With a top speed of 195mph (312km/h), a sophisticated all-wheel drive system, state-of-the-art 12-cylinder engine, advanced air suspension and ultra-stiff body structure, the Continental GTC displays all the poise, exhilarating performance and dynamic handling of the Continental GT. In common with its stable mates, the interior of the new Continental GTC provides an unrivalled standard of craftsmanship, utilising natural wood veneers and leather hides of the finest quality, which are on full display when you lower the elegant, electro-hydraulically operated soft-top roof.

Bentley’s Continental GTC is the convertible version of the automaker’s Continental GT coupe, which debuted in the U.S. with the 2004 model. Powered by the same W-12 engine as the GT, the 2+2 GTC features a power fabric roof that can lower in 25 seconds, plus a glass rear window. Competitors include the Aston Martin DB9 convertible and Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder. It’s Continental GT sibling is covered as a separate model in Cars.com’s Research section.

The GTC’s performance figures are quite impressive: Bentley says the convertible can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds and reach a maximum speed of 195 mph when the roof is up (190 mph when lowered).

Changes for 2008 include a new brake pedal with Bentley’s B logo, standard Sirius Satellite Radio and a new version of Bluetooth that works with more types of cell phones. New options include a rearview camera, three-spoke steering wheel and carbon-ceramic brakes.

Exterior
The GTC looks much like the GT in front of the windshield, but the GTC’s rear deck has a chrome strip around the passenger compartment. The coupe’s pronounced rear fenders have been carried over to the convertible, as have its four round headlamps and its wire-mesh grille. The result is a convertible that would be at home in New York City, where the car made its debut, or the swanky Hamptons nearby.

When lowered, the fabric roof stows beneath a flush-fitting leather tonneau cover. The GTC uses a rear suspension designed with convertible-top storage in mind, and the GTC is 243 pounds heavier than the coupe because of reinforcements added to compensate for the body rigidity lost along with the metal roof.

Interior
The GTC can seat up to four people on front and rear bucket seats, though the rear seats would likely only be comfortable for children. Luxury features include leather seats and wood trim. A number of options, such as a four-spoke wood and leather steering wheel and lamb’s wool rugs, are available from Bentley’s Mulliner organization.

Under the Hood
A 552-horsepower, 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged W-12 that produces 479 pounds-feet of torque at a low 1,600 rpm drives all four of the GTC’s wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission that has a Tiptronic clutchless-manual mode. The convertible has an adjustable air suspension.

Safety
Two popup roll bars behind the rear seats deploy in the event of a rollover. All-disc antilock brakes, a tire pressure monitoring system, traction control and an electronic stability system are standard.

MSRP: $193,990

The Bentley Continental GT is a grand tourer coupé with two doors and a 2+2 seating arrangement released in 2003, replacing the previous Rolls-Royce-based Continental R and T.Contents.

The Continental GT has a 6 L W12 engine with twin turbochargers which develops 552 hp (411 kW) at 6100 RPM and 479 lb-ft (650 N-m) at 1600 RPM and permanent four-wheel drive. Never before had a 12 cylinder engine been employed on a Bentley car. Acceleration from 0-60 mph takes 4.7 seconds (0 to 100 km/h in 4.8 s), the top speed is 198 mph (318 km/h). It has all-wheel drive, the first Bentley to do so, and a six speed automatic transmission with steering wheel mounted gearshift paddles for instant override. The engine and air suspension are manufactured by Bentley, using some components from owner Volkswagen’s flagship cars the Phaeton and the Audi A8.

The Continental GT features the largest brake disc on any production car at 405 mm (16 inches) in front. The rear disc measures 335 mm (13 inches).

Prices start at around $177,000 (A$375,000) before options. The Continental GT has also been popular among celebrities and is sometimes referred to in the popular press as a “Baby Bentley”.

The GT appears in the 2005 remake of The Longest Yard with Adam Sandler, featuring the Bentley in the co-starring role held by the Citroën SM in the 1974 Burt Reynolds original. This time, rather than escaping from the police, the protagonist crashes into them.

In early 2007 a Bentley Continental GT driven by 4 times World rally champion Juha Kankkunen broke the World Speed Record on Ice on the frozen Baltic sea near Oulu, Finland. It averaged 321.6km/h or 199.86MPH in both directions on the “flying kilometer”, reaching a maximum speed of 331km/h or 207MPH. Previously the record was 296km/h held by a Bugatti EB110 Supersport. The Bentley was largely standard except for a roll-cage, some aerodynamic improvements and low-temperature fuel and calibration. Tires were from Nokian with spikes.

The four-door Continental Flying Spur saloon was shown at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show in March. The Flying Spur utilizes the most of the technical basis of the Bentley Continental GT and has been be available in the United States from the summer of 2005. Together they have taken Bentley production from around 1000 units in 2003 to nearly 9000 units in 2006.

One notable aspect of the Continental Flying Spur is its grille. Although it looks like a traditional chromed brass mesh, it is actually made of plastic. This was done to add pedestrian safety to the car — it is designed to break apart on impact to soften the blow.

The Flying Spur is currently the world’s fastest production saloon with a top-speed of 312km/h or 195MPH.

The convertible version of the Continental GT, the Continental GTC, was presented in September 2005, and has been available since the autumn of 2006. With the second generation Azure, it is the second convertible by Bentley presented in 2005. The roof is produced by Karmann in Osnabrück/Germany.