Bentley Continental GTC V8 S: No Car For Old Men
BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GTC V8 S
Words by Alessandro Marrone
Photos by Richard Montagner
Wake up at 5.00? Done. And yet it was an abundant half hour that I was watching the slow movement of the clock hang on the wall – but when does morning come? Some days are not made for sleep. I talk about those days you have a Bentley parked in the driveway, those days when the sun rises early and the air begins to be invaded by the typical smell of spring. It does not matter if the night before I worked until late and if in another life I was a dormouse: this day is made to drive.
I get ready quickly, noticing how the first rays of the sun begin to enter through the windows and the shadows on the ground become more and more insistent. The air is still fresh and forces me to keep the canvas roof of the Continental GTC V8 S closed, at least for a few hours. But I do not give up completely, as I lower the window and enjoy the mutter of the 8-cylinder, a deep and baritone roar that turns into a lacerating and violent cry once you open the gas, confirming the dual nature of one of the best GT ever produced, refined and made more exploitable with a downsizing that demonstrates how this 4-liter biturbo can shake the Earth’s axis, once the 680Nm of torque enter the game.
The road is only mine, at this time of the day only a few cars cross each other around and the almost surreal calm that you breathe makes everything more special, more intimate. At least until you leave a few centimeters of tire on the asphalt and touch with hand the violent side of this English nobleman. In an ideal universe, no one would ever dream of pounding a similar pit of horses under the bonnet of a refined coupe (or cabrio) with such a relevant charm, but the Continental GT has already made us realize that its world is not made up of only 5 o’clock tea and some silver watch hanging on the waistcoat. It likes to run and drink liters of petrol as the worst drunk dude lying on the pub’s floor once the closing time has passed. Maybe that’s why I skipped breakfast, I loaded the car more quickly than a porter who has already received a good tip and I’m heading where you would never expect to find a car that weighs two and a half tons.
We assume that we will not look at the fuel gauge, almost as if it were a program forbidden to minors and aired in a protected band, the V8 S should not be considered as the little sister of the W12, despite the difference in terms of cylinders and price can make you think otherwise. The V8 S is the most rational choice for those who find a good excuse to drive, even when there is no time, and by the way Bentley has an illustrious history played by the singing of its 8 cylinders. Do not think it’s over here, because the most surprising aspect is the fact that you rarely find yourself taking advantage of the new Continental for what you think is able to do better. We all agree that comfort is at the highest levels, so as to induce you to leave the sofa in your living room in favor of the glorious armchairs en plein air of this GTC, but what becomes a real obsession is the desire to drive, seduced from a chassis able to face a road full of curves, but just as comfortable and relaxing when there will not be enough space to burn some rubber. A very simple thing, however, since the GTC twin-turbo V8 pushes hard practically from the moment in which the idea of pressing the accelerator comes in your head. The 529 horses of its 4 liters come on stage with the discretion that characterizes an actor protagonist with a boundless ego, it’s like triggering an orgy of sounds that scary each time the tachometer needle suddenly moves towards the red line. The first time you sink the gas in a tunnel it’s a shock, too late, let them call the police, this is a more than valid reason to pay a fine.
Do you remember a certain Woolf Barnato, the madman who in 1930 challenged the fast “Train Bleu” at the wheel of his Bentley? Let’s put it this way, my imaginary train is time, that cursed and insensitive enemy who will always arrive on time for ruining the party, putting an end to all good moments. There is nothing left to do but exploit it to the maximum, driving until an empty tank separate us. And then refuel and drive again, stopping only for some photos and to study the roads that can accommodate the generous dimensions of the Continental GTC at my disposal. We are talking about a V8 S, but not a standard one, in fact this Black Edition packs a series of stylistic refinements that will delight the younger Bentley customers. To the blackened details such as the front grille and the frames of the front and rear light clusters, we have the possibility to combine very strong chromatic patterns, exactly like the one created by the Cyber Yellow of the specimen in test. Enriched with a Premier package that includes an incredible Naim audio system, this GTC also features the Mulliner kit, the one that Bentley reserves for its most prestigious models and which, thanks to the dedicated 21-inch black wheels, emphasizes its sporty character. The interior, to be kept strictly in contact with the sky above the head is one of the most beautiful environments in which I have ever been, including Milan’s Cathedral. The perfect contrast of the yellow rhomboidal stitching on the perforated black leather reaches sensual peaks that bring the cockpit closer to the fetish status, if only you will not be too busy looking at the road running fast, once you give life to the 8-cylinder.
