Continental GT

I had previously test-driven the Bentley Continental GT when considering replacing my Panamera. That was the W12 coupe, and the test drive was in the city, but this time, I had the opportunity to drive the W12-powered convertible on mountain roads.

From my earlier city drive, the impression was that it felt sportier than the typical Bentley image. The basic ride quality was quite similar to the Panamera Turbo I was driving at the time, with a bit more smoothness added, but I remember thinking it was a car that couldn’t fully hide the sporty nature of its chassis.

This Continental GT Convertible, finished in British Racing Green with a brown interior, is a truly stunning example. It exudes the aura of a true British gentleman’s car, a color scheme I personally love.

Settling into the generously padded seats, I adjusted the impressively versatile power seats to my liking and started the engine. The 12-cylinder engine awakens with a perfectly tuned, refined sound from the moment it fires up. It’s never harsh, yet somehow sporty. The craftsmanship in this tuning is remarkable.

The Dense 6-Liter W12 Engine

Despite the massive 22-inch wheels, the ride quality from the start is superb. If you focus carefully, you can just barely feel the slight roughness of the asphalt due to the low-profile tires, but all other vibrations and shocks are completely absent.

Pulling out of the parking lot and gently pressing the accelerator—or rather, just trying to press it—the W12 engine effortlessly moves the roughly 2.5-ton giant with abundant torque. The 900 Nm from 1350 rpm is no joke. This is torque that truly embodies composure, and on top of that, the revving feel and sound are rich and luxurious.

While the massive torque of modern high-performance diesels is impressive, the smoothness of this engine’s revs, its sound, and the absence of micro-vibrations transmitted through the steering wheel are things no diesel, no matter how advanced, can imitate.

I felt Bentley was teaching me what true refinement really means.

Sporty? Or Luxurious?

How does the surprisingly sporty impression I got from the city drive change on mountain roads?

To find out, I pressed the accelerator a bit more firmly. Driving in the firmest Sport mode, I approached a curve and turned the steering wheel. Despite having such a large engine up front and a heavy body, there was absolutely no sign of understeer.

The steering is almost perfectly neutral, and body roll is incredibly minimal—astonishingly so.

No wonder, as it seems to come standard with Dynamic Ride Active Roll Control, a system similar to Porsche’s PDCC.

Even in Sport mode, the ride is excellent with no unpleasant noises or vibrations. It was so comfortable that I even double-checked the mode with the owner riding shotgun.

When driving on mountain roads, it feels much more luxurious compared to the Panamera Turbo’s almost pure sports car tuning.

That said, it’s still a Bentley. Even when driving at a brisk pace, the chassis feels completely confident and composed.

In Sport mode, when you lift off the accelerator, you hear a tasteful burbling sound, and the gear shifts make a “baf! baf!” sound almost like a PDK transmission, which really enhances the sporty feeling. Of course, these sounds are not loud or aggressive but very refined.

The exhaust and engine sounds serve as background music, never interfering with conversation in the passenger seat.

Pressing the accelerator a bit harder on a straight, the W12 shows a slight turbo lag, but then eagerly propels the 2.5-ton mass forward. Given its 635 ps rating, it’s not supercar quick due to the weight, but the acceleration is more than sufficient.

Whether the top is open or closed, there is absolutely no sign of body weakness or lack of rigidity. Switching modes to Bentley mode, the traditional recommended setting, which is the default mode, I took it for a spin.

Compared to Sport mode, Bentley mode offers a slightly softer steering feel and greater comfort. Then switching to Comfort mode, the ride quality changes noticeably. The body moves up and down in response to road undulations.

This, to me, is the Bentley ride quality I envision!

Bentley 100th Anniversary Edition emblem

It’s incredibly comfortable. This is a cruiser on land. The ride feels like driving on a thick carpet. But unlike the typical soft ride of Japanese luxury cars, the damping is so effective that any floaty sway settles immediately.

The suspension extends upward and then compresses downward, but the way it slows the compression speed is exquisite. It absorbs shocks as softly as a cat landing, and the extension and compression speeds are not symmetrical, which is wonderful.

That’s why it achieves the paradox of feeling both soft and flat at the same time.

I tried entering a curve at a slightly higher speed to see what happens. Here again, Bentley’s magic shows. Despite the soft suspension, body roll is minimal.

No, it’s so little you could say it’s almost nonexistent.

So, there’s no weak-kneed feeling. Once the turn starts, it feels as if you’ve instantly switched to Sport mode without realizing it, with zero fear.

Coupe or Convertible?

Honestly, I didn’t expect to enjoy this car so much on mountain roads. When I drove the coupe in the city before, I thought it might be a bit too sporty, but on mountain roads, it’s very comfortable.

Besides the difference in speed range, the fact that this time it was a convertible might also have influenced the experience. Without a roof, it may be better at absorbing shocks and vibrations.

After this drive, if I were to buy a Continental GT, I think I’d prefer the convertible. It feels more luxurious and retains the weighty, luxurious character I associate with Bentley. Thinking about it, the coupe seems to emphasize comfort within sportiness, while the convertible emphasizes sportiness within comfort.

Of course, everyone has their own preferences, so I can’t say which is better, but I hope this helps those considering a Continental GT purchase.