CompleteCar

Car news

Bentley reveals new Continental GTC

The open-topped Continental GTC will make its world debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

Bentley reveals new Continental GTC View gallery

Star of Bentley's Frankfurt Motor Show stand next month will be the second-generation Continental GTC. The four-seat convertible adopts its coupé sibling's tauter lines for a sportier look, but it's still undeniably an elegant cabriolet.

The cabin comes in for as much focus as the new exterior. Bentley offers buyers a choice of 17 leather colours and six combinations as standard, along with seven different veneers. There's more interior space than before too, while Bentley has added a 'Neck Warmer' to blow warm air onto the occupants' necks if it's a little chilly outside.

A 6.0-litre twin-turbocharged W12 engine will be available initially, with a new V8 unit due shortly after. The W12 engine produces 575hp and up to 700Nm of torque. The claimed performance figures should be easily achievable in that case, with 0-100km/h in 4.8 seconds and a top speed of 314km/h. This engine has full 'FlexFuel' capability so it can run on E85 bio-ethanol, petrol or any combination of the two. CO2 figures have not been announced as yet though.

All that power is put through a ZF six-speed automatic gearbox with 'Quickshift', which is designed to do exactly as it says. As before, the Continental GTC features four-wheel drive, though now the regular split is 60% to the rear - it used to be 50/50. As standard 20-inch alloys are fitted, but it's telling that there are three 21-inch rim designs to choose from.

Wolfgang Dürheimer, Chairman and Chief Executive, Bentley Motors said: "The GTC has always been the most emotional model in the Continental range and a showcase for Bentley design. With its tailored soft top, the GTC is a pure British convertible true to those classic Bentleys of the past. However, the technology, performance and overall design excellence invested in this model means that we are now writing a new chapter for the Bentley convertible driver."

We'll see it for ourselves in Frankfurt, soon after which the first examples will be delivered to customers. It's priced from about €320,000 in Ireland.

If there is anything about this story we have not covered, you can avail of our expert advice service via the Ask Us Anything page.