Reviews & Test Rides

Bentley's new Continental GT purchase consideration - I went for a test drive first.

Continental GT, my husband's impression

As a lover of large coupes, I have always had my eye on the Continental GT ever since the first generation came out. This was my first time to test drive a Continental GT, and I opened the door and climbed in with great anticipation.

Adjust the seat position and press the engine start button. Then theThe W12 engine woke up with an explosive sound that was no less than that of the Panamera Turbo.This surprised me, as I had expected a 12-cylinder engine to wake me up with a gentle engine sound, as if fluffy feathers were fluttering, like a Rolls-Royce.

The sales rep said.The W12 seems to be braver than the V8 and looks quite sportyIt is.

The tires roll smoothly at the beginning of the acceleration to get out on the road, but this too is not as fluffy as one might expect.The hit is soft, but you can feel a solid core within it.

A little more, at higher speeds, it is very, very similar to the Panamera's ride.

I think the fact that the platforms are the same is significant, but even so, they are very similar.It felt firmly grounded and betrayed my expectation of a more luxurious ride, but in a good way.

The transmission is the same as the PDK, an 8-speed dual clutch transmission.Therefore, there is almost no gearshift shock, but the driver is aware that the gears are being shifted, which gives the car a sporty feel.

The steering wheel is neither too heavy nor too light, and the tires feel relatively well grounded.

If you could drive it with your eyes closed, the feedback from the car that you feel around town would be hard to distinguish from the Panamera Turbo. This is the same luxury large coupe.It is quite different in character from the AMG S63 coupe I previously owned.

On the other hand.If you try to turn a little, vigorously, at intersections and curves, the roll is more forgiving than you might expect.Of course, it is not an uneasy roll, but this area is very different from the Panamera Turbo, whereas the Panamera is committed to flat behavior at all times.

So far, this is my impression in the Bentley mode recommended by Bentley.

Sport and Comfort Mode

Next, try putting it in sport mode. The foot becomes distinctly stiffer andThe ride quality will be about normal to sport mode in the Panamera Turbo.The exhaust note is slightly higher in volume and the car has an overall tighter feel.

In a slightly open straightaway, he whipped the W12 engine intoI turned it a little and it accelerated angrily, just as I had expected.The needle on the tachometer bounces up smoothly and without resistance, making a pleasant, pleasing sound. However, there is no sense of speed, and the interior is calm and quite stable, so there is little sense of fear.

The handling is also quite agile despite the heavy body. Braking, of course, is also free of any concerns.

I tried changing from second, third, and fourth gear with the paddle shifters.The sound of the gearshift buffing can be heard and the quickness of the connection that only a dual clutch transmission can provide can be heard. sound can be heard when shifting gears, and the quickness of the connection that can only be achieved with a dual clutch transmission is still there.Naturally, the gearshift response is not insanely good, but it is not slow.

The PDK of the Panamera was only slightly slower here.

Okay, Bentley is a manufacturer that is very active in racing activities, but...I was once again reminded that they are a sportier manufacturer than I had thought.Perhaps many Japanese have a strong image of Rolls-Royce and Bentley as the ultimate in luxury, butAt least this new Continental GT is not all about luxury, but is properly sport-conscious, which is a great discovery!It was.

Continental GT, buy it!

Next, when we put it in the comfort mode, it changed from before, and the feet became soft and moist all at once.It's just a gentle feeling, perfect for a leisurely night on the town.I wonder if it is. It's quiet and comfortable, the ride quality of a so-called luxury coupe. I like this mode best for this car.

It was a test ride that lasted a few dozen minutes, which is far too little time to understand everything, and I'm sure there's a lot I didn't understand.I think the Continental GT is perfect for those who want a luxury coupe with a sporty edgeI think.

It is ideal for those who feel that the AMG S63 Coupe is a bit too luxurious and prefer a sportier interior and a more crisp driving feel.

Therefore.For those who want a more relaxed and luxurious ride, Mercedes may be a better fit.

I would rate the Continental GT's standing among the cars I've owned.I think it stands between the AMG S63 Coupe and the Panamera.It gives the impression of a car that is sporty enough, but also luxurious enough, and achieves both at a reasonably high level. Therefore, I highly recommend this car to those who are looking for a car that is both sporty and luxurious.

In my case, I've been considering the Panamera Turbo as a replacement target for this one.The car was sportier than I expected, so I'm a little worried that this would be too much like the Panamera Turbo.

And even though it's sporty, it's not.In terms of the degree of sportiness alone, the Panamera Turbo is stronger there.The car is very well made and I have nothing to complain about, but perhaps I was looking for a little more of a Panamera Turbo counterpart for this replacement target.

In this light, the new Flying Spur, which will be arriving in Japan soon, may be a better fit. These days, I feel that choosing a car is a difficult task.

 

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