The Bentley Continental GT Refuses To Die, Returning With Nearly 800 HP
The mile-mashing Bentley Continental GT has been around for over 20 years now. However, unlike other nameplates that take a bow and exit stage left after a long performance, the Continental GT returns for a fourth generation. However, the long-legged GT car returns sans the W12 engine. Instead, the new Bentley Grand Tourer model will be a hybrid V8 application with nearly 800 horsepower.
The Bentley Continental GT will return with a 771 horsepower twin-turbo V8 and electric motor combination
Some things stubbornly refuse to go out of style. From spirited rock and roll to piping hot pizza and continent-crushing grand tourers, some things are just worth preserving. Bentley clearly feels that way about its Continental GT with the announcement that the model will return for a fourth generation.
However, the next-gen Continental GT won’t have previous models’ familiar W12 engine offerings. Instead, it’ll be a twin-turbocharged 4.0L V8 mated to an electric motor. Before fans go cursing the move, the British luxury marque says the new GT will produce a combined 782 PS (771 HP) from its “Ultra Performance Hybrid” platform.
Still, there is a chance that Bentley, not unlike Dodge’s intent with the Charger, will continue to offer an ICE option. Moreover, even with the Bentley Continental GT’s historic heft, we expect its all-wheel drive (AWD) grip and abundance of power to fling the brute to 60 mph in 3.0 seconds or less.
Better yet, for the environmentally-conscious Bentley shopper (surely there are some out there), the new Continental GT will cruise on electric-only power. Specifically, the luxury car brand will cover up to 50 miles on EV-only driving, more than the EPA estimates for sensible PHEVs like the Ford Escape PHEV and Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid.