BENTLEY Continental GT V8 Review

It's hard to tell the difference between the Continental GT W12 we drove in the past and our new V8 test car from the distance. Actually, it's almost impossible and that's because Bentley didn't want to differentiate the models too much.

There are only a few details that set the V8 apart and as we approach the GT, the gloss black of the mesh grille is the first that catches our attention. It's as if the big coupe now wears a bow tie instead of the chrome application from the W12 model. Don't worry though, the shiny bits are still here, as the contour and the vertical line that marks the middle of the grille are finished in chrome.

The front of the Bentley Continental GT V8 works perfect as an attention magnet and the gemstone-like headlights, unchanged from the W12 model, also deserve credit for this.

The lower front fascia comes to assist with the personalization job: the conservatory lines of the Continental GT W12 are traded for styling cues that are far more liberal. There are still three sections, but they are now drawn in a fashion that spells "sports car" more than anything else.

Don't even think about seeing V8 badges on the side - the profile of the car is the most discreet when it comes to changes. The red hue that the V8 uses for the Flying B badges is also present on the wheel centers. Speaking of wheels, since Bentley upped the ante to 21 inches for the Continental GT revamp, they gave the V8 buyers a dedicated design for this size.

Moving along the side of the car makes you want to run your finger across the sculpted line that runs from the front fenders to the rear shoulders. Designers must thank the engineers for the new aluminum superforming technique that allows deeper shaping of the panels.

Chase a Continental GT V8 after it passes you and you may have time to notice that the lower rear fascia is now dark. More importantly, you'll notice that it speaks to you though an exhaust that now has figure eight-shaped tips.

Unfortunately, the tailor seems to have run out of material when it came to these ornaments, as only the inner pipes are functional. You could clearly see this on our test car- there was an unpleasant discrepancy between the exhaust gas-tinted inner pipes and the shiny outer ones.

This is an 186 mph+ (300 km/h) car, so aerodynamics aren't what you'd call neglectable. But the Continental GT has to conceal its airflow muscles - for example, the elements that serve as a rear diffuser are nicely tucked in under the rear fascia and the don't catch you eye unless you pay special attention to them.

Since 2003, the Bentley Continental GT has been pleasing our eyes with its presence and the fresh details brought by the recent makeover only allow it to enjoy this position for an extra number of years. We particularly like the mix between the elegant lines and the generous ground clearance, which places this Bentley in a league of its own when it comes to styling.

The Continental GT V8 isn't too eager to let you know what it hides under the hood, emphasizing the fact that prestige doesn't need to rely in the engine when it comes to this car.


Behind closed doors

Open the generous door of the Bentley Continental GT and you'll notice that the changes under the hood have no reflection in the cabin. Sure, the standard spec brings a single-tone hide and a dedicated veneer with a name that pleases the lips, Dark Fiddleback Eucalyptus.

However, with Bentley this is simply a game of personalization and taking a deep dive into the list of optional extras means that you can have just about everything you want in here, like in the case of the W12 model.

As strange as it may sound, the Bentley Continental GT treats its front passengers with two cabins. The dashboard is defined by two areas that look almost the same, which are created by elements that flow from the center console to the edge of the dash, near the door.

While the driver gets to play with some the paddles, the passenger receives one massive trim plaque - if you select wood, this acts as an unconventional vanity mirror - careful with that throttle my dear, I'm putting some make-up on.

Bentley might have fitted new Cobra seats that have scalloped backs to give the rear passengers more space, but these haven't lost any of the comfort offered by those of the pre-refresh model.

The leather treatment that floats around the cabin gives you an unique feeling and the hides manage to keep you relaxed no matter if the trip is long or short. The ergonomics are good, even though they don't match the level of excellence provided by the fit and finish of the 2013 Bentley Continental GT's cabin.

The controls are where your fingers expect them top be, but there are a few exceptions. The most noticeable is the gear shifter - you have to push the big "B" button on top in order to operate it and you can't quite find a comfortable way of doing this.

When it comes to interior space, the front seats bring plenty of it. Not only is your body pleased, but your mind is relaxed thanks to the generous room. Alas, this is not true for the rear area.

The access to the back is decent and the aforementioned seats bring a noticeable upgrade - you can now keep your knees in place. However, if we want to place the rear in the same sentence with "adults", both words must be accompanied by "medium-sized" and nothing more.

Moving a bit more towards the end of the car, we find a luggage compartment that measures 358 liters (12.6 cu. ft.). By definition, a Grand Tourer feeds itself on long trips and the aforementioned value doesn't fully support this, only being decent for such journeys.

Nevertheless, if you're considering acquiring a Bentley Continental GT and you're canalizing the interior, you'll definitely be conquered by the attention to detail. Let's take the roof liner lights for example - these feature an artistic pattern, a small step for plastic, but a huge leap for artistic impression.

And then there's the leather. The cows that were sent to a farm in the sky received a meticulous post-mortem treatment - the material is so smooth that even the difference between the perforated and the non-perforated one is smaller than in the case of other luxury cars.

The Bentley Continental GT's cabin isn't perfect, but this is an excellent place to use for traveling, whether it's around town or across the continent.