MOTHERSHIPS

NEW CONTINENTAL GT & BENTAYGA

 

Words and photos by Alessandro Marrone

 

Thanks to Auto Class Magazine I have had the chance to live some of the most beautiful experiences of my entire life. I visited wonderful places, met thousands of people and tried to learn something from each of them, but above all I could make my great passion for cars grow, to transform what was my great aspiration in my job. On board of dream cars I drove on breathtaking roads and I do not exaggerate if I say that the last three or four years have been more intense than all the other thirty. But no more talking about me, the flight to Sardinia is almost over and there will be two highly anticipated models that represent two different ways of combining luxury into the car world; icing on the cake, the fact that these press days are far more than confidential and in fact we will be just four journalists, of whom only another representative is coming from Italy.

We are talking about Bentley, one of the brands that best represent that elegance and typical English class never lost, although the group has been owned by VW since 1998. Starting in 1919, when it was founded, it has always reflected that noble taste that not only meant to stop at a sought-after body, but that constant search for refinement and performance has made sure that Bentley gave birth to some of the most coveted models, up to the beginning of the XXI century, with the birth of a big coupe , driven by a huge engine with 12 cylinders arranged in a W shape – in 2003 the Continental GT was born and the Bentley world was overturned once again, a bit like for the arrival of the very new Bentayga, the first SUV of the British company, a colossus who wants to munch Range Rover for breakfast and that costs like an apartment. But this is not madness, since the Bentayga is also the first Bentley to be driven by a diesel engine, even if we’ll talk about this on another occasion, because my trip to Sardinia resonates thanks to the verb of the mighty W12s.

 

Despite being lucky enough to live literally a few meters from the sea, in my beautiful Liguria, the crystal blue of the water that bathes Porto Cervo and Poltu Quatu is a nature wonder. The same water seems different, almost transparent, and every color that appears in front of me is more vivid and lit than usual. There is a strong heat here and the sun is left there high, without even a cloud on the horizon, but there’s also a pleasant breeze that does not force us to hide in the hotel hall. In these situations it happens to be torn between admiring the landscape and the real reason why I’m here, primarily the new Continental GT, which finally renews the exceptional model updated in 2010 and ready for an exclusive test. They hand me the heavy key and approaching its unmistakable shape I begin to capture its lines with my eyes.

CONTINENTAL GT

All new, we are talking about a car that of the previous model retains only the name and some peculiarities, such as the size of the engine, a more than generous 6-liter W12, shifted 150mm further behind than before. Surely a V8 version will come soon – interesting and more devoted to optimizing fuel consumption – but talking about a coupe of over € 200,000, I reckon it is fair to exaggerate. The external dimensions are always one of the key points and a fundamental aspect that makes the two seats at the back almost always really usable, unlike what happens with many other 2+2, but the design of the new Conti GT is not just an evolution of the previous model. Of course, there are always the characteristic four rounded headlights at the front, with the larger one placed inside at the sides of the mammoth honeycomb gridlle, which never like this time seems to devour the road in front of it. The side line is sinuous and more sloping than before, to the advantage of an aerodynamics that does not involve the use of showy air intakes, except the large openings in the front bumper and the smaller ones, placed just behind the wheel arches, near a chrome detail that reminds you to be behind the wheel of a 12 cylinder. The rear, although it may seem simpler, is equally elaborate and plays symmetrically with the oval shapes of the optical groups and the two exhaust tips.

If at the aesthetic level we are on metallic sensuality ground, the interior is without any doubt one of the most beautiful environments in which you can ever find yourself. There is no five-star hotel or luxury restaurant that is able to accommodate you on such comfortable and refined leather armchairs. There are about a million and a half adjustments, including massages, heating, ventilation and the thickness of the seats themselves is the umpteenth reason why you do not want to go down once you have parked. Each panel, from the doors to the sky, even the central armrest or to the profiles around the tunnel, is treated with the utmost attention and elegantly contrasts the dense instrumentation that culminates in the new 12.3-inch touch screen, headquarters from which commanding satellite navigator, air conditioning, audio system and connectivity. Then, without saving anything anywhere, you find yourself with 76kg less than the outgoing model, stopping the scale at 2.244kg – not bad for a noble lady who followed a special diet without giving up to nothing. These days, air conditioning has to be turned on badly and I do not think that the performance will be affected, seeing my expression when entering on one of the many deserted roads south of Palau would be meaningful, as I find myself fighting halfway between complete amazement and the desire to see how far I could push this.

