Qualities of a True Grand Tourer

How far and how fast can it go?

In the early days of automobiles, when their practicality was still uncertain, numerous attempts were made to ascertain durability at high speeds. Bentley was one of the brands particularly active in such challenges. The most famous are the exploits of the Bentley Boys, who won the 24 Hours of Le Mans five times between 1924 and 1930. Next best known is the "Blue Train Race," where a Bentley competed against and beat an express train from Cannes, France, to London, England (the train's final destination was Calais in France, but the Bentley arrived in London before the train reached it).

In both instances, Bentley maintained speeds unimaginable to the public at the time and covered incredible distances. Through accumulating such traditions, Bentley honed its qualities as a "true grand tourer."



The "Continental" model name, used in current Bentleys, meaning "continental," also strongly reflects the brand's grand touring character.

For example, the Continental GT was designed to cover over a thousand kilometers from London to the French Riviera in one go, with the driver feeling hardly any fatigue – the opposite of the old Blue Train Race. This was the performance the Continental GT aimed for.

Birth of the World's Fastest 4-Seater Convertible

The newest addition to the Continental series is the "Continental GT Speed Convertible."



Previously, the open-top version of the "Continental GT" was called the "Continental GTC." Bentley plans to transition these to "Continental GT Convertible" sequentially. Therefore, the "Continental GT Speed Convertible" is the first in this new naming convention.

1,000 km in the West

The international test drive event for the "Continental GT Speed Convertible," set against the backdrop of the American West, unexpectedly involved covering long distances.

The first day's journey covered approximately 500 km, starting from Scottsdale near Phoenix, Arizona, and following Interstates 87, 17, and 89 to our lodging at the Grand Canyon.

The second day involved heading west on Interstate 40, then tracing the legendary Route 66, famous from TV dramas and novels, before proceeding on Interstate 93 via the Hoover Dam to Las Vegas. This route was also about 500 km. While not comparable to the Blue Train Race, which covered nearly 1,500 km of track in a single day and night, this is an unusually long route for a recent test drive event.

Another noteworthy point is the choice of America as the venue for the test drive.

Don't Forget the Wind Deflector

On the first day of the test drive, the sun shone brightly over Scottsdale. My travel companion, Paul from Australia, and I, without hesitation, opened the roof and began the 1,000 km journey.

The speed limit on the local roads before entering the freeway was 65 mph (approx. 104 km/h). However, even with the four side windows raised, the wind constantly swirled inside the cabin.

"This might be tough for 1,000 km with the top down," I thought, when a photographer pointed out that the wind deflector had fallen.

Convincing Even for Convertible Skeptics

As expected, the road surface was broken in places, with few smooth stretches. Driving over these with the solid suspension inherited from the Continental GT Speed, I anticipated that the lack of body rigidity would quickly become apparent. To my surprise, the body felt remarkably solid.

Occasionally, a faint vibration could be felt through the steering column, but apart from that, there were no discernible drawbacks from the open-top design. The level of floor vibration and scuttle shake was virtually non-existent. Even "anti-open" proponents who shun convertibles due to perceived low body rigidity would likely be convinced by this.



However, as I switched between the four settings of the air suspension – ranging from Comfort to Sport – I noticed that the firmest Sport setting was not as stiff as that of the coupe version of the Continental GT Speed.

The fourth setting here felt roughly equivalent to the third setting on the coupe. When I asked Bentley engineers about this, they explained, "The torsional rigidity of the convertible is about 10 percent lower than the coupe, so we've made the air suspension settings slightly softer to compensate."

That said, the coupe's fourth setting is for extreme driving and not meant for regular use. Therefore, the Continental GT Speed Convertible, effectively having only three settings, should pose no inconvenience. In fact, considering how a convertible is typically used, this setup might be more logical.

Tracing Earth's Memory

In any case, the suspension of the Continental GT Speed Convertible offers a considerably more solid feel than the previous GTC, providing a taut ride even at high speeds.

The handling is well-matched, offering a planted and stable feel. The engineers' focus on high-speed cruising is palpable.

While contemplating these points, we arrived at the Grand Canyon.

I had read in books that the Colorado River's flow, over tens of millions of years, had carved the earth to create this intricate canyon. But seeing it in person, the sheer scale was overwhelming, reminding me of how small humans are and how fleeting our lives are. It truly felt like Earth's memory etched into the land. It is undoubtedly worth a visit.

Route 66

The next day was also clear, but at an altitude of nearly 2,000 meters, it was quite cold. Nevertheless, with the heater and seat heaters, it was sufficiently warm. On the second day too, Paul and I continued driving with the top down.

After about an hour on Interstate 40, we reached a town called Williams. From here, we would drive on the legendary Route 66.



The straight, endless roads often seen in old American movies. Driving on Route 66, we encountered exactly that scenery. It stretched straight ahead, no matter how far we drove. And there was no one else around. Time seemed to stretch on endlessly.

Bentley's test drives are quite relaxed, allowing participants to drive at their own pace. This often resulted in scenes where our Continental GT Speed Convertible was the only car on the vast landscape. Driving alone on such a road in the dead of night might have been unnerving, but the robust exhaust note of the 6.0-liter W12 twin-turbo during acceleration dispelled any such anxieties.

Like its coupe counterpart, the convertible version of the Continental GT Speed produces a rather spirited sound when the throttle is pressed. However, at cruising speeds, the wind noise is more dominant, and the exhaust note is barely audible. This allowed for a comfortable cruising experience.

325 km/h is No Empty Claim

On a stretch of road with excellent visibility, Paul confirmed that there were no other cars around and occasionally floored the accelerator pedal.

The acceleration G-force, which pressed us deep into the seats, seemed to last forever. The speedometer climbed rapidly, yet Paul showed no sign of easing off the throttle. In mere seconds, we reached an almost surreal speed. This exhilarating acceleration, bordering on a thrilling fear, is something not experienced in the standard Continental models. The 625 ps output and 325 km/h top speed are truly impressive.

Arrival in Las Vegas

And I feel a deep satisfaction in having completed such a long journey in the Continental GT Speed Convertible. Its true value is only revealed through extensive driving.

In that sense, the Continental GT Speed Convertible is a true grand tourer, and a true Bentley.

Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible
Body Dimensions｜Overall Length 4,806 x Width 1,943 x Height 1,393 mm (Width excludes mirrors; with mirrors extended, total width is 2,227 mm)
Wheelbase｜2,746 mm
Tread Front/Rear｜1,667 / 1,663 mm
Trunk Capacity (VDA)｜260 Liters
Weight｜2,495 kg
Engine｜5,998cc W12 Twin-Turbo
Maximum Output｜460 kW (625 ps) / 6,000 rpm
Maximum Torque｜800 Nm / 1,700 rpm
Transmission｜8-speed Automatic
Drivetrain｜4WD
Tires｜275/35ZR21
0-100 km/h Acceleration｜4.4 seconds
Fuel Consumption (EU DRIVE CYCLE combined)｜14.9 L/100km
CO2 Emissions｜346 g/km