There is no boring road, provided that we stay away from row of slow cars, the Conti GTC is able to transform and shape the world around itself and make it a place of worship for the purest driving pleasure. All this despite not responding to the classic characteristics of a sports car in the most traditional sense of the word. The engine is there in front, big, heavy and cumbersome, the seating position is precise and the visibility around you allows you to realize that you bring along a whole apartment, but you are often “betrayed” by the 680Nm of torque which make every move so easy. Changes in direction are easily consumed like wasting € 50 of petrol and even when the curves alternate with one another, the width of the tires and the sporting attitude make every moment satisfying and able to create addiction. The exhaust valves are strictly meant to kept open and while the two 8-shaped tailpipes mumble almost waiting to be unleashed, once you exceed 4000 rpm, it is hell on earth. The 8-speed automatic transmission is precise, but you will want to use the paddles behind the steering wheel just to take advantage of that single engine rev available, so as to echo as much as possible that robbed unloaded on the ground without difficulty, thanks to a four-wheel drive system that makes the most spirited drive accessible also for those not named Woolf Barnato. And then, closing the roof and sheltering from possible atmospheric agents, you will be perfectly able to drive your GTC in case of rain or snow. Like saying, there is no reason to leave it home and there is no reason to go down once you arrive at your destination.
The canvas roof also opens when the car is moving, as long as you proceed slow like an old turtle, but any chance to rape your hairstyle will also be a good way to increase the decibels that will enter the cockpit. This Bentley is showing a side of itself that the first time I had the opportunity to drive the “old” W12 was not so obvious, the desire to drive for the pure will to do that. It is sharper, with a more efficient engine that also promises – in its own way – to save you some money at the gas station. But the V8, powered by two turbochargers, makes the huge 2+2 one of the fastest and most elegant ways to move, without sacrificing anything in terms of comfort and technology. The satellite navigator has been updated, it works well, although it is not the best in terms of reactivity, but to be honest does it really matter to set a precise destination, when taking the longest route would mean driving a few more hours?
Choosing one of my favorite details of the Bentley world is not easy, but the Breitling analogue clock placed in the middle of the dashboard certainly is a soft spot in here. Every single surface is treated with the utmost care, just like the weight and feel of the gear lever or the indicators. Buttons are not scattered everywhere and this is a good thing, while the paddles behind the steering wheel can cause a bit of confusion, especially the first few times when you can touch them while looking for the windshield wipers or the indicators themselves. Basically they are small, but ultimately they are right where they should be, at 10.10. Just between the corners you can keep everything under control, without ever detaching the ideal grip from the fat steering wheel, which accurately communicates what is happening below, including the inhuman effort that makes the wheels to bite the asphalt and do not disperse the great power delivered by the engine. I would be lying if I said that there was not even a moment of relax behind the wheel, but more than relaxing I would define it as a moment of total satisfaction, which distracts you from the primary objective (to run like a madman) and allows you to lean on the headrest and finally take a look at the surrounding landscape. Just a more decisive pressure on the gas that the biological alarm takes you back into the situation and comes back punching like good old times Tyson.
During one of the rare moments in which I found myself – and I stress, against my will – away from the driver’s seat, I realized that the CGTC was equipped with four-season tires and this did nothing but validate my idea according to which behind such a technology we do not realize exactly how much mechanical effort happens under the skin, the same principle for which you would struggle to decipher (sound separately) if you are on board a V8 or a W12. Bentley, despite being in fact a distant relative of its illustrious ancestors, manages to keep intact the emotional factor of every minute spent driving.
The GTC V8 S goes from 0 to 100 kph in just 4.7 seconds and reaches a top speed of 308 kph, but what is most surprising is the ease with which it manages to reach crazy figures. It does that with the ease of a professional footballer who is challenged by the last reserve of the bachelor team on a random Monday evening. This is the aspect that dragged me off the bed like an electric discharge inside the bathtub, that is why the days I spent with it were permeated by the unstoppable need to drive. I made sure to create as many conditions as possible to give life to moments that were able to surprise me, and how they surprised me. I almost struggle to remember how special it was to move the gearshift lever in Drive, but I perfectly remember the feeling inside of me, when I was downshifting a couple of gears right before sinking my right foot on the throttle. That noise has been able to travel in time, until now.
BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GTC V8 S BLACK EDITION
Layout – front-engined, all-wheel-drive
Engine – V8 cylinder 3.993cc – twin-turbo
Transmission – 8-speed automatic gearbox
Power – 529 hp @ 6.000 rpm
680 Nm @ 1.700 rpm
Weight – 2.545 kg
Acceleration – 4,7 sec.
Top Speed – 308 kph
Price – from €174.400 (from €215.110 as tested)