If you have already seen the new Bentley Continental, then you probably have a pretty good idea of what the GTC convertible looks like. The car made its world debut at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show and compared to the previous generation it features a sharper design, a more aggressive front grille and new LED daytime running lights which are just as impressive as the coupe’s.
As standard, the new Bentley Continental GTC will come with larger 20-inch wheels (21-inch being also available as an option), an increased wheelbase (by 40 mm), an upgraded suspension system and steering, making the luxury convertible more dynamic than its predecessor. But that’s not all, because Bentley wanted its new car to be more sporty and it also lost about 70 kg (154 pounds), so we can expect the new GTC to be more attractive and aggressive at the same time. The all-wheel-drive system has also been improved and it now sends 60 percent of torque to the rear axle and only 40 percent to the front one. The company’s engineers decided to work on this upgrade after many customers and journalists complained about the under steering on the previous generation, which had a 50/50 ratio.
Under the bonnet, the 6.0-liter W12 engine has also been upgraded, power output being increased to 575 hp and the peak torque is now 700 Nm. With the help of a new six-speed automatic transmission called QuickShift (changes the gears in less than 200 milliseconds and allows down shifting by two gears), the new Bentley Continental GTC accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 4.8 seconds, from 0 to 160 km/h (100 mph) in 10.9 seconds and is able to reach a top speed of 314 km/h (195 mph).
On the interior, there are no significant changed compared to the coupe version, so the Bentley Continental GTC features narrower front seats, in order to increase the space for rear passengers and a new infotainment system with a brand new touchscreen display among a huge list of options. According to the Bentley press release, the car’s soft top has received a major upgrade compared to the previous generation, the company’s engineers and designers working a lot on better soundproofing the interior, the British carmaker claiming that drivers won’t feel the difference between the coupe and the convertible.
As for the price tag, as you’re probably expecting, it’s not a cheap car. According to Bentley, the starting price for the Continental GTC will be around 170,000 Euros ($230,000), without taxes.