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  Regulars > Reviews and Commentary > Sibling Rivalry: The Bentley Continental Range

   Published in: January 2007
 
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Bentley




The Ultimate Continental: The GTC

The latest addition to the Continental range, and suiting the platform perfectly, is the long-awaited, hotly-anticipated GTC. Besides the potential space limitations of a two-door body style, it combines the best aspects of all the range into the prettiest, best-proportioned, most utterly desirable variant of the lot. While its substantial looks are still not as lithe as I personally would like, it certainly looks like every penny of a million dollars – thus rendering it a reasonable value proposition. It looks more expensive than it is, and more. I can totally imagine legions of current Conti owners, having completed two or three years of Bentley ownership, trading up to a GTC as soon as is humanly possible.

The ride is better than the coupe, the steering is far better than in the sedan, and the sound is better than in them all. With less metal separating occupants from the growling symphonics of the exhaust, the multifarious note of the W12 engine is best sampled with the roof down. Despite the laid-back nature of the interaction between the autobox and the extremely torquey powerplant making the engine sound almost bovine, especially in the mid-range, for the most part the GTC sounds fantastic. Just ask all the tollbooth operators I encountered.

Perhaps tellingly, putting the way it sounds at the top of the list of my likes about the car alludes to a less-than-perfect experience in terms of driver excitement and feel. But I don't want you to assume, dear reader, that the GTC – or any of the Continental Bentleys that I have driven – is a bad car in any way, at all.

The Ultimate Continental: The GTC
 

In fact, the GTC is essentially perfect for its intents, expectations, and audience in almost every which way. The styling is perhaps a little challenging, even on the convertible, but that is all the better for compelling lesser-endowed automobiles to get out your way, those little men. The weight is immense, but that accounts for the spectacular levels of standard and optional specification, which is at the very least, more than enough – every single passenger's comfort needs are catered for. The steering is remote, sure, but there is no kickback, nor anything to tire the driver on his cross-country missions. In fact, isolation is ideal in a car named, obviously, Continental.

But what you do get is effortless cruising ability from a duly stiffened chassis, a sonorous engine with loads of power, and a palpable sense of grand occasion.

I choose the GTC. You should too. End of article

The Ultimate Continental: The GTC
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