Bentley nearly broke the sound barrier as it shot into the 21st Century by introducing the Continental GT, an all-new coupe that brought the distinguished company from Crewe, England to the forefront of the luxury market. The Continental is a combination of exceptionally advanced equipment and the same craftsmanship that has always separated the company’s exclusive vehicles from the competition. Those traits and the GT’s instantly classic lines have also allowed the new Bentley to appeal to a much broader range of well-heeled buyers than before-- it’s as much at home rolling down Rodeo Drive with Paris Hilton in the driver’s seat as it is tearing up a Swiss mountain road, W12 howling. The advanced “W” engine configuration also sets the GT apart from its competitors; essential two V6s joined at the crank, the compact motor is force-fed by a pair of large turbochargers to make ample power and torque. The Continental is a hefty, substantial car, yet the huge motor and all-wheel drive system let it charge to 60 mph in a sportscar-embarrassing 4.4 seconds. The cockpit may be trimmed in Old World luxury, but there’s no mistaking the Continental GT for anything other than a modern tour de force.
