2022 Bentley Continental

　　

2022 Bentley Continental Review

byAlex NishimotoCorrespondent

　　Alex Nishimoto has worked in the automotive industry since 2007. He was a staff writer for MotorTrend for 10 years and since then has contributed to CNET, PRI, AutoWise and other publications.

　　A true grand tourer in the classical sense of the term, the 2022 Bentley Continental GT lives up to its name by offering outstanding ride comfort and copious amounts of power. Available as a coupe or convertible, this large two-door has absurdly high performance limits and oozes style and opulence.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2022 Bentley Continental GT V8 2dr Coupe AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 8AM) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$230/mo  for Continental GT V8

　　Continental GT V8

　　GT V8 2dr Coupe AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 8AM) - $231,000 MSRPGT V8 2dr Convertible AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 8AM) (Most Popular) - $254,100 MSRPGT Speed 2dr Coupe AWD (6.0L 12cyl Turbo 8AM) - $282,800 MSRPGT Speed 2dr Convertible AWD (6.0L 12cyl Turbo 8AM) - $311,100 MSRPGT V8 Mulliner 2dr Coupe AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 8AM) - $300,600 MSRPGT V8 Mulliner 2dr Convertible AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 8AM) - $319,800 MSRP

　　vs

　　$165/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　Introduced for 2020, the current Continental GT is sleek yet muscular on the outside and unapologetically lavish on the inside, with seats upholstered in soft quilted leather and a dashboard highlighted by premium wood veneers. The Continental GT also drives exceptionally well thanks in part to an adaptive suspension that delivers both a smooth, refined ride and responsive handling.

　　The base Continental GT V8 is plenty fast for mere mortals, but for those who want ultimate bragging rights, there's the new 2022 Bentley Continental GT Speed. For locomotion, the GT Speed employs a 650-horsepower turbocharged 12-cylinder engine. It comes standard with all-wheel steering, which allows the rear wheels to turn in the opposite direction of the fronts for more agile handling at low to moderate speeds. At higher thresholds, the front and rear wheels turn in sync for a more stable ride. The GT Speed is also the first Bentley to feature an electronic limited-slip differential for putting down power to the wheels with the most traction. Unique to the GT Speed are fade-resistant carbon-ceramic brakes that Bentley says shave more than 70 pounds of mass compared to the normal rotors.   

　　Put it all together and you've got a seriously impressive grand tourer. The Continental GT's main competitor is the Rolls-Royce Wraith, but the Aston Martin DB11, BMW M8, Mercedes-Benz SL 63 and Porsche 911 Turbo are other options to consider.

　　

Which Continental does zzdcar recommend?

Though the top-trim Continental GT Speed is tempting with its supercar-rivaling performance, the standard GT V8 model will provide more than enough thrills for the average person. The base Continental can rocket to 60 mph in just 3.9 seconds and still deliver unmatched comfort and luxury.

　　

Bentley Continental models

The 2022 Bentley Continental GT is a four-passenger premium luxury coupe that is also available as a convertible. Three trim levels are available: the Continental GT V8, Continental GT Speed and Continental GT V8 Mulliner. The GT V8 and GT V8 Mulliner are powered by a turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine good for 542 horsepower and 568 lb-ft of torque, while the GT Speed features a turbocharged 12-cylinder engine with 650 horsepower and 664 lb-ft. Both engines come paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.

　　Continental GT V8

　　The base V8 coupe comes with all of the typical luxury coupe trappings as well as:

　　21-inch alloy wheels Adaptive air suspension with ride height control Soft-close doors Center trunk pass-through for longer cargo Faux suede headliner 12.3-inch touchscreen and Apple CarPlay integration Advanced safety features include: Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Rear passenger safe-exit system (can prevent a rear passenger from opening a door into traffic approaching from behind) Blind-spot monitor (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot) Continental GT Speed

　　The GT Speed boasts a powerful W12 engine and adds unique performance goodies such as:

　　22-inch alloy wheels Carbon-ceramic brakes Performance-tuned adaptive suspension Electronic limited-slip differential All-wheel steeringContinental GT V8 Mulliner

　　The GT V8 Mulliner builds on the GT V8's equipment list with even more luxurious features:

　　22-inch Mulliner-spec alloy wheels Handcrafted, fully customizable interior Exclusive Mulliner exterior details Bentley Dynamic Ride system for smoother, sharper handlingSeveral bundled option packages are available and include:

　　Mulliner Driving Specification Broader choice of wheels Diamond-quilted and embroidered upholstery Metal fuel and oil filler caps Alloy sport pedals Piano black or walnut interior trim City Specification Hands-free trunk opener Auto-dimming exterior mirrors Surround-view parking camera system Traffic sign reader Touring Specification Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Bentley and the car in front) Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line on the windshield) Lane keeping assist (steers the Continental GT back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker) Night vision Frontal pedestrian detection Front Seat Comfort Specification Ventilated front seats with massage function More adjustments available for front seats Neck warmer for convertible models In addition to the endless list of color, wheels, upholstery and trim choices, stand-alone options include:

　　Panoramic glass roof Heated windshield Diamond-knurled switchgear Heated steering wheel Premium audio upgrades from Bang & Olufsen or Naim Wireless charging pad Wind blocker and neck warmer for convertible models

　　zzdcar Latest Bentley Continental News

　　One Last Drive with Bentley's 12-Cylinder Masterpiece

　　The End of an Era: Bentley Will Stop Producing W12 Engines in 2024

　　2023 Bentley Bentayga Gains a Hybrid Model (Again)

　　The 2023 Bentley Bentayga EWB Gets Longer and More Luxurious