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From YourSITE.com Bentley
Bentley Continental G.T.
The new Bentley Continental GT was the best new design at the Detroit show. Even though approximately fifty new concept cars and one hundred production models were at the show, the Bentley stood out from the crowd. Prior to the show I had seen numerous photos of the Continental, and I thought the design was uninspired and dull, and didn’t do justice to Bentley’s rich heritage of impressive cars.
However when I saw the silver car on the Bentley stand I abruptly changed my opinion. The new Continental GT is very elegant, refined and impressive.
The side and rear views are most impressive. The body has a sculptured, refined look, which gives the impression it was carved out of a solid block of steel. The Continental is smaller than the Arnage and Azure models, which will still be produced when the Continental GT enters production this year. It also has the same sporty look that all Bentleys had before Rolls Royce acquired the company in the 1930s. The new Continental is the first new product produced by Bentley since they were split from Rolls Royce on January first this year.
As Bentley was acquired by Volkswagen and Rolls Royce by BMW, the two formerly unified automobile manufacturers have begun taking different directions. The new Bentley no longer shares its engine and platform with Rolls Royce, but is built on a modified version f the Volkswagen Phaeton platform, and features a 500-plus horsepower twin turbocharged W12. Since the Continental GT is significantly lighter than the Arnage, this car should have astounding acceleration.
The newest Bentley will sell for about $160,000 in the U.S. This price, combined with its sporty, refined nature, will give it a unique niche in the high end G.T. market, since it won’t directly compete with Ferrari, Aston Martin, or Rolls Royce. Rolls Royce is not offering an automobile with the performance capabilities of the new Continental G.T., and Ferrari and Aston Martin don’t offer a true four-seater. With a manufacturer’s claim of a 180 mph top speed, the Continental G.T. is by far the fastest true four-seated automobile available.
The most outstanding feature of the Continental is it's rich, elegant interior. The high back seats, and built in headrests. That look very supportive and comfortable. My observation was confirmed when I had an opportunity to briefly sit in the car.
The dashboard features custom instruments that are inspired by expensive Swiss watches. The whole interior has a flowing look and the wood grained inserts are well integrated into the overall design. This look is in sharp contrast to many high-end cars that appear to have acres of wood added to help justify their high prices. The new Continental G.T. is a gorgeous design. And if it drives as well as it looks, it will be one of the most desirable cars of the new millennium.
Milt Brown, Contributing Editor, is an independent automobile designer and manufacturer. He is best known for his Italian-bodied Apollo G.T. of the 1960s, and the Apollo Verona of the 1980s. © Copyright 2001 by YourSITE.com |
