Continental GT 20th Anniversary : 8 Things To Know About Bentley’s First Car Under VW Ownership

Continental GT 20th Anniversary : Here are 8 things to know about Bentley’s first car under Volkswagen ownership.

British luxury marque Bentley Motors has concluded the six-month programme of events marking the 20th anniversary of the Continental GT family.

Produced since 2003, the grand tourer was the first car released by Bentley under Volkswagen AG management, after the company’s acquisition in 1998.

Like the first-gen model, the third generation Continental GT represents the pinnacle of Bentley’s award-winning two-door design and engineering achievements.

Here are 8 things to know about Continental GT, Bentley’s first car under Volkswagen ownership.

1. Debuted in 2003

The Bentley Continental GT, now in its third generation, was first unveiled in 2003, though the grand tourer available in 2-door fastback Coupé and a 2-door Convertible, was first previewed as Concept Java in 1994 by Rolls-Royce Motors, who at that time owned the Bentley brand.

2. Range

The range currently includes the Continental GT, the GT A, Continental GT Azure, Continental GT S, Continental GT Speed, Continental GT Speed Edition 12 and the Continental GT Mulliner – latter, the luxurious pinnacle of the Continental GT range.

3. Fastest 4-seat coupé at the time of reveal

At the time of its launch in 2003, the first-generation Continental GT was hailed as the fastest four seat coupé in the world with a top speed in excess of 190 mph (300 km/h), and a 0-60 mph time of 4.7 seconds.

4. Continental GT 20th anniversary

The six-month programme of events marking the 20th anniversary of the Continental GT family began in April at the Shanghai Motor Show with the debut of a one-of-one Continental GT S.

Bespoke Mulliner features of this one-of-one Continental GT S included commemorative badging, inlays and a 20th anniversary design motif.

5. Award

The Continental GT continue to garner awards, including Robb Report Car of the Year award, which was won by Continental GT Speed in 2022 and Continental GT V8 S in 2023.

The Continental GT also achieved back-to-back wins at the Auto Motor und Sport awards in February 2023, winning the luxury class import category.

6. Sales

Earlier this year, Bentley Motors announced a new record year with a total sales of 15,174 cars in 2022 (+4%), with the Continental GT and GT Convertible accounting for nearly 30 per cent third of sales.

7. Engine

Two powerful, twin-turbocharged petrol engines, a 4.0 litre V8 or a 6.0 litre W12, are currently available for the Bentley Continental GT range.

Models fitted with the V8 deliver 542 bhp, allowing a zero to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 198 mph. The W12 engine makes 650 bhp, and allows 0-60 mph in just 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 208 mph.

8) First to use the outgoing W12 engine

In addition, the Continental GT is first all-new Bentley of the modern era, the first with all-wheel drive and the first Bentley to feature the innovative but out-going 12-cylinder (W12) engine.

Production of Bentley’s iconic W12 engine that has powered the modern era Bentley models since 2003 will finish in April 2024 after more than 100,000 units produced in Crewe.

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