Photos by FAIHAN GHANI
THE Bentley Continental GT has always been a symbol of grand touring opulence — a big, luxurious two-door coupe that could devour long distances with imperious grace while surrounding its occupants in handcrafted splendour.
Now, the fourth-generation Continental GT Speed, the most powerful road going Bentley GT ever created has arrived in Malaysia.
Available at the Bentley Kuala Lumpur Showroom, it’s priced at an eye-watering RM3.12mil (selling price with estimated import duty, excise and sales tax. Excludes insurance, road tax and
registration).
The big two-door, four-seat luxury grand tourer is now a plug-in hybrid (PHEV), with a new 400-volt electrical architecture.
With a combined output of 782PS and 1,000Nm of torque from its 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 and a 190PS electric motor, this grand tourer effortlessly blends brutal performance with elegant restraint.
Bentley Motors says 0-100kph in 3.2 seconds is the result, and 81km (WLTP drive cycle) of all-electric range and a total range of 859km.
It’s worth pointing out that the new Continental GT Speed is the most powerful grand tourer ever, beyond the levels of the second-generation Supersports and the Batur.
Power is delivered via an eight-speed dual clutch transmission and an electronic limited slip differential (eLSD) to all four wheels.
A 25.9kWh battery is mounted behind the rear axle.
Recently, Bentley Kuala Lumpur organised a brief 65km drive from the showroom in the heart of the city, via the Maju Expressway to Sepang International Circuit (SIC), for a media photoshoot.
Thanks to its hybrid powertrain, press the start button and you get just silence. The car glides off in full EV (electric vehicle) mode.
The car’s system manages energy flows depending on the selected mode – with pure EV, electric boost, regenerative braking – and, most importantly for this new GT Speed – a charge mode, where the engine drives the wheels and charges the battery at the same time.
In full electric mode, the electric motor alone can deliver 190PS and 450Nm.
Up to 140kph in EV mode? Yes, that too, with throttle pressure of up to 75%.
The rotary dial offers Custom, Comfort, B or Bentley (hybrid drive setting), and Sport drive modes.
In B mode, the V8 plays a supporting role, supplementing electric drive while remaining in the background - ideal for cruising, where refinement matters most.
But twist it one notch to Sport, and you’re suddenly reminded of the awesome V8 heart which growls to life - the exhaust note turning from a murmur to a menacing baritone, and unmistakably Bentley.
On the flowing roads near SIC, we really enjoyed the deep, gurgling, throaty, mechanical chorus that turns every prod of the accelerator pedal into theatre.
Acceleration is monumental but never aggressive. It’s a tidal wave of torque, delivered without hesitation or delay — thanks in part to the electric motor’s instantaneous response, which also eliminates any hint of turbo lag.
And then there’s the ride quality. Despite riding on massive 22-inch wheels wrapped in Pirelli P Zero rubber (275/35 front, 315/30 rear), the GT Speed absorbs road imperfections with graceful poise.
Bentley’s latest chassis innovations deserve credit here.
There’s a new chassis system, with new two-chamber air springs paired with new dual-valve dampers, along with Bentley Dynamic Ride (48V active anti-roll control) and torque vectoring.
The result is billed as incredible body control and the best Continental GT ride comfort to date, supported by a 49:51, rear-biased weight distribution for the first time in the car’s history.
Bentley Motors says the benefit of the new chassis system is simple – comfort mode is even more comfortable, and sport mode has even better body control than before.
The large Continental GT Speed feels far more agile than its size suggests.
This is a grand tourer, yes — but one that corners with authority.
Meanwhile, we found conversation to be easy, ensconced in the beautiful and cosy interior, with little road noise intrusion and the world outside muffled by superior insulation.
Inside, it’s all familiar Bentley opulence — luxurious leather and smooth, polished surfaces.
Bentley interiors have long set the benchmark in automotive craftsmanship, and the new Continental GT Speed doesn’t deviate.
Visually, it sees the biggest revision to the face of the Continental GT in two decades, and is the first mainstream Bentley with single headlamps since the 1950s.
The luxury marque says the change brings a more determined expression to the face of the GT, inspired by the focused expression of a hunting tiger.
It’s more streamlined, a touch more aggressive, and perhaps a sign of the performance-focused direction Bentley intends to take.
