We Drive Bentley's Cuttiting-Edge New Conti GT

Coupé sits on MSB platform

Lighter, stiffer, stronger than before

- Adam Towler

THE silhouette may look familiar, but underneath the clever cladding (right) lies a much sleeker machine, and a very different sort of Bentley. This is the allnew Continental GT – and Auto Express has had an early taste of what to expect when the car reaches showrooms next spring.

After 14 years and sales success that surely exceeded all expectations, the Conti gets a fresh chassis and lots of new technology. It’s based on the VW Group’s new MSB platform, first used by the Porsche Panamera, but 200mm has been chopped from the wheelbase to underpin the Crewe company’s 2+2 coupé.

In fact, this is no mere re-skin of the Panamera; Bentley engineers were involved from the start with the MSB platform, and their demands have influenced the Porsche, just as Bentley has taken technology developed by the German manufacturer. The new platform is a huge step forward over the dated VW Phaeton underpinnings of the outgoing car. It’s lighter, stiffer and stronger, with the front wheels pushed further forward and the engine moved rearward, delivering weight distribution which is significantly improved.

Bentley Continental GT

Price: £155,000 (est)

Engine: 6.0-litre W12 twin-turbo

Power/torque: 650bhp/900Nm (est)

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic, four-wheel drive

0-62mph: 3.8 seconds (est)

Top speed: 210mph (est)