The British brand Bentley has long been associated with luxury and wealth. The aristocratic style honed over decades, impeccable build quality, rare materials in the trim, and advanced technologies – all of this keeps the brand at the pinnacle of the automotive Olympus.
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| The exterior of the Bentley Continental GT is a masterpiece of design. |
When the Continental GT sports coupe debuted in 2003, a new era in design began for Bentley. This model set the stylistic direction for all subsequent cars from the British brand. And even after more than five years, this newcomer has not lost its appeal and still catches the eyes of passersby and drivers. There are many expensive coupes in Moscow, but it is the Bentley that makes people turn around and point at it. That is the magic of exclusivity, and there is no arguing with that.
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| The Continental GT introduced in 2003 is still relevant today. |
The car's silhouette is dynamic, with smooth and proportionate lines, looking cohesive and self-sufficient. It is also worth remembering that for about six years now, Bentley has been under the wing of the Volkswagen Group. The Germans not only preserved the century-old traditions of the British but also shared their technologies, which noticeably boosted global sales of luxury cars. It was Volkswagen that played a key role in the creation of the Continental GT, handling almost the entire technical side of the project.
As a result, a full-fledged four-seat Continental GT coupe saw the light of day, becoming one of the best-selling cars in Bentley's history.
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| The air suspension automatically maintains the set ground clearance of 120 mm |
I press the pedal to the floor, and... GO! The incredibly beautiful speedometer shows 74 km/h in just three seconds. The signature Bentley wings on the dials are very fitting here. The flight is normal, the acceleration is simply stunning. Add another second and a half to those initial three seconds, and we hit a hundred.
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| The interior of the Bentley coupe uses only high-quality plastic, natural leather, and wood. |
For a second, you lose consciousness from the adrenaline that goes through the roof. You come to your senses already at the tenth second, and the speedometer needle shows 160 km/h. Just ten seconds — and the driver finds himself in some other dimension where time and space are perceived completely differently.
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| The 560-horsepower turbo engine accelerates the Bentley Continental GT to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds. |
Being first behind the wheel of this projectile is not difficult at all. The technical specifications leave rivals no chance whatsoever. The only thing you can give to the overtaken opponent is the rich, deep roar of the 6.0-liter Twinturbo engine with 560 horsepower, which sets off car alarms and rattles windows in houses.
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| The high-quality trim materials still did not completely hide the unification with the Volkswagen Phaeton. |
However, another danger lurks behind the wheel of the Continental GT. Such an unbridled temperament and flawless operation of all systems make interaction with other road users almost impossible. You barely manage to stop cursing at the red light and notice a nice person in the neighboring car when the light turns green, and the Continental, as if by a magnet, pulls your foot to the gas pedal. The herd of horses that have been stuck in traffic breaks free and carries you far away from the object of your affection. In a word, this car is a true egoist, fully in line with the brand's philosophy.
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When you finally find yourself alone with the road, which either twists or straightens under the wheels of the almost five-meter coupe, a feeling of home comfort and tranquility sets in. Everything is under control, the car goes perfectly, as if on rails, and you sit in a comfortable seat that is part of the amazing microclimate created in the cabin.
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However, it was not possible to hide the kinship with Volkswagen in the interior of this charismatic car. Many details are clearly borrowed from the VW flagship, the Phaeton. But this is done so carefully and with such love for detail that you cannot bring yourself to reproach the creators. German precision plus English style – that is the formula of this intoxicating cocktail.
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| The air vents and the metal handles responsible for opening them are a true work of art. |
There is so much expensive wood in the interior that it borders on excess. Honestly, this is the first time in my life I have seen such massive wooden inserts on door cards. But it looks, damn it, stunning! Especially impressive is how the reflections of the surrounding world glide across the polished wooden panel at the top of the center console before the driver's eyes. Wood – leather – metal, metal – leather – wood. In any order, this formula perfectly describes the Bentley interior.
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Plastic is a rare guest here – in many places it has been replaced by elements made of tempered glass, for example, on the automatic transmission selector button and other controls. One could talk endlessly about the tactile sensations of interacting with this interior, but that would be tedious. In this little world, there is no place for fake or meaningless trendy details. This is a Bentley interior.
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The Bentley Continental GT is the first all-wheel-drive coupe in the brand's history. Add to that a spacious cabin designed for four, and you get a truly luxurious sports car suitable for everyday use. Of course, there are more powerful and faster machines, say, the Pagani Zonda or Koenigsegg CC. But who would dare to take such "rockets" out in winter? Obviously, no one. Moreover, in terms of build quality, comfort, and interior thoughtfulness, the British coupe leaves competitors far behind. This powerful, prestigious, and solid car is made for daily driving.
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Those who truly understand expensive cars and can afford to keep more than one car in their garage enjoy the "adrenaline" models of Ferrari or Lamborghini during the summer months. But when winter comes, the streets are covered with snow, and the roads turn into an ice rink, the Italian "stallions" go on a well-deserved rest. To avoid blending in with the flow of the usual Mercedes S-Class, BMW 7-Series, or Audi A8, a wealthy person chooses a car that will emphasize his individuality – and here the Bentley Continental GT comes in handy. While remaining modern in spirit, it has not lost its former solidity. That is its main advantage.
Dmitry Malygin, Ruslan Galimov