The Bentley Continental GT is a two-door, four-seat grand tourer launched in 2003. It was the first all-new Bentley developed under Volkswagen ownership, and it transformed the company: a Bentley that combined hand-finished luxury with a twin-turbocharged W12, all-wheel drive and a top speed approaching 200 mph, at a price below the old Crewe-built models. It sold in numbers Bentley had never seen, and four generations later it remains the brand’s defining car.

Continental GT at a glance
Introduced 2003 (revealed at the 2002 Paris Motor Show)
Generations Four (2003, 2011, 2018, 2024)
Engines 6.0L twin-turbo W12; 4.0L twin-turbo V8; plug-in hybrid V8 (from 2024)
Drive All-wheel drive
Built Crewe, England
Convertible Continental GTC

The name

“Continental” connects the car to the 1952 R-Type Continental, a fast, elegant coupé that was one of the great grand tourers of its era — see the R-Type Continental. “GT” stands for gran turismo: a car for crossing continents quickly and in comfort.

First generation (2003–2011)

Built on engineering shared with the Volkswagen Phaeton, the first Continental GT used a 6.0-litre twin-turbo W12 — essentially two narrow-angle V6s joined on one crankshaft. It was fast, secure in all weather thanks to all-wheel drive, and far more modern than the previous Bentleys. Its success allowed Bentley to expand its Crewe factory and workforce.

Second generation (2011–2018)

The second generation sharpened the design and interior, and in 2012 added a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, which was lighter and more efficient — many testers preferred its balance.

Third generation (2018–2024)

The third Continental GT moved to a platform shared with the Porsche Panamera, giving a lower nose, better weight distribution and more agile handling. Inside, a rotating dashboard panel could show a touchscreen, three analog dials or plain wood veneer — a very Bentley solution to screen fatigue.

Fourth generation (2024–today)

The fourth generation retired the W12 and introduced an “Ultra Performance Hybrid” powertrain combining a twin-turbo V8 with an electric motor, making the Continental GT Speed the most powerful road Bentley yet, with a meaningful electric-only range for city driving. Bentley ended W12 production in 2024 after more than two decades.

Why it mattered

Before the Continental GT, Bentley sold relatively few cars a year, mostly derivatives of Rolls-Royce designs. The GT gave Bentley its own identity again — performance plus luxury — and paved the way for the Flying Spur sedan and the Bentayga SUV. Read the history of Bentley and Rolls-Royce vs Bentley.