When it comes to grand tourers, a lot of companies do a good job of producing them. But, if you're looking for something more than adequate, well, then you're talking about less than a handful of automakers that can get the job done right.
Bentley is one of them.
Bentley Continental V8 S
Over the years the company's Continental GT has been a great success. Not only has it helped the super luxury automaker sell more units and break records, it has introduced the brand to a whole new slew of buyers. Essentially, the demographics of your typical Bentley owner have changed in a big way.
But, the massive 12-cylinder motor and old-school transmission started to get long in the tooth. In a day and age where manufacturers are innovating very fast, the CGT started to feel like a relic.
That's where the GT V8 comes in. A wise idea, really. Bentley was decided to use a V8 powerplant producing 500 horsepower via forced induction and eliminate the weight of an extra four cylinders. I was always intrigued to drive one but never had the chance.
What I did have the chance to drive, however, was the all-new Continental GT V8 S. This is the most sporting Continental GT — aside from the GT3-R — and you'll notice it straight away.
Bentley Continental V8 S
The V8 S is set off from the standard variants by its new aerodynamics kit that provides the vehicle with a new front splitter, side skirts and rear diffuser. Painted black, these trim bits actually looked pretty nice with the pastel blue Bentley optioned their test vehicle with. The most iconic element of the car, its front grille, is darkened to make sure people realize this model is different than the others.
In addition to all of this, the V8 S model is lowered nearly half an inch for better center of gravity and to provide a more sporting ride. My particular vehicle was optioned with a tasty set of large diameter wheels that allow onlookers to observe some of the world's largest set of brakes on a production vehicle.
Of course it wouldn't be an S if there wasn't a bit of a power bump from the standard V8 road car. The V8 S is equipped with a 4.0-liter V8 mill good for 521 horsepower and a thumping 502 lb.-ft of torque. Zero to 60 for the convertible I drove happens in 4.5 seconds though in a vehicle weighing about 5,500 pounds it feels quite a bit faster than that when you take off.
Although the power is immense, the real beauty in the V8 S is its new eight-speed automatic transmission. While Bentley says it's a standard automatic, it shifts much quicker than your run-of-the-mill slushbox. Given that the engine is sourced via Audi, I was thinking it was a dual-clutch 'box until I noted it is one of those glorious eight-speed ZF units. Whatever the case, it changes the driving experience significantly. Whereas the W12 GT model feels like it's using a Volkswagen Tiptronic transmission from 2004, the V8 S snaps shifts with limited breaks in the gobs of torque.
Rather than feel like a grand tourer, the V8 S feels more like a sports car.
Well, at least in a straight line. When you take the V8 S on windy roads you will note that even the most sophisticated suspension modifications can't magically mask the GT's heft. It does a helluva job though as the body lean is kept in control for the most part and isn't overtly problematic.
What is a bit troubling is how the steering can, at times, feel disconnected when you really want more communication. Working this luxo two door on windy country roads, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to make out it's just a bit too isolated for really spirited driving You have to remember, it is a touring car — it's a Bentley.
Bentley Continental V8 S
So while you may not get precision, you do get one helluva interior and sumptuous appointments. As with the standard Continental GT, the fit and finish is strong. Its interior features knobs and buttons that all have a certain feel to them, and it's eerily quiet inside. Even being a convertible with a soft top, it's remarkable how well insulated the cabin is at high rates of speed. You can thank the Bentley engineers who created the three-layer top that feels like its cashmere lined. Between that and the dual-pane glass, I guarantee most folks have been in louder luxury sedans.
One stand out point for me was the vehicle's ride quality. Even when equipped with massive, 20-inch wheels, it absorbs bumps without causing a fuss for its occupants. And if you were concerned with chassis flex as some convertibles have, this isn't the case. As the V8 S Convertible rides steady, it's comparable to a steel beam with four wheels.
Another stand out thing that Bentley doesn't appear willing to shake is the now God awful infotainment system. As the vehicle is at the end of its lifecycle, I would doubt the company would invest into an all-new head unit, but just be aware this one is not particularly good. Lag is omnipresent, but at least the graphical user interface (GUI) is easy to navigate. I hope this is an area Bentley looks to address in the future as vehicles like the all-new Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe are certainly going to sway buyers with its much more advanced tech.
And now here's a surprise. Given the weight and power involved, I was happy to earn a solid 15 mpg during several days of driving. On a highway-heavy trip, I saw as high as 21 mpg. In a 5,500 pounds B car that's pretty amazing in my eyes.
At the end of the day when I was done spending time with the vehicle, I have to say that overall the experience was positive. That's because I feel there is an expectation that when you're buying a Bentley you're not looking for the most cutting-edge technology. You're actually looking for a set of wheels with a sense of exclusivity and features ride quality optimal for traveling long distances at speed. It nails these two points home without any issue. Of course if you're more interested in the latest and greatest tech, you probably shouldn't look at a Continental GT as its been on the market for about 10 years now. Sure this is the greatest iteration yet, but if you're looking at this logically, this is probably not the best car to plonk down $200,000 on.
Now if you're looking for an emotional purchase, step right up.
The Good:
- This is easily the best looking version of the Bentley Continental GT — lowered stance, new trim bits
- V8 powerplant sounds monstrous and is more responsive; transmission is MUCH faster and almost dual-clutch like
- It's still a GT, which means it rides just as you'd expect a Bentley to — smooth, absorbs bumps better than other luxury rides with 20-inch wheels
The Bad:
- The infotainment system is carried over, which means it's laggy and dated
- Disconnected steering feel can take the wind out of your sails if you're looking to have a bit of back road fun
- With its high price, it's tough to justify it over, say, the all-new Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG Coupe unless you're really looking for an automobile that's special
The Lowdown:
This is easily the best road-going version of the Continental GT. With a sharp motor, an even better transmission, a lowered stance and walloping V8 exhaust note, I will admit this car had me seeing hearts relatively quickly. Even better, being the first GT Convertible I've piloted, I was pleasantly surprised that it was a sturdy ride top down — that's not always a guarantee. Of course the problems are the same as any vehicle that's really at the end of its lifecycle: it still commands a helluva price and it's tough to give it two thumbs up while there are all-new entrants featuring much more advanced technology and can match the exceedingly impressive build quality. But if you must have the flying wings in your driveway, there's no question this is the best CGT being built right now.
Bentley Continental V8 S
