MODERN BRITISH ICON

BENTLEY'S CONTINENTAL GT TURNS 20 AND CONTINUES TO PUSH THE BOUNDARIES OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A GT.

Following the acquisition of Bentley by Volkswagen in 1998, the fortunes of the luxury British marque were set to change forever. An investment of £500m was injected in to the business to create not only a modern, fit-for-purpose factory - which was so advanced at the time that little has changed today - but also the development of the first all-new Bentley motorcar since 1930.

Initially designated as the 'Mid-Sized Bentley', the car was to become the icon we know today, the Continental GT. Delivering a distinctive style and level of luxury and quality unseen in the GT world before its launch in 2003. Taking inspiration from historic examples - more specifically the R-Type Continental - the Continental GT differed vastly from the existing Continental R, bringing an entirely new offering to the Bentley customer base and broadening in considerably.

Pushing production and sales ten-fold, the Continental GT was a revolution for both the manufacturer and the industry. Harking a new era of luxury GT motoring, it pushed the boundaries of what the most discerning clients would come to expect.

As an all-new offering, the Continental GT not only introduced the new look Bentley to the world, illustrating a contemporary design ethos - which was undoubtedly modern but maintained a distinct hint of the marques iconic historic styling - but also required the development of an all-new engine, thus the spectacular 6.0-litre W12 was born.

Now sadly reaching the end of its life - with less than a handful of units left to buy - the W12 was the ideal power unit to pair with this luxurious grand tourer. Providing effortless power, it was perfectly poised to deliver a comfortable drive cross-continent with minimal effort. Packing a staggering 550 bhp and 650 Nm of torque, the original Continental GT was capable of a zero-tosixty-two time of just 4.8 seconds and top speed of 198 mph.

Combined with the beautifully crafted interior with its sleek veneer, flowing dash lines through the centre console and luxuriously plump bucket seats, the Continental GT immediately positioned itself at the pinnacle of the luxury GT segment and it had the sales figures to match.

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Starting at £110,000, the GT also undercut the outgoing Continental R by over £60,000 bringing the once extremely limited access to the Bentley brand to a much wider audience. Despite this, every aspect of the car was designed and developed to be the very best, only the finest materials were used for the interior, every part still made by hand and the specifications at the height of performance at the time.

By the time the first production specification model reached the stand at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2003, Bentley had already taken over 3,000 deposits even though first deliveries wouldn't be until the end of that year. It was an instant success that delivered on every part of Bentley's brief for the car: widen the appeal of the brand; be both more sporting and affordable; have space for four with luggage and the performance of the likes of the Aston Martin DB7 and Porsche 911 Turbo; be designed, engineered and built in Crewe; and be delivered in just four years.

This example was the very first car to leave the Crewe production line with chassis VIN 20001. Finished in a classically British combination of Cypress Green exterior and Saddle hide interior with a stunning Burr Walnut wood veneer. Built in December 2003, it has remained in company ownership from the outset and enjoys being part of the Heritage Collection - which

Bentley are keen to maintain as useable, running machines and thus every vehicle in the collection is regularly run on the road to ensure each and every one continues to be enjoyed.

Continental Gt 2003

Engine 6.0l Twin-Turbocharged W12 Power (bhp) 550

Torque (Nm) 650 0-62mph (secs) 4.8

Max Speed (mph) 198

Transmission 6-Speed ZF Automatic Consumption (mpg) 16

CO² Emissions (g/km) 410

Price (from at launch) £110,000 bentleymotors.com

Bentley Continental Gt

Now, following 20 years of development, the very latest range topping Continental GT Mulliner demonstrates just what is possible in the world of luxury grand touring. Combining the very best of everything the now extensive model range has to offer, from the performance of GT Speed to the luxurious opulence of GT Azure, Mulliner has it all.

Continuing the exquisite craftsmanship that the oldest automotive coachbuilder in the world is renowned for, Bentley's very own bespoke division, Bentley Mulliner is responsible for the design and build of the truly stunning Continental GT Mulliner. Offering clients a seemingly endless number of possibilities when commissioning their unique Bentley, each individual specification can be crafted to the smallest detail delivering exactly what you want from your new Continental GT.

From the very first iteration back in 2003, the GT has pushed the boundaries of what it is to be a luxury grand tourer, from the quality of materials and finish to the performance and build. Every aspect was crafted to be the very best it could be and now, the latest Mulliner model builds on this ethos to the nth degree.

Whether its a specific material you would like incorporated into the seats or used as a veneer, or a particular shade you want to see your beautiful new Bentley adorned in, the Mulliner model will deliver the pinnacle of grand touring with everything exactly as you want it down to the finest detail.

Sadly the story of the iconic W12 Bentley Continental GT is coming to an end with just a few of the impressive 6.0-litre units remaining to be purchased, but for now, the truly stunning performance remains the pinnacle of the model range. Boasting a staggering 626 bhp and astronomical 900 Nm of torque, the W12 Continental GT Mulliner is capable of executing a zero-to-sixtytwo miles per hour time of just 3.5 seconds and whopping top speed of 208 mph. When you consider the level of luxury that this car affords with its elegant piano veneered interior complete with diamond quilted, contrast stitched linen and Beluga leather seats and weight of almost 2.3 tonnes, those figures become even more alarmingly impressive.

A host of exclusive design features separate the Continental GT Mulliner from the rest of the family. For the exterior, Mulliner enjoys the new ‘Double Diamond’ matrix grille at the front which defines the Mulliner signature style. This is complemented by matching front fender vents echoing the same silver and black design and with chromed Mulliner branding. Approaching and opening either doors reveals the other Mulliner design featuresSatin Silver mirror caps with Mulliner welcome lamps beneath, and illuminated outer door sills with the Mulliner text. The distinct exterior aesthetic is finished with unique 22” Mulliner wheels with self-levelling centre Bentley ‘B’ badge.

As you’ll expect, the interior cabin is one defined by luxury, and showcases a level of choice and customisation that only Bentley Mulliner can provide. There is a unique colour split which is exclusive to the car, offering a combination of primary and secondary hide joined by a third colour through a flowing design line. The Mulliner Driving Specification is fitted as standard, bringing the “Diamond in Diamond” quilting to the seats, door trims and rear quarter.

All of this luxury combines with the effortless performance bentleymotors.com to deliver a magnificent driving experience in any and every situation. 20 years of development and progression have provided the latest Continental GT with technological advancements including computer-controlled chassis systems to ensure the very best combination of comfort and dynamism. Safer, easier and even more exciting to drive with a distinct appearance that maintains design cues from the original, the latest Continental continues to set the benchmark for what it means to be a luxury grand tourer. bentleymotors.com

A Pirelli Noise Cancellation System, air ionisers to purify the cabin, personal Wi-Fi hotspot, wireless phone charging, over-theair updates for the satnav maps, adaptive cruise control, night vision camera and pre-emptive driving adjustments are just some of the features you can enjoy as standard from your Continental GT Mulliner to provide the best driving experience. To push your grand tourer even further, opt for some of the extra options such as a phenomenal 20-channel Naim for Bentley for concert hall level audio should you want to enjoy something other than the beautifully smooth yet gutsy engine tone - which changes according to your drive mode choice.

The GT Mulliner is the epitome of luxury grand touring, delivering the most opulent comfort as you cruise along the road eating up the miles with ease thanks to that tarmac beating 6.0-litre W12. It is a car that is as comfortable during trans-continental travel as it is on your daily commute and it executes it all in seriously luxurious style.

Gt Mulliner 2023