What's the news?
We've had the all-new Bentley Continental GT, we've also had the convertible derivative of the same car (called the GTC), so now it's time for the next Conti to be added to the burgeoning portfolio - and this one's the V8.
Much excite about this, as the kids might say, because in the previous generation(s) of Continental GT, the V8 was actually the pick of the range, especially in its storming and noisy V8 S guise. This time around, the V8 models enjoy robust outputs of 550hp and 770Nm, which is enough to push them on to a top speed of 318km/h. Hooked up to an eight-speed automatic and active all-wheel drive, the GT coupe will hit 100km/h from rest in 4.0 seconds precisely, with the convertible GTC just a tenth behind at 4.1 seconds.
Of course, a Continental is meant for long-distance cruising - hence its name - and so it's the claimed 'Grand Touring' range of more than 800km on a tank which should give it appeal. Well, that and its V8 soundtrack; magnificent as the W12 Conti is, the noise it makes is rather subdued. To further aid the Continental V8's imperious ability to ease away the kilometres, it's fitted with cylinder deactivation to let it shut down four of its pistons when not required (saving fuel), lightweight, hollow and active anti-roll bars as part of the Dynamic Ride System, and three-chamber air-sprung suspension with Continuous Damping Control.
Visually, inside and out, not a great deal has changed, although as the all-new Continental looks so splendid and has such an opulent cabin anyway, this is no great hardship. You might spot the V8 models through a few subtle signifiers, though - such as 20-inch, ten-spoke painted alloy wheels, discreet 'V8' badging on the cars' front flanks and a set of quad exhaust pipes at the rear. As with any other Conti GTC, the V8's fabric roof can be raised or lowered in 19 seconds, even on the move at up to 50km/h; customers will be able to choose from seven different colours for the hood, including tweed for the first time, while the bodywork can either be finished in seven standard shades or a near-endless palette of options through Bentley's customisation programme.
Anything else?
The USA will get the Continental V8 first, in the third quarter of this year. Meanwhile, every other world market will need to wait until early 2020 for their cars. Boo, hiss, etc. No word on pricing as yet but as the W12 Coupe costs around €285,000, it wouldn't be daft to think the V8 models will start at around a quarter of a million euro.