2018 Bentley Continental GT Accompanied by Bentayga for Winter Testing

Bummer! We would have liked to make a comparison between the Continental GT and the upcoming Porsche Panamera. Why are we mentioning Porsche? Because they've put an end to brand rivalries of old and helped Bentley make a better coupe. The platform and all-wheel-drive system used by the next Continental GT is derived from that of the Panamera.

That won't make it a little lighter, but a lot. Since its introduction several years ago, the 4.0-liter twin-turbo engine fitted to the GT V8 and V8S has been very popular. But Bentley engineers have deemed the internals of this Audi unit not sophisticated enough for them and have now partnered with Stuttgart, who are known for turning Audi's good ideas into brilliant ones.

See that big Bentley SUV right behind the Continental GT? It's responsible for a brand new W12 powerhouse that delivers over 600 horsepower and ludicrous amounts of torque. It too could be offered by the coupe, but only if the emission numbers are good enough.

No replacement for displacement? Well, there could be if we look at Bentley's recent activity. They've previewed plug-in hybrid technology with a Mulsanne study. But this prototype doesn't have a plug anywhere.

Bentley also can't ignore the recent technological advancements. Like the Bentayga, the GT will let you configure all its major powertrain functions and may have a digital dashboard with integrated navigation. Of course, all that will be hidden behind waves of beautiful leather, aluminum finishes and dash-mounted clocks that cost as much as the car.