After greater than 20 years of manufacturing its progressive W12, Bentley has retired the engine because the world strikes in the direction of hybrids and full EVs. In fact, the British model nonetheless wants high-performance flagship trims in its lineup, so enter the brand new Continental GT Velocity. Described as an “Extremely Efficiency Hybrid” by Bentley, the up to date Velocity has a plug-in-hybrid V8 setup that makes it essentially the most highly effective series-production Bentley of all time. Bentley is looking this the “fourth-generation” Continental GT Velocity — it’s not, that’s foolish. That is very clearly only a main refresh of the present mannequin, however that doesn’t take away from what an enormous deal the automotive is.
By itself, the Velocity’s twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 produces 592 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque, will increase of fifty hp and 22 lb-ft over the V8 discovered within the V8 S mannequin however 58 hp and 74 lb-ft shy of the outdated Velocity’s W12. Augmenting the V8 and making up for the less cylinders is an electrical motor mounted within the 8-speed dual-clutch transmission’s housing, which makes 187 hp and 332 lb-ft. Complete system output is a mega 771 horsepower and 738 lb-ft, making the brand new Continental GT Velocity a bit extra highly effective than the limited-run Batur. The 0-to-60-mph run takes simply 3.1 seconds, four-tenths faster than the outdated Velocity, and the highest velocity is 208 mph, the identical because the W12. (The convertible GTC Velocity is two-tenths slower to 60, and its prime velocity is a mere 177 mph.)
The electrical motor offers torque-fill at low speeds and through gear shifts, and since it negates turbo lag Bentley was capable of match the engine with single-scroll turbochargers as a substitute of the outdated V8’s dual-scroll ones, which might run hotter for fewer emissions. The one-scroll turbos are additionally much less advanced, and the engine doesn’t want cylinder deactivation {hardware} because the engine will be completely switched off when the automotive is being powered by the electrical motor. Bentley says “a major quantity of growth” went into ensuring the exhaust sounds good with out utilizing synthetic enhancement, too.
Mounted behind the rear axle is the 25.9-kWh battery pack; Bentley says its location helps give the automotive a near-perfect 49:51 weight distribution, versus 55:45 within the outgoing automobiles. Bentley claims an EV-only vary of fifty miles on the European cycle, which ought to translate to round 40 miles on the EPA cycle. High velocity in electrical mode is 87 mph, although for those who go above 75 p.c throttle utility, the engine will kick in. Along with the EV mode, the Velocity has a mode that may cost the battery utilizing the engine, and the automotive has regenerative braking, as properly. With 11 kW of charging functionality, the battery will be absolutely recharged in below three hours.
New for the Velocity are dual-valve dampers with dual-chamber air springs, which Bentley says has a bigger pressure unfold between agency and gentle, and the damper’s management ECU has “full management” over unbiased compression and rebound damping. Different normal efficiency options embody Bentley’s Dynamic Experience energetic anti-roll system, digital limited-slip rear differential, rear-wheel steering, torque vectoring for each axles and new stability management software program. In Dynamic mode, the soundness management permits for extra rear-end slip, and it may be fully turned off. Ventilated iron brakes are normal however bigger carbon-ceramic discs are non-obligatory; each have 10-piston entrance calipers and 4-piston rears.
The brand new Continental GT is the primary “mainstream” Bentley for the reason that Nineteen Fifties to have single headlights, which is fairly wild, and I believe the automotive’s up to date face appears actually good. Its oval headlights function an LED slash by them that types an eyebrow-like form, and the crystal-cut internals with 120 separate LEDs are as intricate as we’ve come to count on from Bentley. The grille mesh is a little more advanced, the entrance bumper intakes are extra sculptural, and there are not any extra vents forward of the doorways on the entrance fender.
On the rear, the redesigned, wider taillights have a extra pinched oval form and protrude out from the trunk, with a “molten lava” visible impact from a brand new 3D diamond sample. The trunk lid has an extra crease, and there’s no extra energetic rear spoiler, with “an built-in aerodynamic kind” offering sufficient downforce. The rear bumper is new, as properly, with trapezoidal exhaust ideas and a body-color diffuser. Different adjustments embody new 22-inch wheel designs and new paint colours.
Inside adjustments are more durable to identify, which is okay from a styling standpoint, because the Continental’s cabin stays one of many prettiest in the marketplace. There’s a brand new “precision quilt” sample with fading perforations, out there darkish chrome trim and Wellness seats with Postural Modify and automated local weather features. The ambient lighting now has 30 selectable colours, and the Rotating Show remains to be out there, thank god. Three sound techniques are supplied, together with the exceptional 18-speaker Naim setup that has energetic bass transducers constructed into the seats, and there’s new laminated acoustic glass that reduces noise by 9 decibels.
The GT Velocity’s superior hybrid powertrain was made doable by switching to a 400-volt electrical structure, which additionally allowed for a significant expertise improve, together with an overhauled infotainment system. Simpler-to-use menus are paired with nicer graphics, each within the central touchscreen and the digital gauge cluster. Wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are actually out there, and there’s a brand new My Bentley App Studio that may have various third-party apps for media streaming, gaming, parking and charging. Automated parking help is obtainable for the primary time, with the automotive capable of remotely park itself or be summoned by the driving force’s cellphone, and inexperienced visitors gentle prediction can be new. The local weather management has distant cabin pre-conditioning, new air ionizers and a particulate matter filter, and it makes use of navigation knowledge to mechanically enhance cabin air high quality.
Bentley has but to say how a lot the brand new Continental GT Velocity will value, however don’t be stunned if it prices much more than the W12 Velocity’s $300,000-ish base value when the PHEV mannequin goes on sale within the third quarter of this yr. It’ll be adopted by a facelift for the remainder of the Continental GT lineup, and its four-door Flying Spur sibling ought to obtain the identical PHEV Velocity setup briefly order.
