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11:27in productionCh. 1 · A new Bentley/ 11:27 · ceiling 15 min
Road

Bentley Continental GT

Dirk van Braeckel · 2003

The Continental GT didn’t revive Bentley — it replaced it with something bigger, faster, and built to sell.

The 2003 Bentley Continental GT is a grand touring car. It launched after Volkswagen AG acquired Bentley in 1998. It was the first Bentley built using mass production techniques. It uses a 6.0 litre twin-turbocharged W12 engine and Torsen-based permanent four-wheel drive. The coupé has no B-pillar and fixed front quarter glass. Dirk van Braeckel designed it to outsell the Arnage. It sold 5,983 units in 2004 — 62% above forecast.

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Chapters & takeaways4
  1. 0:54
    A new Bentley

    It was Bentley’s first mass-produced model — and its first under Volkswagen ownership.

  2. 2:23
    How it moves and looks

    Its W12 engine, permanent four-wheel drive, and pillarless coupé body defined its mechanical and visual grammar.

  3. 4:44
    Designed for volume

    Van Braeckel designed it to outsell the Arnage — and it did, by 62% in its first year.

  4. 7:06
    A shape that stuck

    The pillarless coupé silhouette and fixed front quarter glass became generation-defining signatures.

Worth your time?

Yes. Drive the whole thing.

4.5/ 5
What works
  • It delivers volume, engineering coherence, and brand clarity where none existed before.
  • It balances presence and proportion: long bonnet, short overhangs, wide track, and an uninterrupted roofline.
  • It proves a luxury GT can scale without abandoning core mechanical and stylistic signatures.
What does not
  • It does not offer rear-seat access via a conventional B-pillar.
  • It does not use naturally aspirated engines or rear-wheel drive in its original specification.
Drive it if
  • It is for buyers who want a four-seat, all-weather grand tourer with W12 urgency and four-wheel drive assurance.
  • It is not for those who prioritise lightweight agility, driver engagement above comfort, or minimalist cabin architecture.
Skip it if
  • It is not for those who prioritise lightweight agility, driver engagement above comfort, or minimalist cabin architecture.
The written brief1 min read

What the car is and where it came from

The Bentley Continental GT is a grand touring car introduced by Bentley Motors in 2003. It was the first new Bentley released after Volkswagen AG’s 1998 acquisition and the first Bentley to use mass production manufacturing techniques.

How it works, in terms someone would actually use

It is a grand touring car with a 6.0 litre twin-turbocharged W12 engine and Torsen-based permanent four-wheel drive. It seats four. The coupé has no B-pillar and fixed front quarter glass.

What it gets right

It gets right the balance of presence and proportion: long bonnet, short overhangs, wide track, and a roofline that flows uninterrupted from A-pillar to boot lid. It establishes grand touring as physically imposing but habitable.

What it does not

It does not offer rear-seat access via a conventional B-pillar. It does not use naturally aspirated engines or rear-wheel drive in its original specification.

What it changed

It changed Bentley from a low-volume, hand-built marque into a mass-production automotive brand under Volkswagen AG. It proved a luxury GT could scale without abandoning core mechanical and stylistic signatures.

Who it is for, and who it is not

It is for buyers who want a four-seat, all-weather grand tourer with W12 urgency and four-wheel drive assurance. It is not for those who prioritise lightweight agility, driver engagement above comfort, or minimalist cabin architecture.

Is it worth your time

Yes. It redefined Bentley’s commercial and design trajectory. It delivered volume, engineering coherence, and brand clarity where none existed before.

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