Introduction to the 2025 Bentley Continental GT Speed
When you're behind the wheel of a Bentley, it's easy to think you're pretty much impervious to, well, anything. But even Bentley is not immune to the growing pressures of legislation and environmentalism that have seen so many performance cars switch to hybrid or electric power. And, for brands that get it right, there are advantages to electrification beyond the reduction in fuel consumption and emissions. Electric motors offer improvements in refinement and straight-line speed, as well as opportunities for high-tech chassis upgrades.
So, Bentley would say the decision to put a plug-in hybrid powertrain in the Continental GT Speed is not solely about fuel economy or emissions. But the fact this hybrid system replaces the much-loved W12 engine is a tricky PR hurdle for the Bentley to overcome. We put the newcomer to the test on its home turf - the English countryside - to find out whether the new, plug-in hybrid GT Speed is a worthy successor to its W12-engined forebear.
Pros & Cons of the 2025 Bentley Continental GT Speed
Pros: Decent electric range, epic long-distance capability, fabulous luxury
Cons: Heavy powertrain, few tech upgrades, unrealistic official economy
Exterior & Design of the 2025 Bentley Continental GT Speed
• Lightly updated styling as part of mid-life facelift
• Continental GT design is increasingly attractive
• Lots of customisation available to customers
To the casual observer, the latest-generation Bentley Continental GT - of which this the first we've sampled - looks much the same as its predecessor, and there's plenty of evidence to back that up. The dimensions, for example, are pretty much identical at:
Length: 4,895mm
Width: 2,187mm
Height: 1,397mm
Wheelbase: 2,851mm
And the basic shape is also unchanged, with a glorious sweep to the roofline and the classic GT car proportions, including muscular haunches and a long bonnet. Add in details such as the big 22-inch alloy wheels and the huge exhausts, and it manages to blend classy premium style with a degree of sportiness. But unlike hot hatchbacks that seem to choose MMA as their sporting inspiration, the Bentley feels a bit more at home among the polo players.
But none of this is especially new. What is new, however, is the headlight design that sees the old two-light layout replaced with a single 'eyebrow' cluster, including a diamond effect at the top of the lights. New bumpers and taillights also set the new model apart, along with a new boot lid that has an integrated aerodynamic shape, removing the need for a deployable spoiler.
Interior, Practicality, Tech & Comfort of the 2025 Bentley Continental GT Speed
• Glorious Bentley interior styling and quality
• Rotating touchscreen is cool but a gimmick
• Rear cabin space is not especially generous
Just as the changes to the Continental's exterior design are minor, so too are the changes in the cabin. Minor tech upgrades have been implemented, including offering automatic climate seats that heat or cool themselves as the on-board computers deem necessary, while there's a new dark chrome specification that - as far as we can tell - makes fingerprints show up more clearly and adds a tone of moodiness to the cabin. But the basic shape is much as it always was, with a classic yet contemporary design.
Glorious materials surround the occupants, including soft leather, tactile 'suedecloth' and, if you so wish, some gorgeous wood veneer. Our test car came with a rather darker and more sporty metal finish, which matched the dark chrome but felt a bit dingy. Especially in combination with black roof lining.
Nevertheless, the quality is undeniable - all the buttons feel solid, and everything works nicely - while the comfort is second to none. The seats are brilliant, with lots of adjustment, and everything fits together just so. It's a wonderful place to spend time.
And it's subtly high tech, too, with a configurable digital instrument cluster, a head-up display and a massive touchscreen. It's all pin-sharp and quick to respond to inputs, while the software is logical and the menus well laid out. There are digital displays on the climate control rotary dials, too, and even more subtle is the option to hide the touchscreen altogether. Not only does the screen flip out when the car is started, but it can also be rotated away, leaving a three-dial analogue display in the fascia. It feels a bit James Bond, but it's classy.
Unfortunately, those sitting in the back may not be quite so impressed. Sure, the sound system is great, but the more pressing concerns of head- and legroom are not particularly brilliant. In fact, adults are going to have a really tough time squeezing in there unless you decapitate them first. And that would make a mess of that lovely leather. Far better to leave the back seats for kids at most and use a Bentayga when you want to drive four people around in comfort.
