Following hot on the heels of the Continental GT Speed, Bentley has now introduced its open-top sibling, aptly named the Continental GT Speed Convertible. Described as “the most driver-focused convertible of the Continental GT range”, the new model boasts all the bells and whistles of its fixed-roof sibling while allowing more wind and sun into the cockpit.
Sitting at the top of the new Continental
family, together with the Coupe, the 2021 Continental GT Speed Convertible has
a so-called ‘Z-fold’ roof that reduces road noise compared to its predecessor.
Bentley claims that the insulating materials make it as quiet as the
previous-gen Continental GT Coupe. The roof can be stowed or deployed in 19
seconds at up to 50 km/h, and can be ordered in one of seven colors,
including tweed.
In typical Bentley fashion, exterior
upgrades are fairly discrete and include ‘Speed’ badges on the front fenders,
darkened upper and lower front grilles, redesigned sills, and bespoke 22-inch
wheels in silver or black.
Decorating the cabin are Alcantara and
Hide in 15 main and 11 secondary colors, diamond quilting, ‘Speed’ embroidered
headrests, Piano Black veneer, sports pedals, exclusive treadplate plaques,
Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel, eight interior headliner finishes and new
‘Dark Tint Engine Turned Aluminum’ optional look for the center console.
Optimizing comfort on the move are the neck warmer, heated steering wheel,
armrests and seats.
The twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter W12
engine, hand-built at Bentley’s headquarters in Crewe, delivers 650 HP and 900 Nm of torque. From 0-96 km/h,
the new Continental GT Speed Convertible needs 3.6 seconds, 0.1 seconds slower
than the Coupe, and it will keep going up to an identical top speed of 335 km/h.
Both the engine and the eight-speed
dual-clutch automatic transmission were recalibrated to suit the extra oomph.
The car also features adaptive dampers, 48V active anti-roll control system,
electronic rear differential, active all-wheel drive, all-wheel steering and
optional carbon ceramic brakes.
