The Bentley Continental V8 GT is the best Grand Tourer on sale today. It’s a bold statement to make but it’s true. The W12 Continental is great but it’s nowhere near as good as the less powerful V8 model. The V8 model features a new 4.0 twin-turbo V8 with 542hp and 568 lb-ft of torque. It does a 0-60 in 3.9 seconds with a top speed of 198 mph. It is a seriously quick car with a base MSRP of around $202,000 and the W12 model starts at $218,900 which is a heck of a lot more for what exactly?
Both the V8 and the W12 Continental models look the same, they have the same interior, same suspension, etc. The only difference is the engine. Both engines are super smooth and extremely powerful. Yet the price for two extra cylinders is $16,900 which is a lot of options on the cheaper V8 model. The V8 model is only 0.3 seconds slower to 60 and 9 mph slower than the W12 model. It may have 84 less horsepower and 96 fewer torques but the V8 is far lighter, by almost 100 kg in fact. It is insane.
The V8 sounds deadly. It’s been proven it’s a great engine as it is also fitted in the Lamborghini Urus, Porsche Panamera Turbo s, Audi RS6, etc. It is so popular amongst VW-Audi groups performance cars. In the Continental, it has been tuned so it’s a bit softer and its acceleration is more linear. The engine in fact has been taken from the Continental’s larger sibling the Bentayga V8. It has been fettled to be mainly powerful since it has to power a car weighing over 2000kg.
However, how does it compare to its other rivals from Ferrari, Aston Martin, BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, McLaren, Lexus, and Rolls Royce? Well, quite simply it beats them all in every single way possible. It may not be the fastest GT or the cheapest or even the most expensive GT. However, in terms of actually being a GT the Bentley takes it and today we are going to explain why.
The Perfect Car To Crush Those Miles In ..
The Bentley Continental GT V8 is the perfect car to do long-distance driving in. It has a fabulous interior, and we really do mean fabulous. Probably one of the best car interiors ever created. It has such exotic materials in and out. The wood feels proper and Bentley actually sky-dive to get access to some of the more exotic woods. All the metal parts are knurled so they feel luxurious and there is not a sight of any panel-gaps whatsoever. the whole car is handmade and you can really tell that by the finish on the interior and exterior parts.
The seats are extremely comfortable and they massage you as you drive along. they are very supportive around the bends yet they are not too hard. Think of them as a cross between a comfortable armchair and a race seat. the leather is all stitched very nicely and it’s the finest of sort too. In fact, everything in the Continental is only the “finest” as Bentley does not settle for less whatsoever. The Continental then is far more luxurious than most houses in Beverly hills.
Compared to its rivals the Continental GT V8 is the best all-rounder. It isn’t the fastest, it isn’t the most expensive, and because the Rolls Royce Wraith exists it doesn’t even have the most exotic interior anymore. Yet for sheer power and comfort, the Continental GT V8 wins it all. Most millionaires, billionaires even choose the Continental as their mode of transport. It’s a private jet on wheels.
The Continental is stylish, it’s powerful, and that V8 engine sounds like a spitfire. It’s part supercar part luxury. The sound is second to none and the V8 model just feels so much more fun. It’s so much more of a drivers car. Hence why it’s the only car you need in life as it seats four, it can be used every day and surprisingly it’s pretty good on the track too.
It has AWD too, torque vectoring and the Flying spur sedan variant has rear-wheel steering. It is so much more refined and so much more aerodynamic most GT cars. This is so the weight is so much more controlled especially within the corners. It grips like no other GT and the best thing is yet to come. It grips in the wet, the snow, and on loose surfaces. That’s thanks to the AWD system. You can use all 542 horses and 568 torques in the wet, unlike the Aston Martin DB11/DBS which spins up at the drop of moisture.
The grip is everything nowadays. No matter how much power you have it’s nothing without grip. The Continental’s AWD system is just so good and it has been developed now for over a decade and it just keeps on getting better and better.
Why The V8 is The Only Choice?
The V8 Continental is the only choice of Continental you should buy. The W12 model is just too wasteful. It has unnecessary amounts of power and it’s just too expensive for what it is. the fuel economy isn’t great and it doesn’t sound the best either. The V8 on the other hand has enough power, it’s more economical, it sounds better, drives better, and feels better to drive. Don’t waste the extra money on the W12 the V8 is perfect.
The V8 is also very reliable and parts will be cheaper since that engine is shared amongst many high-performance VW Audi group cars. It is lighter, beefier and its lower torques are much better. It is the ultimate engine choice to have as it’s lighter and way more fun.
Compared to other GT cars it’s beefier, louder, and smoother. The only engine that can properly compare is the Mercedes V8 used in the Aston Martin DB11. That’s another beefy German engine fitted into a British GT. They both sound like spitfires however, the Continental takes the lead over the DB11 as it has a better interior and AWD. It also has a larger trunk and larger rear seats plus a 4-door option.
It slices the Ferrari Roma in half as it’s bigger, more comfortable, better grip, and is way more practical. It beats both models of the GTC-4 because it’s more modern and more comfortable. It smacks the 812 Superfast because quite simply it works in the wet and it’s not overpowered. It beats the Rolls Royce Dawn and Wraith because it’s more exciting.
It beats the BMW M850i due to prestige levels, it beats the S63 Coupe and the GT63 sedan as it is a lot more entertaining and special. Then there’s the Lexus LC500 and the Polestar 1 which we won’t even bother comparing to the Continental GT as there is no need. The McLaren 570GT and the GT are also no match mainly because they are more supercar-like than GT.
What’s the only GT that can compare to the Continental? The Buggati Chiron and that’s in a different league.
Featured image credits via: autoexpress.co.uk