Luggage space, happily, is slightly better. A 260-litre boot doesn't feel all that massive, and it's definitely a challenge when the charging cables are in there, but the opening is big and though the space is a bit shallow, there's plenty of room for suitcases and holdalls. Use the back seats as a parcel shelf, and you'll find there's more than enough space in the Continental GT Speed for two people to carry luggage for a week-long road trip.
Performance of the 2025 Bentley Continental GT Speed
• Plug-in hybrid powertrain makes almost 800hp
• GT-car setup for excellent long-range comfort
• V8 engine sounds great when it's in full flow
Replacing the W12 engine from the old Continental GT Speed was always going to be tough, so Bentley clearly decided to call on other brands in the Volkswagen Group to help it. Hence the use of Porsche's V8 plug-in hybrid system, combining a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor and a 25.9kWh lithium-ion battery pack.
The system is decidedly power-orientated. The V8 alone churns out 600hp, while the electric motor makes up to 190hp. For complicated reasons, the combined maximum output is 'just' 782hp, but it's distributed between all four wheels and gives the car blistering performance. Despite weighing a lot, it gets from 0-100km/h in 3.2 seconds, and it tops out at 335km/h. It's enormously fast, for something so big.
But though the speed may be impressive, it's nothing all that new. The W12 versions were equally rapid, but the new model does the same thing in a different way. The electric motor gives it slightly faster response, and the V8 engine snarls in a sharper and much more aggressive way. When you want it to be, the noise is brutal, like a sheet of ripping calico, but the engine still manages to be sleepy and subdued in its more comfort-orientated settings.
And that is not only the mark of a great grand tourer, but of a great performance car more generally. The ability to be hushed, comfortable and smooth on a long drive is what makes the Continental GT live up to its name on the road. With air suspension soaking up the bumps despite the massive 22-inch alloy wheels, the Bentley makes for a spectacular long-distance cruiser, eating the motorway miles as easily as a child wolfs down dessert.
Yet the split personality is revealed when you put the car into sport mode and show it a good back road. Despite the weight, the car's relatively low centre of gravity and wide track allow drivers to make the most of the smooth, communicative steering. It isn't quite as responsive as a sports car - an Aston Martin Vantage or a Porsche 911 - but it's perfectly capable of being thrown through the corners on a good country lane.
The only real catch is with the brake pedal, which falls foul of the issue affecting so many plug-in hybrids: a lack of feel. When the computers have to manage the notoriously underwhelming feel of carbon-ceramic brakes and the demands of regenerative braking from the electric side of the powertrain, the pedal ends up feeling inconsistent and difficult to modulate. Even if you leave your foot still on the pedal, the braking force can change seemingly on its own, which is disconcerting at best.
It's not that the brakes are ineffective - the car stops remarkably well considering its weight - but the feel is a bit awkward when you're trying to drive quickly. Yet somehow, the harder you push, the more the car depends on its mechanical brakes, and the more reassuring it feels.
Range, Battery & Charging of the 2025 Bentley Continental GT Speed
• Big 25.9kWh battery provides decent electric range
• Maximum charge speed of 11kW
• Official EV range of 81km
The Continental GT Speed's battery has a capacity of 25.9kWh, which makes it only slightly smaller than the battery in the old Volkswagen e-up. That means even this two-and-a-half-tonne coupe can cover 81km on the official economy test without firing up its big V8 petrol engine.
Admittedly, the real-world range is more like 60-70km around town, but that's still very useful if you're mostly doing short journeys. And because it can still drive at motorway speeds on electric power, you can really make the most of the electric range from day to day. Charge regularly, and you needn't use the V8 all that much.
But owners are going to use the V8, because if economy were the primary concern, they wouldn't choose a Continental GT Speed. So, while impressive economy is achievable, the 1.3 litres/100km advertised by the official WLTP economy test is unlikely to be seen by customers. Especially those who want to use the car's performance or hear its V8 roar.
