One-of-one GT Speed celebrates 20 years of Continental success at Monterey Car Week

Bentley Motors brought the 20th birthday celebrations of its now-iconic Continental GT to a close with the reveal and immediate sale of a one-of-one Continental GT Speed, with a specification inspired by that of the very first production Continental GT from 2003. VIN20001, the first GT off the Crewe production line, shared the stage with the 2023 version at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, which was also celebrating its 20th birthday and remained an integral part of Monterey Car Week.

Finishes

Since its launch in 2003, the Continental GT has redefined the Bentley brand for the 21st century, catalyzing a ten-fold increase in sales and maintaining its position as the benchmark for modern luxury grand tourers. Bentley finished the first production car – the most important modern car in Bentley’s rejuvenated Heritage Collection – in Cypress Green paint, with an interior of Saddle leather upholstery and Burr Walnut veneer. The bespoke 2023 Continental GT Speed displays a specially commissioned interior inspired by that of its illustrious forbear.

While Saddle leather and Burr Walnut veneer feature in both cabins, the third-generation model features subtle enhancements to the original model’s theme. Accent hide in ‘Special Green’ complements the rich Saddle colour., with contrast stitching in the same shade throughout, The fascia and waist rails feature two different veneer finishes – open pore Dark Burr Walnut over high gloss Dark Burr Walnut – separated by a painted pinstripe in Cypress, connecting the interior with the exterior.

Features

An extensive list of features includes the Blackline, Touring and Styling Specifications – together bringing polished black exterior brightware, a suite of technical enhancements and a carbon fibre front splitter, side skirts, diffuser and subtle boot lip spoiler, respectively. Self-levelling Mulliner wheel badges finished the 22” Sports Wheels in unique Dark Grey Satin.

Interior

The interior features Naim for Bentley audio and the Bentley Rotating Display, while the personalised treadplates read ’20 years of the Continental GT by Bentley Mulliner’. Outline representations of the 2003 and 2023 Continental GTs feature on the fascia, centre console and outer sill. Bentley already sold this celebratory one-of-one car. Its new owner took ownership at The Quail, representing the highlight of four months of activities and events to celebrate this milestone in Bentley’s history.
20 years and three generations

Design

The first-generation Continental GT’s impact was seismic, redefining Bentley as a modern luxury brand and creating a new market sector. The first all-new Bentley with no carried-over components since the original 3 Litre of 2019, Bentley designed the Continental GT at the Crewe studio under then Design Director Dirk van Braeckel and Head of Exterior Design Raul Pires. The sleek lines of Bentley’s new grand tourer were inspired by those of the 1952 R Type Continental, with a Bentley ‘powerline’ that starts low at the front and follows the shoulder line of the bonnet and door before meeting a muscular rear haunch. Twin round headlamps and a Bentley mesh grille gave a subtle nod to the company’s thunderous Le Mans-winning racers of the 1920s.

Drive Train

Under the bonnet was an all-new 6.0-litre twin-turbo 48-valve W12 engine. This compact, smooth, powerful design developed 550 bhp and 650 Nm, powering all four wheels via a ZF six-speed automatic transmission. Acceleration from 0-62 mph took 4.8 seconds, and the top speed was a shade under 200 mph.

During the seven years the first-generation Continental GT remained in production, it sired a family of models, including the Continental GT Convertible, Continental Flying Spur, Continental GT Speed and Supersports.

Arrival of the V8

The second-generation Continental GT, launched in 6.0-litre W12 form at the Paris Motor Show in 2010, also saw the arrival of a second all-new Bentley engine. The efficient and charismatic 4.0-litre V8, which debuted in 2012, endowed the Continental GT with an eager, agile, responsive character, accompanied by a characterful V8 exhaust backbeat. In 2017, the line-up was joined by the limited edition 710PS Supersports, its conception inspired by the Team Bentley racing GT3.

2018: the third generation

Bentley’s third-generation Continental GT was launched in 2018. An entirely new design, its sharper, sleeker lines took full advantage of a new, purpose-designed platform. Even its W12 engine was all-new, paired with a new dual-clutch transmission. Highlights of the new model’s specification included three-chamber air springs and 48V electric active anti-roll control, while the onboard technology took a major leap forward thanks to all-new electrical architecture. It was simultaneously faster, more comfortable, more efficient and more luxurious than its predecessors – yet unmistakably still a Continental GT.

Around the World in 20 Reviews

A Bentley ‘baton’, designed and created in-house to represent the key lines of the Continental GT, visited Monterey to start a global journey – travelling in a variety of Continental GT models across Europe, the Middle East, China, Asia Pacific and the US before returning to Crewe. Finally, at Bentley’s Dream Factory in Crewe, the baton containing 20 mementoes of the tour will become a time capsule as a permanent reminder of a unique journey.

For more information, visit www.bentleymotors.com.

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