RE: 2024 Bentley Continental GT Speed | PH Review

[Oily76]

Lovely, but wow what a lump though! Weighs nearly as much as an M5

[dunnoreally]

GeniusOfLove said:

None of these do that many miles (or last for that many miles) so while I see your point I don't think it's relevant to this car. I'd wager nobody has ever had a modern Bentley engine actually "wear out".

I don't know about that. I've seen quite a few early VW-era contis and spurs on AT with mileages approaching or over 200k. Usually for 15k or less and having picked up a very "interesting" painthob and/or body kit!

[E90_M3Ross]

dunnoreally said:

GeniusOfLove said:

None of these do that many miles (or last for that many miles) so while I see your point I don't think it's relevant to this car. I'd wager nobody has ever had a modern Bentley engine actually "wear out".

I don't know about that. I've seen quite a few early VW-era contis and spurs on AT with mileages approaching or over 200k. Usually for 15k or less and having picked up a very "interesting" painthob and/or body kit!

Yes, and it's not the engine wearing out that's the problem they may suffer from.

[whp1983]

Sad times if you are wanting one post depreciation and warranty in 5-8 years

Hybrid tech is not something I’d take a punt on secondhand.

That aside, it seems it’s as you were…. Lovely machine to take across Europe

[Rusty Old-Banger]

Diderot said:

A very handsome machine, and that interior is glorious.

But the display on that screen looks like every crap mobile phone. They could have at least put a smart wallpaper (right word?) behind it.

[E90_M3Ross]

whp1983 said:

Sad times if you are wanting one post depreciation and warranty in 5-8 years

Hybrid tech is not something I’d take a punt on secondhand.

That aside, it seems it’s as you were…. Lovely machine to take across Europe

I know what you mean. Those old W12 are a paragon of being cheap to run

[Robertb]

Nicolas Lazar said:

So, how does that work? At 75% gas pedal travel the cold V8 comes on and instantly goes to 4.000 rpm? That does sound neither healthy, nor smooth. Are coolant and lubricant pre-heated and pre-pressurized? Are the bearings pre-heated? No, thank you.

I’ve always wondered how performance hybrids deal with this.

I recall the McLaren Artura does something clever to warm the engine in EV mode, so it’s evidently something engineers have considered.

[theicemario]

dunnoreally said:

I don't know about that. I've seen quite a few early VW-era contis and spurs on AT with mileages approaching or over 200k. Usually for 15k or less and having picked up a very "interesting" painthob and/or body kit!

Errr, there’s 721 of the things on AT, only 3 of which on 125k or more

[Robertb]

NGK210 said:

For us mere mortals, it’s a logical and fair query.

Instead of snarking, please enlighten.

The McLaren Arthur, for example, when in EV-mode has the ICE running at tickover to warm its fluids.

If in doubt, see Iain Tyrrell’s vid re. start-up techniques, which in effect clarifies @Nicolas Lazar‘s comment:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WY30e-oC2T0

That’s a fascinating video! I wonder how many people end up with knackered engines prematurely because of poor start-up discipline.

Not to mention the damage done by the theatrical whoop of revs done on cold start by Jaguar F Types, Astons etc.

[mclwanB]

Oily76 said:

Lovely, but wow what a lump though! Weighs nearly as much as an M5

I actually thought it sounded light for a Conti GT- some sources report the same weight as the last non hybrid one

[McRors]

BigChiefmuffinAgain said:

Not sure why, but I found it really hard to read that article.

Quite. How can one start a new paragraph with "Some will not"? Clearly the writer is continuing the topic and thus a new paragraph is redundant.

OAN, primer grey and black alloys are not a look in my opinion.

[RDMcG]

Read a couple of reviews today. Nobody seems overwhelmed with enthusiasm. Nice enough but not earthshaking.

Not for me.

[Bencolem]

Phew. I feel like a deserve a Bentley just for making it through all of that article!

[whp1983]

E90_M3Ross said:

I know what you mean. Those old W12 are a paragon of being cheap to run

I know plenty of specialists that can tackle a W12 and sort niggles….. that hybrid system and battery, you’ll dream of a W12 then! (Never cheap not saying it’s a golf!….. but not second mortgage inducing)

[AmyRichardson]

mclwanB said:

Oily76 said:

Lovely, but wow what a lump though! Weighs nearly as much as an M5

I actually thought it sounded light for a Conti GT- some sources report the same weight as the last non hybrid one

It's a lot, but then the Phaeton GT (21 years ago!) was somewhere north of 2.3t, so in relative terms it's very restrained. At least the extra 150kg-200kg will be between the axles now, not a wonky 12' ahead the wheels.

[Harry H]

Bencolem said:

Phew. I feel like a deserve a Bentley just for making it through all of that article!

He is getting a bit better though. I was halfway through the second paragraph before I realised I was reading his usual verbiage.

Nic, write what you want to say. Do the word count. Half it and then re-write. Surely you can tell you've got it wrong by the fact many of the comments about the article are on the writing and not the car itself.

As for the car. I'm sure it's lovely but underneath it's VAG and an A8 in drag. Nothing wrong with the A8, I've had two over the years. I just wouldn't spend £300k on one. As has been said, 10yrs down the road it'll be worth buttons that no one will touch due to complexity. £30k a year (£50k of income) in depreciation and that's just to have it sat on the drive. You can probably double that if you actually use it on a regular basis. It's not that special.

[Wills2]

Harry H said:

As for the car. I'm sure it's lovely but underneath it's VAG and an A8 in drag. Nothing wrong with the A8, I've had two over the years. I just wouldn't spend £300k on one. As has been said, 10yrs down the road it'll be worth buttons that no one will touch due to complexity. £30k a year (£50k of income) in depreciation and that's just to have it sat on the drive. You can probably double that if you actually use it on a regular basis. It's not that special.

It's actually a Panamera in drag, Bentley and Porsche share the MSB platform that Porsche developed rather than an A8 platform, the Bentley CGT speed is a rebadged two door Panamera Turbo SE hybrid for twice the price.

[matrignano]

Wills2 said:

It's actually a Panamera in drag, Bentley and Porsche share the MSB platform that Porsche developed rather than an A8 platform, the Bentley CGT speed is a rebadged two door Panamera Turbo SE hybrid for twice the price.

Yep from the 3rd gen onwards the Conti GT is based on the Panamera rather than A8/Phaeton.
Much better to drive as a result, particularly the steering and PDK gearbox.

Some interior switchgear, the steering wheel and infotainment is heavily borrowed from Audi though, not Porsche.

[thejaywills]

I prefer the older GTs - these I find look a little bit too much like beemers and mercs of late..

[theicemario]

thejaywills said:

I prefer the older GTs - these I find look a little bit too much like beemers and mercs of late..

Even gets the same stuck-on black plastic tat on the ends of the front bumper as the M Sports and the like. What a horrible trend