Coinciding with the 136th birthday of Walter Owen Bentley, Bentley has announced the completion of its first example of the fourth-generation Continental GT at its Crewe headquarters.

The new model made headlines in recent months, breaking the unofficial ‘Underwater Speed Record’ in Norway before making a debut appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Finished in the same Tourmaline Green spec, the finished production model will now be used as a UK Press Fleet car before joining Bentley’s Heritage Collection, consisting of 45 of the most important cars from the 105 year history of the brand. Customer cars will soon follow, each configured using Bentley’s standard options list which can produce 46 billion different specs.

The Continental GT Speed has had a redesigned exterior and interior, although the real headline maker is its new Ultra Performance Hybrid powertrain. Producing 771bhp and 1,000Nm of torque, the 4.0 litre V8 works in tandem with a 187bhp electric motor to give a 0-60mph time of 3.1 seconds. The car can travel 50 miles as an EV and, in total, has a total range of 534 miles.

Andreas Lehe, Bentley’s Member of the Board for Manufacturing: “The fourth-generation Continental GT is a true masterpiece. The vivid launch colour of Tourmaline Green is a modern interpretation of the notable Bentley Green, designed and painted by our in-house craftspeople. The vehicle completed a staggering 92 assembly stations throughout the production process and we’ve also pushed the boundaries of our interior vehicle design, with three-dimensional leather textures, modern quilting, and dark chrome finishes. Our artisans in Crewe have truly outdone themselves, ensuring every detail exudes luxury.”

words: Mike Booth
pictures: Bentley