2023 Bentley Continental Convertible

　　

2023 Bentley Continental Review

byDan FrioReviews Editor

　　Dan spent many years covering the go-fast, look-good, get-loud corners of the automotive universe. First, he served as editor of enthusiast magazines AutoSound and Honda Tuning, then as executive editor at SEMA News, the publishing arm of the trade group that produces the annual SEMA Show (yes, that show). As a contributor to zzdcar, he now likes to keep the volume low and the speed limit legal, providing expert car-shopping advice to drivers looking for the perfect match.

　　The 2023 Bentley Continental GT embodies an old-world sense of motoring that might be dead and gone. The grand-touring car of nearly a century ago was a stately car built for supreme comfort over long distances. Now people just fly to far-off destinations. But like its name suggests, the big Bentley is still built with one thing in mind: road trips. And who doesn't love a road trip, especially in an elegant cabin, carried forth by copious amounts of engine power and performance?

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2023 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

　　$254/mo  for Continental GT V8

　　Continental GT V8

　　GT V8 2dr Coupe AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 8AM) - $235,600 MSRPGTC V8 2dr Convertible AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 8AM) - $259,200 MSRPGT S V8 2dr Coupe AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 8AM) - $266,000 MSRPGT Azure V8 2dr Coupe AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 8AM) - $282,800 MSRPGT Speed 2dr Coupe AWD (6.0L 12cyl Turbo 8AM) - $288,500 MSRPGTC S V8 2dr Convertible AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 8AM) - $292,500 MSRPGT Mulliner V8 2dr Coupe AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 8AM) - $306,600 MSRPGTC Azure V8 2dr Convertible AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 8AM) - $311,000 MSRPGTC Speed 2dr Convertible AWD (6.0L 12cyl Turbo 8AM) (Most Popular) - $317,300 MSRPGTC Mulliner V8 2dr Convertible AWD (4.0L 8cyl Turbo 8AM) - $326,200 MSRPGT Mulliner W12 2dr Coupe AWD (6.0L 12cyl Turbo 8AM) - $341,900 MSRPGTC Mulliner W12 2dr Convertible AWD (6.0L 12cyl Turbo 8AM) - $376,100 MSRP

　　vs

　　$165/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　Available as a coupe or convertible, the Continental GT is sleek and muscular, with a lavish interior and exceptional ride comfort. A standard air suspension manages to soak up rough, rashy road surfaces and still deliver responsive handling. The Bentley's big mass is inescapable, but an optional anti-roll system helps curb excessive body movement when the turns get tight and entertaining. For 2023 a new S trim debuts, largely a blacked-out exterior appearance package, but including a sport exhaust system and more aggressive style . A wireless phone charger is now standard equipment.

　　The base Continental GT, with its 542-horsepower V8 engine, should be plenty of ponies for most buyers. But ultimate bragging rights come with the GT Speed trim, which uses a 650-hp 12-cylinder engine. That's astounding power, which you'll be hard-pressed to find proper use for in America, but it's still an intoxicating sensation. Get your fix while you can because Bentley has announced the end of the line for the W12 with next year's model.

　　Drivers more in tune with the Continental's overall mission of comfort and well-being may steer over to the Azure trim. Its spa-like approach to cabin comfort includes heated, cooled and massaging front seats, heated armrests, and even customizable cabin lighting. Regardless of trim, however, the Continental GT offers a compelling alternative to hyperluxury rivals like the Rolls-Royce Wraith and Aston Martin DB11, or ultra-performance competitors like the new Ferrari Roma, Porsche 911 Turbo and BMW M8. While it seems counterintuitive to drive thousands of miles in an ultra-high-horsepower car that gets just 19 mpg combined, we can think of worse ways to take a road trip.

　　

Which Continental does zzdcar recommend?

The Continental GT Speed's exhilarating acceleration and supercar-rivaling performance are tempting, but its extra power really only makes a difference at autobahn speeds. We'd be just fine with the base GT and a few options, such as the Touring Specification (adaptive cruise control), the full-featured massage seats and an upgraded audio system. The base Continental can rocket to 60 mph in just 3.9 seconds and still deliver unmatched comfort and luxury.

　　

Bentley Continental models

The 2023 Bentley Continental GT is a four-passenger luxury coupe also available as a convertible. Both coupe and convertible are offered in five trim levels: Continental GT (base trim), Continental GT Azure, Continental GT S, Continental GT Speed and Continental GT Mulliner.

　　All trims except the GT Speed come with a turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine (542 horsepower, 568 lb-ft of torque). The GT Speed features a turbocharged 12-cylinder W12 engine with 650 horsepower and 664 lb-ft. Both engines pair with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.

　　Continental GT

　　The base coupe comes with a generous list of luxury features, including

　　21-inch alloy wheels LED headlights Adaptive air suspension with ride height control Heated side mirrors Soft-close doors Hands-free-opening trunk Leather upholstery Synthetic suede headliner Heated front seats with memory Heated steering wheel Ambient cabin lighting Center trunk pass-through for longer cargo 12.3-inch touchscreen Navigation Apple CarPlay integration Dual USB-C charging ports front and rear Wireless phone charger 10-speaker audio systemAdvanced driver assist features include:

　　Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Blind-spot warning (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot) Rear cross-traffic warning Rear passenger safe-exit system (can prevent a rear passenger from opening a door into traffic approaching from behind) Semi-automated parking system (steers the Continental GT into a parking space while driver controls accelerator and brake) Front and rear parking sensors Top-view parking camera systemContinental GT Azure

　　The Azure boosts the comfort level with more advanced seats and a handful of extras:

　　22-inch wheels Choice of high-performance summer tires or standard all-season tires Bentley Dynamic Ride (active anti-roll system for smoother, sharper handling) Panoramic sunroof Heated, ventilated and massaging front seats with adjustable bolsters and cushions Heated armrests Customizable ambient cabin lightingKeeping with the Azure's focus on comfort and long-distance touring comfort, it also includes additional driver assist features, including:

　　Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Bentley and the car in front) Lane keeping assistance (steers the Continental GT back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker) Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line on the windshield) Night visionContinental GT S

　　The new S trim is similar to the base trim but adds:

　　Black exterior trim (grille, vents, door handles, door mirrors, exhaust tips) Sport exhaust system Bentley Dynamic Ride (active anti-roll system for smoother, sharper handling)Continental GT Speed

　　The GT Speed comes with the roaring W12 engine and additional performance upgrades, including:

　　22-inch alloy wheels Pirelli high-performance tires Performance-tuned adaptive suspension Electronic limited-slip differential All-wheel steeringContinental GT Mulliner

　　The Mulliner blends the top features from the other trims and turns up the luxury with:

　　22-inch Mulliner-spec alloy wheels Handcrafted, fully customizable interior materials Quilted leather upholstery Exclusive Mulliner exterior detailsSeveral option packages are available, including:

　　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 assistance (steers the Continental GT back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker) Night vision Front Seat Comfort Specification Ventilated front seats with massage function Adjustable bolsters and cushions Neck warmer for convertible models Leather Specification Replaces synthetic suede with genuine leather (seats, door panels, steering wheel) In addition to broad choices of color, wheels, upholstery and trim choices, stand-alone options include:

　　Panoramic glass roof Carbon-ceramic brakes Bentley Dynamic Ride (base trim) Heated windshield Diamond-knurled switchgear Wind blocker and neck warmer for convertible models 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system 18-speaker Naim premium audio system

　　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