Still, the hybrid system has tax advantages, and it is really quite usable. It even charges relatively quickly, especially if you have a three-phase electricity supply. With an 11kW maximum AC charge speed, the battery can be topped up in less than three hours, but most owners will find it takes longer on a 7kW domestic wallbox.
Running Costs of the 2025 Bentley Continental GT Speed
• Plug-in hybrid system means low emissions
• Uses a lot of fuel if the battery charge is low
• Don't expect cheap servicing and maintenance
The plug-in hybrid system does more than just add power to the Continental GT Speed's repertoire. With that electric-only range and impressive efficiency, it should be reasonably economical, even if you're unlikely to match the official figures.
While the range is great if all you ever do is drive to the shops and recharge when you get back, you're going to want to go further afield, and then the petrol engine will not be so economical. Still, we managed more than 30mpg on our test, and we weren't being especially economy-focused. For some, this will be a very cheap-to-run Bentley.
Or at least it will be cheap to run if you don't look at servicing costs. Bentley services are notoriously eye-watering when it comes to handing over your credit card, and though the cars are reasonably reliable these days, spares are not cheap. We suffered a puncture on our test and found even the narrower front tyre would cost around €400 to replace with an identical Pirelli P Zero.
Irish Pricing & Rivals of the 2025 Bentley Continental GT Speed
• Up against Aston Martin, Maserati and Ferrari
• Would-be customers have to import
• Low-emission makes this the cheapest Continental
With no Bentley dealer in Ireland, those who want the new Continental will have to import it from the UK. Fortunately, though, there is a dealer in Belfast that can accommodate, but don't expect the Continental GT Speed to come cheap. In the UK, it costs more than £250,000, so expect a pretty hefty bill if you want to import one. We'd estimate a base price of about €385,000 imported.
That said, this plug-in hybrid powertrain means the GT Speed emits just 29g of carbon dioxide per kilometre, so VRT will be just seven per cent, and annual motor tax is only €140. Alongside non-hybrid rivals such as the BMW M8 and Aston Martin Vanquish the Bentley could turn out to be quite the bargain.
And the Bentley comes with lots of lovely stuff as standard. Value may not be buyers' prime concern, but the car still gets a big touchscreen, digital instrument cluster and lots of posh upholstery, as well as climate control, a reversing camera and navigation. Essentially, it has all the kit you expect, but most buyers will still choose plenty of options - if only to personalise their vehicle.
Verdict - Should You Buy the 2025 Bentley Continental GT Speed?
If you have the money, absolutely. Nobody ever chooses a Bentley in order to save money, but the hybrid system does more than just keep emissions down. Yes, it is hugely different from the old W12, but it works really well and has its own advantages, including the sound of that 4.0-litre V8 engine. Is it an improvement on its predecessor? Not necessarily, but even if you aren't that enthralled by the idea of a hybrid, it definitely isn't a step backwards.
FAQs About the 2025 Bentley Continental GT Speed
How many child seats fit in a Bentley Continental GT?
Theoretically, two. There are ISOFIX child seat mounting points in both the rear seats, but be warned: access is tricky, and fitting bulky child seats in there is not going to be a simple affair. And with no ISOFIX mounting point in the front passenger seat, the Continental GT Speed is hardly the most child-friendly car out there. That said, it's no better or worse than most of its rivals.
How safe is the Bentley Continental GT Speed?
Given Euro NCAP buys the cars it assesses, perhaps it's no surprise that the Continental GT has never been evaluated by the European independent safety body. But the car still comes with plenty of safety technology, including lane departure warning, autonomous emergency braking, and speed limit warning. A reversing camera is in the offing, too, along with cruise control and a head-up display. And for those who find all that stuff a bit too irritating, it's easy enough to switch it off. There's even a configurable button on the steering wheel, allowing you to immediately access settings, such as the speed limit warning system.
Want to know more about the Bentley Continental GT Speed?
If you want to know anything else about the Bentley Continental GT Speed, any of its rivals, or any other car on the market, then why not head over to our Ask Us Anything page? There, you can pose your question, and our team of experts will get to work on an answer for you.
