are bigger 22-inch Speed wheels, sports sills, dark-tint radiator matrix and ‘Speed’ badges on the hydroformed wings. The eagle-eyed will spot the oval tailpipes, but not on the Silverstone cars, which had the optional Akrapovic exhaust. Even the spoiler is retractable.
Inside, the Speed has duotone leather and Alcantara, offered in a choice of 15 main and 11 secondary colours (customisation is a Bentley forte). There’s a Speed badge on the dashboard, and it’s stitched into the headrests, but again it’s otherwise subtle.
Of more interest to owners is the fact it retains the Conti GT’s four comfortable seats and ample 358-litre boot; everyday practicality is an important attribute, and is why many owners do actually use them every day. Spoil this with sporting diversions and Bentley knew it would reach a dead end.
Beneath, though, the engineers have been much busier…
Bentley Continental GT Speed: Driving impressions
Even the regular Continental GT gets three-chamber air suspension, 48v active anti-roll, torque vectoring, active all-wheel drive and Bentley Dynamic Ride. The Speed adds four new features: electronic all-wheel steering, ‘charisma-dependent’ ESC stability control, an electronic rear differential (for the first time in a Bentley) and optional weight-reducing, fade-resistant carbon ceramic brakes.
“It’s still a big GT,” explains chassis guru Florian Sprenger. “We’re not trying to say it’s a track car. But Silverstone will show off its competency, its drivability and ease of enjoyment as what we believe is the most dynamic Bentley road car ever. We think it’s the best two-door GT in the world… and hope you will agree.” Talk about setting the bar high, Florian.
Before I head out in my Candy Red machine, another engineer takes me through the rear-wheel steering, said to be key to the car’s high-speed stability and bite-free, “lack of sweaty hands” demeanour.
The rear wheels steering in the same direction as the fronts helps to tuck in the rear more neatly at speed, allows drivers to get on the power earlier – and, with more relaxed stability control settings, may even allow some controlled drifting. This all sounds very naughty, and un-Bentley, and I love it.
Out onto the Silverstone GP course. The familiar interior still oozes hand-crafted beauty, and the force-of-nature W12 twin-turbo engine easily makes light work of the Silverstone expanse. Road cars can feel slow on F1 racetracks: not the Continental GT Speed. And its (optional carbon ceramic) brakes are mesmerising – no matter how late you slam down the 10-piston (!) anchors, you’ll still brake early, and still feel utter confidence from their phenomenal power.
Even through a helmet, I can hear the fruitier nature of the optional Akrapovic exhausts, a soundtrack enhanced by the silence from the rest of the car, even well into three-figure speeds. A sighting lap is enough to prove the grippy, planted and roll-free Speed has more character than ever before, but we’re not done yet.
I’ve been driving round with the drive mode dial in ‘Bentley’, a level up from ‘Comfort’ but not as sporty as, um, ‘Sport’. But Sport is the exciting one: here, more power is sent to the rear wheels, and the stability systems are more lenient. ‘Charisma-dependent’ indeed: show us what you’ve got, Candy Red Speed.
Straight away, it rouses a smile. Doing what I did earlier now sees the tail become much more mobile out of corners – never scarily so, just in that satisfyingly feel-good way that makes mere mortals feel like drift heroes. Bentley calls it “increased yaw response” and I call it a hoot.
The combination of literally never-ending surge forwards, a stupendous ability to shed this speed and the newfound alacrity through corners makes it delightfully engaging and charismatic. It’s not made for track days, but you’d have to try it on one, simply because of what an entertaining experience it is.
Compared to previous iterations, it’s impressively fleet of foot and you get the impression it’s dancing on the tarmac, rather than simply pummelling it into submission. The steering may be nowhere near as feel-packed as a Porsche, but it’s still more accurate and responsive than anything before. All-wheel steering even tightens the turning circle when parking.
Of course, it’s ultimately still a big, heavy car. Get too excited by this dynamism on track and you’ll start cooking the front tyres, understeering into corners, waiting an age before you’re able to get on the power. It starts to get untidy. Best instead to follow the classic slow-in, fast-out routine: only fast-out now includes a tantalising degree of sideways angle too. Smokily cook the rear tyres instead – because now, well, you can.
Bentley Continental GT Speed: Verdict
Bentley has made a blinder with the latest Continental GT Speed. It’s big, fast, powerful-feeling but also surprisingly light on its feet and agile. A big bruiser that’s learnt some fancy footwork.
If the original Continental GT Speed was the first Bentley to win me over, this latest one is the best Bentley I’ve driven to date. And, Bentley, if your future is about blending everything you’re good at with an all-new serving of sportiness, then bring it on. Full speed ahead.