Bentley Continental GT History
The car that remade Bentley (2003–present) — a W12 grand tourer that became the brand's best-seller and the heart of the Volkswagen-era range.
Photo: “2015 Bentley Continental GTC S V8 Automatic.jpg” by Calreyn88 / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
History
Launched in 2003 as Bentley's first all-new car under Volkswagen ownership, the Continental GT transformed the marque from a tiny coachbuilt-saloon maker into a volume luxury brand. Built on a VW Group platform shared with the Phaeton, it introduced Bentley's 6.0-litre twin-turbocharged W12 — an engine that would power the brand for two decades — with all-wheel drive and a sub-five-second 0–60 mph time at a comparatively attainable price.
It became Bentley's best-selling model and spawned a family: the Continental GTC convertible, the four-door Flying Spur, and a range of Speed and Supersports performance versions. A second generation arrived in 2011 (adding a 4.0-litre V8) and a third in 2018.
The Continental GT also carried the swansong of the W12: Bentley hand-built its final W12 in July 2024, after more than 100,000 had been made since 2003, as the marque shifted toward hybrid and electric powertrains under its 'Beyond100' plan.
Generations
First generation
The original 6.0-litre twin-turbo W12 grand tourer; spawned the GTC convertible, the Flying Spur, and the Speed and Supersports performance models.
Second generation
Photo: “2015 Bentley Continental GTC S V8 Automatic.jpg” by Calreyn88 / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Restyled and re-engineered; added a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 option alongside the W12 for the first time.
2015 Photo: “2015 Bentley Continental GTC S V8 Automatic.jpg” by Calreyn88 / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Third generation
Photo: “2019 Bentley Continental GT V8 Automatic 4.0 Front.jpg” by Vauxford / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
All-new on the VW Group MSB platform; offered W12 (to 2024), V8, and later a V8 hybrid as Bentley moves toward electrification.
2019 Photo: “2019 Bentley Continental GT V8 Automatic 4.0 Front.jpg” by Vauxford / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
2020 Photo: “2020 Bentley Continental GT V8 Auto.jpg” by Calreyn88 / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
2022 Photo: “2022 Bentley Continental GT V8 Auto.jpg” by Calreyn88 / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Body styles
- Coupé
- Convertible (GTC)
Notable special editions & performance variants
Continental GT Speed
The higher-output, sharper-handling W12 version of the Continental GT.
Continental Supersports
The most extreme first- and second-generation Continental — Bentley's most powerful production car of its day.
Related models
Collect the nameplate
Find a scale model of the Bentley Continental GT
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