Geneva 2015: Refreshed Bentley Continental GT Bows

Cameron Aubernon
by Cameron Aubernon

Coming off a successful trip to Bathurst, the refreshed Bentley Continental GT brought its family to the 2015 Geneva Auto Show.

Improvements to the GT W12, GT Speed and GT V8 S include revised front and rear bumpers, a new rear diffuser for the higher performance models, 20- and 21-inch wheels for the GT V8, and three shades of paint, two blue and one gold.

The revisions continue with the power itself, where the 6-liter W12 jumps to 582 horsepower and 531 lb-ft, from 567 horses and 516 lb-ft of torque. The W12 also uses variable displacement to improve fuel economy by shutting down half of its cylinders.

Inside, the driver’s instrument display gains a more contemporary look, while the V8 and V8 S coupes gain a hidden storage compartment that can store and charge electronic devices.







Cameron Aubernon
Cameron Aubernon

Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.

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  • RHD RHD on Mar 03, 2015

    That's a beautiful but very pricey Mustang!

  • VenomV12 VenomV12 on Mar 03, 2015

    Do they need a new model, technically yes, but in reality not really. They still sell bucketloads of them and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Go to anywhere like NYC, Chicago, Miami or LA and you can't throw a rock without hitting a Continental GT, they are like Camrys. They are basically the coupe version of a G-Wagen. One of my neighbors just got a black V8 one a couple of weeks ago, it doesn't look much different than the original, but it still looks great and powerful. Another coupe I can think of that can kind of go on forever is the Maserati Gran Turismo, I have yet to get tired of looking at that car. All they really need to do is periodically update the tech on this car and they will be fine. The new Mercedes S-Class coupes are probably better, but at the end of the day they share a name with the B-Classes and CLAs of the world and Bentley is still Bentley. What Bentley really needs to do is to get the Flying Spur's looks up to the Continental GT's levels and the interior tech and amenities on par with the S-Class and then they could get a huge sales hit with that car, I almost never see them anywhere.

  • FreedMike Not my favorite car design, but that blue color is outstanding.
  • Lorenzo Car racing is dying, and with it my interest. Midget/micro racing was my last interest in car racing, and now sanctioning body bureaucrats are killing it off too. The more organized it is, the less interesting it becomes.
  • Lorenzo Soon, the rental car lots will be filled with Kia's as far as the eye can see!
  • Lorenzo You can't sell an old man's car to a young man, but you CAN sell a young man's car to an old man (pardon the sexism, it's not my quote).Solution: Young man styling, but old man amenities, hidden if necessary, like easier entry/exit (young men gradually turn into old men, and will appreciate them).
  • Wjtinfwb Hmmm. Given that most Ford designs are doing relatively well in the marketplace, if this was forced I'd bet it was over the S650 Mustang. It's not a bad looking car but some angles seem very derivative of other makes, never a good trait for a car as distinctive as Mustang. And if he had anything to do with the abysmal dashboard, that's reason enough. Mustang doesn't need the "Tokyo by Night" dash arrangement of a more boring car. Analog gauges, a screen big enough for GPS, not Netflix and some decent quality plastics is plenty. The current set-up would be enough to dissuade me from considering a new Mustang.
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