2022 Bentley Continental GT Speed Makes You Feel Damn Special

of Continental GT Bentley's ultimate grand tourer speed The ultimate Continental GT. It hits 60 mph in 3.5 seconds and has a top speed of 205 mph. But the car's impressive specs don't tell the whole story. At Bentley, it's all about how you feel.

(Full disclosure: When Bentley offered me a Continental GT Speed ​​for a week, I couldn't turn it down.

2022 Bentley Continental GT Speed: What is it?

This is Bentley's highest performing Continental GT. Up front is a twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter W12 that puts out 650 hp and 664 lb-ft of torque. Torque is available at low revs from 1,500 to 5,000 rpm, and power is transmitted via an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. That's enough for him to accelerate this coupe, which weighs over 5,000 pounds, to 60 miles per hour in 3.5 seconds.

Stopping and cornering are equally deftly handled. Bentley equips the GT Speed ​​with the world's largest production disc brakes. praise share with Lamborghini UrusA massive 17.3-inch front disc quickly drops this beast from speed. To facilitate handling, the GT Speed ​​is equipped with an electronic limited-slip differential and rear-wheel steering system.

Of course, none of this is cheap. GT Speed ​​starts at $274,900, including $2,600 gas tax and $2,725 destination charge. On top of that, my tester came loaded with options for $62,910, bringing the final price to a whopping $343,135.

How is your drive?

For a six-figure luxury GT that weighs as much as a half-ton pickup, throw it into a corner and this one hits hard. The GT Speed ​​comes standard with an electronic anti-roll system called Bentley Dynamic Ride, which controls the body movement in corners to make it almost sloppy. This cornering ability is enhanced by a limited-slip differential that shuffles torque between the rear wheels, giving you the best possible power based on your level of grip in each corner. You can honestly feel the active diff helping you, as if someone was pushing you through every turn. It's further enhanced by a rear-wheel steering system that works just as well.

But that monster of an engine is a true marvel. With so much power and torque, it feels like you've reached warp speed when you accelerate. It's blazingly fast and the power feels limitless. The next car waiting for the signal disappears from the rearview mirror in an instant.

For cruising alone, nothing beats a Bentley. The Continental GT Speed ​​is so smooth and quiet that you almost forget its horsepower when you pedal. Turn the drive selector knob to Comfort and the GT Speed ​​slinks like an old American land yacht, gently undulating over road imperfections.

What's good and what needs improvement

The Continental GT Speed ​​is a rolling statement and a presence you can't ignore. This particular car is probably the reddest car I have ever seen. The exterior is painted in what Bentley calls St. James Red and is accented by black trim around the headlights, exhaust, lower door trim, badging, grille, 22-inch wheels and carbon fiber lip spoilers front and rear. increase.

The interior is even more red, too red for me. Almost all parts of the cabin are covered in a red hue called Hotspur, accented with white trim. This treatment doesn't look out of place on a 1980s Cadillac Sedan Deville. The red headliner makes it that much more outrageous.

Of course, like Bentley, every detail of the Speed's interior is meticulously crafted. Floors that feel right in your home From the deep pile carpet in his mats to the suede on the roof and seats, Bentley knows how to describe luxury. Heated seats and a thick heated steering wheel envelop you, a Bang & Olufsen sound system wows you and multi-coloured mood lighting relaxes you. But not everything is perfect.

A Bentley Rotating Display in the dashboard brings three auxiliary gauges from the infotainment touchscreen to a carbon fiber panel at the touch of a button. But let's be honest, it's just a gimmick, and at $6,490, it's expensive. In addition, the multimedia system needs work. Bentley borrows technology once used by Porsche. Panamera, takes a long time to start. A car that costs that much shouldn't have the latest generation infotainment system. There should only be cutting-edge technology here.

Low-profile tires can make your car ride rougher. Not so here. The Continential GT Speed ​​rides low-profile 22-inch black wheels with his tires wrapped, but the suspension does a good job of soaking up bumps, especially in comfort mode. What are the drawbacks? Tire sidewalls are almost non-existent. And given how bad the roads are in many areas, potholes in the road can catch you off guard and flat. That's exactly what happened to me one night.

verdict

In a car like the Bentley Continental GT Speed, the bad is in the details of the grand scheme of things. This car is an experience. From the moment you approach, GT Speed ​​makes you feel special. There are other big-money competitors out there, but the combination of power and luxury in the Bentley Continental GT Speed ​​is on a whole other level.