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Bentley Continental

Bentley Continental GTC

Bentley has produced a top-class bargain in the form of their new Continental GTC

By Oliver Marriage

January 2007

  • Rating:
It's not often that £130,500 looks a bit of a bargain, but when it comes to Bentley convertibles, that’s exactly what the new GTC appears to be.
 
It's not often that £130,500 looks a bit of a bargain, but when it comes to Bentley convertibles, that’s exactly what the new GTC appears to be.

The four-seat W12-engined caris set to hit the road early in 2007, joining the £222,500 Arnage-based Azure, which arrived last summer.

However, while there are similarities between them – both are very heavy fabric-roofed four-seaters with mighty turbocharged engines – on the cost front, the two are worlds apart. The GTC is £92,000 cheaper than the £222,500 Azure.

Unsurprisingly, it’s expected to sell much more strongly, but it’s also worth bearing in mind that the GTC, which completes the Continental line-up, is also £13,000 more expensive than the GT coupé and Flying Spur saloon with which it has so much in common. That may seem steep, but it’s unlikely to stop well heeled buyers signing on the dotted line, not least because the GTC is so well engineered. For starters, the thick-layered hood means barely any external noise comes through, and the sizeable rear window provides good visibility.

Near-silent electric motors drop the roof in just over 20 seconds and the 260-litre boot remains unimpeded. Bentley has even managed to retain the ski hatch through into the passenger compartment, while cabin space matches the coupé’s – although the modest rear legroom isn’t much to boast about.

However, the greatest feat is the chassis stiffness. We praised the Azure for its resistance to scuttle shake, and the GTC is just as impressive. As a result, the driving experience is every bit as convincing as the coupe’s – the four-wheel-drive GTC is surprisingly nimble and capable around corners.

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FIRST OPINION

    It commands a £13,000 premium over the coupé and is not quite as elegant, but the new GTC is very impressive. The fabric hood is amazingly well insulated, the body has lost none of its stiffness and the whole car feels well engineered. The Crewe company is clearly going from strength to strength – upmarket luxury drop-tops come no more sophisticated than the GTC.
 

AT A GLANCE

    The fabric roof folds away quickly and quietly under a panel on the rear deck. With the top down, there is little in the way of turbulence in the cabin.
    Engine: 6.0 W12, 552bhp
    Price: £130,500
     
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