New Bentley Continental GT: when luxury gets a new voice

Bentley Continental GT has always been a car where speed does not shout — it sounds noble, confident and expensive. In the new generation the model takes an important step: the era of the legendary W12 is passing into history, and on stage comes the hybrid V8 — not as a compromise, but as a new level of power and intelligence.

Bentley calls the new Continental GT not simply an update but a new chapter in the grand tourer’s story: fresh design, a new powertrain architecture and a revised chassis make the car both more modern and “more Bentley” than before.

What has changed in the new-generation Continental GT

The new Continental GT is the fourth generation of the model, which Bentley presents as a combination of:

• a cleaner, more sculptural design,

• a modern hybrid drive,

• improved handling while preserving the brand’s signature ride smoothness.

Design: a new take on the Bentley grand tourer

The exterior is more expressive but without aggression. Bentley emphasizes a new design DNA inspired by the Bacalar and Batur models (the key idea is “clean” forms and premium restraint).

The main thing: a new hybrid V8 replacing the W12

This is the most discussed point: the W12 is gone — the Continental GT now switches to a 4.0-liter V8 twin-turbo + electric motor.

Bentley uses two main hybrid configurations:

Ultra Performance Hybrid (the most powerful variant)

• 782 PS (771 bhp)

• 1000 Nm

• 0–100 km/h: 3.2 sec

• top speed: 335 km/h

These are the figures Bentley gives for the new Continental GT with the “Ultra Performance Hybrid V8”.

Bentley Continental GT S (2026): sport without roughness

If the regular Continental GT is a day-to-day grand tourer for those who dislike showy sharpness, the Continental GT S is made for the driver who wants the Bentley to feel and sound more alive.

Bentley released two versions right away:

• Continental GT S

• Continental GTC S (convertible)

Character of the S version: a “middle” ground between the base and Speed

Essentially, the GT S occupies a position between the standard Continental GT and the Speed:

• power at the level of the “regular” hybrid,

• but with chassis elements and technologies from more expensive trims.

Technical specifications of the Continental GT S

Sources indicate that the Continental GT S uses the High Performance Hybrid setup:

• around 680 PS

• 930 Nm

• 0–100 km/h: 3.5 sec

• top speed: 306 km/h

Chassis and handling: technologies from Speed and Mulliner

Bentley made a very strong move: the GT S receives the Bentley Performance Active Chassis package, previously available only on higher trims.

It includes:

• Active All Wheel Drive

• torque vectoring (across axles)

• 48V Bentley Dynamic Ride (active roll stabilization)

• adaptive dampers

• all-wheel steering

• electronic limited-slip differential (eLSD)

This is what changes the feel: the Continental remains a heavy luxury coupe, but in corners it now feels tighter, “shorter”, and more precise.

Exterior differences of the GT S: Blackline and a darker aesthetic

The S version visually makes the Continental more “night-luxury”:

• darkened lighting,

• darker decorative elements,

• black accents instead of chrome (Blackline Specification),

• a sportier image without kitsch.

Interior: Bentley remains Bentley

The change of engine has not altered the main thing: the Continental GT is not about simply “going fast”, it is about living beautifully at speed.

Bentley continues the line of:

• luxurious materials,

• the brand’s signature handcrafting,

• attention to tactile sensations,

• a “private lounge” atmosphere.

Why the new Continental GT is not a “farewell to an era” but the start of a new one

The W12 is a legend. But the new hybrid V8 makes an important point: Bentley is moving to a new form of elite power.

Now the luxury of the Continental GT means:

• instant response from the hybrid system,

• silence and an electric character where appropriate,

• and a huge reserve of torque when the driver decides to remind the world that this is Bentley.