Sneak Peek: 2011 Bentley Continental GT


We've seen spy photos of the new Bentley Continental GT running around for some time, but had yet to hear word from Bentley on when the finished coupe will debut. Bentley just released a quick teaser video of the new coupe, along with a September 7 reveal date.

According to Bentley, this Continental GT is a new model, but judging from the glimpses of the car in the video, we'd call it a model refresh. The car's basic shape, though refined, remains the same; the headlights (pictured) have been updated, and show part of a new fascia, sculpted to more closely resemble Bentley's Mulsanne halo car. We expect styling cues on the rest of the car to be slight updates, with hints of Mulsanne, but we were hoping for an all-new ground-breaking coupe, as the current Continental GT was for the brand several years ago.

The video gives brief glimpses of the car, enough to determine rough styling details, but powertrain details are still unknown. Given the current Continental uses a version of corporate owners Audi/Volkswagen's W-12, rather than Bentley's 6.75-liter V-8, the revised Continental GT could use the updated 6.3-liter, direct-injected W-12 found in the new A8L W12. In the A8, the engine delivers 500 horsepower and 461 pound-feet of torque, and we expect the engine will once again be accompanied by a pair of turbochargers to further increase output. The W-12's fury will likely be put to the ground via ZF's new eight-speed automatic, also found in the Mulsanne and A8L, and all-wheel drive.
Thanks to: Motor Trend