782hp Bentley Continental GT hybrid unveiled

Plug-in Conti GT promises 'the ultimate blend of supercar performance, handcrafted luxury and everyday usability'

It’s not every day that Bentley launches a new car, let alone its most powerful roadgoing model in history. But that’s the status claimed by the new Continental GT Speed, its 782hp and 738lb ft of torque output surpassing anything and everything that’s come before: no Supersports or Batur or GT3 ever boasted more. Which is some achievement in itself. As was known before today, those lofty numbers come courtesy of a hybridised 4.0-litre turbo V8; now, with the fourth-generation Continental GT safely out in the world, we can delve into the nitty-gritty of the new powertrain.

There’s 600hp/590lb ft from the combustion engine and 190hp/332lb ft from an electric motor, which is supplied by a 25.9kWh battery (Bentley says ‘up to 85 per cent’ is usable capacity) behind the rear axle. Interestingly, because the electric motor can support the blowers and reduce lag, single-scroll turbos can be used because they’re less complex than twin-scroll items, and can run hotter - which is said to be good for emissions. Speaking of which, there’s no more cylinder deactivation for this GT, as the whole unit switches off when using electric. The motor also adds a torque fill to smooth out gearchanges.

Expect a couple of those on the way to 62mph in just 3.2 seconds, and another one or two ahead of clearing 100mph in just 6.9 seconds. That supercar performance claim was no joke. Top speed is rated at 208mph. The less exciting but just as important stat include 29g/km, 27mpg and 50 miles of electric range contributing to 534 in total; that’s all pending EU Type Approval for now, but shows a drastic improvement on even previous V8s. The battery can be recharged at up to 11kW (or with the engine via charge mode when driving), and the Conti can get to 87mph on electric alone. At the other end of the spectrum, Bentley is promising a proper V8 soundtrack, with plenty of time invested to emphasise the cross-plane character without the use of artificial, electronic enhancement’. Cars like the Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid have already shown the potential in this configuration - hopefully Bentley can bring the thunder.

Certainly there will be no missing the new model, whether it’s running purely on electric power or with V8 rollicking. Bentley describes the new look as a ‘muscular and contemporary design statement’; while recognisable from before in the way that every GT update has been, this one is notable for featuring single front headlamps. Not only is that a change from every Continental GT since launch, it actually means this is the first series production (i.e., non-coachbuilt) Bentley to feature single lamps since the 1959 S2. The new units with an eyebrow each - Bentley uses the word, so we can too - feature 120 Matrix LEDs each. The Batur influence is clear in the angle of the front grille and the design of the rear lights; Bentley suggests the look is ‘muscular but relaxed, with strong, well-defined haunches indicating the power beneath the skin.’ This fabulous new colour is the launch hue of Tourmaline Green, Crewe’s ‘vivid and modern interpretation’ of Bentley green. Expect to see plenty more of it, even with more colours than ever on the palette.

Under the new look, new colours and new 22-inch wheels, the hybrid Speed benefits from a host of new tech for its Performance Active Chassis. Overall 68 per cent of the components used in this fourth-generation car are new compared to the outgoing Speed, and for the first time ever the weight distribution (helped by mounting the battery out back) is rear-biased in a Continental GT - 49:51. There are dual-valve dampers and dual chamber air springs, which sounds a lot like the technology that’s worked to such great effect in new Porsches.

Bentley promises improved handling and comfort, plus better body control in compression, rebound and direction changes thanks to a damper control ECU that can independently manage each corner. Much of what made the Speed stand out in the previous GT range, including the eLSD, all-wheel steering and torque vectoring, also features for the plug-in car. There’s active anti-roll as well, plus new ESC software that should bring improvements to the intervention of Dynamic mode. Iron brakes are standard, with ceramics on the options list (and surely the first thing to tick with 2,459kg and 782hp).

Interestingly, the Continental GTC is being launched alongside the GT coupe for the first time. With the extra weight on top (2,636kg kerbweight), acceleration (3.4 seconds to 62mph) and top speed (177mph) take a slight hit, though that’ll surely be adequately brisk for most. The GTC’s roof will go down in 19 seconds at up to 30mph and can even be had in tweed has one of seven colour options.

Customisation is certainly the name of the game when it comes to the new Continental interior. And technology, of course, with the introduction of My Bentley App Studio, Remote Park Assist and, in the future, green traffic light prediction for ‘magic carpet’ drives through city centres. For now, however, expect quilting on the 20-way adjustable seats or 30-colour ambient lighting to be of more interest, along with the new option of Wellness seating with Postural Adjust, the Dark Chrome Specification and a Naim 2,200w, 18-speaker system with Active Bass Transducers. And the Rotating Display remains, don’t worry. What was a lovely Bentley interior looks set to be even smarter still.

The new Continental GT has been launched with an appropriately dramatic ‘Underwater Speed Record’ film, where it accelerated to its 208mph top speed in 33 seconds in Norway’s sub-sea Ryfylke Tunnel. Probably worth a watch before heading to the configurator and seeing what must be added to a £236,600 RRP…