The perfect addition

With the newly launched Continental GTC, the Bentley completes the Continental family. Anne Kurian gets behind the ‘dream on wheels’ to get a firsthand experience

Thirty minutes in a Bentley will not do justice to the iconic brand itself. But when you are the only one given an opportunity to test-drive the spanking new addition to the Bentley fleet, you don’t think twice. We are talking about the newly launched Bentley Continental GTC, a luxurious and sporty showstopping convertible. The Continental GTC was launched in Oman last month and OER was the only publication that got a chance to take the Continental GTC for a spin. Even if it was for a very short period.

The Continental GTC has been garnering much attention in the countries it has been launched. And how would it not? The other models from the Bentley family, Continental GT and the Continental Flying Spur, have been tremendously successful with a serious fan following. The Continental GTC only adds to the success of Bentley going by the sales reports in the United States and European markets. In fact, the Continental GTC is one of the most preferred cars among the sport stars in the US of A.

The Continental GTC has a top speed of 195 miles per hour complemented by an all-wheel drive system and a 12-cylinder engine, which translates into ultimate driving experience. While the other models of Bentley are about superior and luxurious motoring, the Continental GTC is infused with a spirit of sporty and youthful driving without compromising on exclusivity. In the few minutes we got to drive the Continental GTC we experienced the convertible’s exhilarating performance and commendable road handling.

Styling and Engineering
The Bentley is a car that is associated with luxury and dynamic performance, among other qualities. But even before you experience a Bentley what captivates you is the excellent craftsmanship involved in the making of the car. To start with, the fascia’s symmetrical design runs along the body moving right into the cabin making the Continental GTC a vision of beauty. Adding to the visual effect of the car is the brilliantly craftsmanship inside the car. The interior of the convertible is covered in luxurious leather with fine wood veneers and accentuated with polished metal trimmings. The front seats of the Continental GTC have a new design, which provides more leg space for rear seat passengers.

Bentley is considered to be an embodiment of exceptional engineering in the automotive world, a distinction very few brands have. Right from shifting the physics of heavy body composition of the car to creating automobiles that not just felt as swift but also light as wind, Bentley engineers have go on to challenge themselves and produce automotive beauties that seem better than their best models each time. In the Continental GTC, there are many examples of this remarkable engineering. One aspect of the Bentley detailing that impressed us was the fabric roof that remained absolutely rigid and not bow or teeter when activated. Usually fabric roofs in many convertible models have a tendency to droop or bob when pulled up. You obviously cannot even visualise a Bentley with such a flaw. The roof folds elegantly into the stowage area in only 25 seconds, another Bentley engineering feat. Incidentally, the Bentley looks good with the roof up as well as down.

The Continental GTC is perceived as an intelligent car as it has the ability to adapt and perform according to the settings made by the owner. Getting into the settings could endanger the space for this write-up as the Bentley has been engineered to store 150 settings right from seat adjustment to steering wheel to bluetooth compatibility to speed control and much more. In short, like one of the Bentley managers said, there’s something to discover during every drive you make in the Continental GTC.

On the Road
There was no need for the key to start the Continental GTC as it works on the technology of using a START/STOP button, a feature in the other models of the family. As you push the START button the inimitable roar of the engine coming to life is exciting and only intensifies your desire to step on the gas! With just 20 minutes to go before giving back the Continental GTC, we decided not to waste time and hit the favourite track of car enthusiasts — the Qantab and Barr Al Jissah stretch. As the convertible moved along it was hard not to notice the smoothness and agility with which it glided. Even on gaining high speed the automotive provided an effortless driving experience.

With convertibles a challenge that many models face is in the performance when the roof is down and travelling at top speeds. The Bentley did not seem to be affected by this as it cruised along smoothly. The Continental GTC has a specially sculpted rear bumper and bootlid edge like the rest of its family members, which provides downforce and stability at high speeds. The advanced six-speed automatic gearbox with manual change mode combined the super luxury car feel with the driving experience of a sportscar. Speed and stability took on a new dimension in the Continental GTC as we shifted between automatic and manual mode. During the very short drive that we had the Continental GTC proved that it not only looks good but also performs equally well. The solid body of the car had instilled a feeling of reliability and it was tough not to test it at the roundabout. The convertible handled speedy turnings commendably without much screeching of tires.

We didn’t want to the drive to end (we had barely tested out any of its features) but the test drive model had to go back home – Dubai – the same morning and we headed back to starting point with the hope that we will be able to do justice to the Bentley scion.

In the short span of time we had the Continental GTC, the convertible proved itself as the young, elegant, sporty and lively member of the Bentley Continental family. In countries where it has been launched, the convertible has gained immense popularity for its precision engineering, super-model like looks and fast track performance. It shouldn’t take much time for the Continental GTC to acquire fans in Oman as well.
If you have to ask how much the car costs, you probably can’t afford it... it is priced at RO90,000!

Specifications of Bentley Continental GTC
Length: 4804 (mm)
Height: 1398 (mm)
Width: (across mirrors) 2102 mm
Weight: 2495kg (mm)
Wheel base: 2745 (mm)
Seating Capacity: 2+2 persons
Transmission: ZF 6-speed automatic with ‘manual’ paddleshift feature
Engine type: Twin-turbocharged 6-litre W12
Power: 552bhp.560PS/411kW @6100rev/min
Torque: 650Nm/479lb ft @ 1600 rev/min
Top speed: Roof up- 195mph;
Roof down 190 mph
0-60mph (0-100km/h): 4.8 sec (5.1 sec)

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