The new Conti GT is a completely different car than before, starting from its behavior that although not giving up maximum comfort – once set the chassis in “Sport” allows you to keep the gas down, no matters if a corner is too tight or if the next one requires a sudden shift in weight. Unthinkable things, aware of the fact that I find myself on board one of the most impressive coupes on the list today. But this Bentley doesn’t stop doing great things, it’s not just sexy or able to shoot a gear one after the other like the most traditional super sports cars, it’s a grand tourer and as such is the monkey on the shoulder that prefers the longest road, so as to make me choose an unscheduled detour, thus moving away from the small group that was leading the way for me and my travel companion. The background of the radiant Sardinia region has now passed on the background and without even realizing it my eyes are only for the big hood, always ready to rise up, almost like a gorilla ready to fight for the control of its territory. I forgot good manners home and I am completely driving as if I were chased by a herd of wild wolves. In reality, there are 626 horses that are pawing in front of us and they are felt every time they are called into question, untiring and unrelentless.

The four-wheel drive reflects one of the key aspects that make the Continental GT a car after all simple to drive, even at sustained pace, even in “Sport” mode, where the front axle handles only 17% of the full traction. Its gearbox is an automatic, an 8-speed double clutch, smooth and precise, obviously controllable between the (half) -paddle placed behind the steering wheel. But if the maximum power is delivered when you are pushing all the way to the floor, at about 5000 rpm, torque enters the game at just 1350 rpm and does not leave you until 4500. There are 900Nm and trust me if I tell you that you’re gonna feel ‘em to the last one and that allow this apartment on wheels to move as fast as a torpedo without the slightest uncertainty. The same goe to the brakes, since we are dealing with the largest braking system that has ever been fitted on a road car, with 420mm ventilated discs at front and 380mm at the back.

 

The W12 is inebriating and when I finally understand that the world will not end the following day, I slow down, I open the window and I enjoy a phenomenal car immersed in one of the most pristine landscapes on the planet, because after all a grand tourer is just the perfect union between the journey and the desire to live it. Having then a power like that and a frame developed on that of the Panamera, thus able to accommodate its raids, is a way to add chili in the pot, mix everything and make the dish even more delicious.

 

BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT W12

Layout   –  front-engined, all wheel drive

Engine  –  W12 cylinder 5.950cc – twin-turbo

Transmission  –  8-speed automatic gearbox

Power  –  626 hp @ 5.000-6.000 rpm

900 Nm  @ 1.350-4.500 rpm

                    Weight  –  2.244 kg

Acceleration  –  3,7 sec.

Top Speed  –  333 kph

Price  –  from € 207.300

 

BENTAYGA

Leaving the timeless class of the Continental GT, I approach the immense Bentayga, one of those creations that makes you look small and does make you ask in what context such a beast would be necessary. The answer, however, is inherent in the question, since no one needs such power, but if man managed to get 300 horses, why not double that and put 600 in here? The Bentayga is the representation of the maximum ostentation – a path then also followed by Lamborghini with the Urus and partly introduced by Maserati with the Levante. We’re not just talking about an SUV, but on a higher level and while on one hand fashion and market demands are filling the streets with crossovers and mini-SUVs, the exact opposite is that something seemingly superfluous that you absolutely want, especially if you do not talk about the version with the 8-cylinder diesel (despite everything still able to offer amazing performance and combine them with more reasonable consumption), but the colossal W12, the same that we have on the GT.

Sitting behind the wheel of the Bentayga almost makes you feel into another dimension. Not only you look at the world from a raised perspective – as with any other SUV – but the soundproofing of the cabin and the almost muffled driving slide you on any road, almost as if you were not really there. The looks of the people and the caution you need to use in narrow passages will catapult you back into the real world and that’s where you will once again be displaced. Yes, because it is an off-road vehicle of almost two and a half tons and with the ability to move the fuel gauge needle to the bottom, with the same speed as that of the tachometer rises upwards. Theirs will be a constant battle and to those who drive the arduous task of putting a brake, at least when the fuel warning light becomes threatening. The same 6-liter W12 of the Conti GT is placed under the bonnet of this Bentayga, there is a handful of horses less (600 here), but the torque of 900Nm and its peak of maximum output is always at 1350 rpm. The impression, at least in the first kilometers of driving, however, is that the Bentayga is even wilder. Putting in “Sport” and ignoring the other various modes such as those optimized for sand, snow or gravel, the individual mode or the same intelligent Bentley mode, the chassis intervenes as a script, stiffening the suspension, lowering the height from the ground and sharpening gearbox and steering response: all this takes place with extreme dedication to the task assigned to them and even in tight corners the huge SUV moves without the slightest uncertainty. The acceleration is accompanied by the sound of the 12-cylinder, perhaps a little ‘more claustrophobic than it is on the coupe, but you need the beauty of only 4 seconds to shoot from 0 to 100 kph, with a maximum speed of 301 per hour. Mental.

The awareness of having something better than average in your hands is a point in favor of the Anglo-German giant and it does not matter if you rarely see a Bentayga engaged in screeching its tires that fit the huge wheels; if necessary, it can really do anything you ask. Traction is logically on all four wheels, divided 40% on the front axle and 60% on the rear one, combined with an automatic dual clutch transmission with 8 gears, which never requires the intervention of the driver, behaving very well also with the car in ” Sport”. Consumption aside, where both the SUV and the GT proved to be thirsty, it is not easy to identify the most surprising aspect of the Bentayga: it could be its ability to make you cross the entire globe without even realizing it, thanks to a refined and elegant interior, enriched by an 8-inch touch display, leather and chrome details all around, but it could also be that continuous desire to exaggerate every aspect that characterizes a category already quite controversial as that of Sport Utility Vehicles. Bentley made a statement in a place in which it had not even set foot yet and be sure that the Bentayga has already become an authentic symbol of ultimate luxury.

There’s no reason to stop and I can barely take a few photos on the side of the road, only after having unloaded some horses on the ground, chasing the other Bentayga of the small convoy. On more than one occasion I had to lighten up because I was too close to that in front of me, but it was a useful way to interpret the road more safely. Knowing that there was still a more than adequate reserve of power still to be used let me think about what engineering achievement they’ve done with a similar car.

 

BENTLEY BENTAYGA W12

Layout   –  front-engined, all wheel drive

Motore  –  W12 cylinder 5.950cc – twin-turbo

Transmissions  –  8-speed automatic gearbox

Power  –  600 hp @ 5.000-6.000 rpm

900 Nm  @ 1.350 rpm

                    Weight  –  2.440 kg

Acceleration  –  4 sec.

Top Speed  –  301 kph

Price  –  from € 195.200

 

 

A FEW WORDS

It wasn’t a face off, there were no losers, but only winners. And if the Bentayga has been the unexpected surprise that has upset every bright expectation, the new Continental GT shows that Bentley has realized the enormous potential accumulated with 15 years of experience, reinventing a lucky model and launching it in an increasingly fierce market , but at the same time fully aware of what to put in a car, especially in such an elitist price range. The new CGT maintains the setting and the main aesthetic references of the previous models, but stands on a whole other dynamic level and dispenses a driving pleasure typical of the best grand tourers in history. The W12 is and will remain the better choice for those who do not even want to hear the word “compromise”, but if the arrival of the V8 version will bring the driving experience that has been able to offer with the outgoing model and will be able to add it to the soul of the new one, we will face something incredibly close to perfection.