2009 Bentley Continental GT Speed Review
October 29, 2008 by Anthony Crawford
How this car does what it does is beyond my modest comprehension, although I suspect it’s a result of several factors including some divine intervention.
Along with wider wheels and specialist rubber, the GT Speed is armed with some vital mechanical and electronic modifications.
For a start, the car’s ride height has been lowered by 10mm up front and 15mm at the rear, which works in concert with up-rated spring and damper settings. Both anti-roll bars have also been up-rated, for reduced body roll.
Steering response is sports car sharp and beautifully weighted from dead centre, thanks to a retune of the speed-sensitive Servotronic system and stiffer rear bushings.
At high speed though, particularly through fast twisty sections, I would suggest the call should be for even less assistance.
Now I know what you’re thinking, with all these harder edged improvements, the GT Speed might be a sportier drive but ride quality must be compromised.
Not really, for while the 20-inch low profile Pirelli’s certainly communicate more with the driver, you won’t ever feel any crash or thump through the cabin in the Speed despite some very average road surfaces on which we drove the car.
Stopping a 2350kg Bentley Continental GT Speed at full throttle requires specialist brake components and our Speed was fitted with the Holy Grail in that department.
Standard fitment on the Continental GT cars, are enormous 405mm ventilated discs up front with 335mm down the back. To give you some idea of how large these are, the Bugatti Veyron employs 407mm rotors up front!
However, when you are dealing in the over $420,000 league, standard is never enough, and optional carbon ceramics are all but mandatory, despite the $30,000 price tag. As always, you get what you pay for, try 420mm x 40mm cross-drilled front discs and 356mm on the rear with eight-piston callipers!
Do they work? Let me put it this way, Airbus industries should have employed them on their A380 superliner; such is the intensity of the stopping power once the massive rotors heat up. Brake fade, what’s that?
For the record, Bentley says the rotors should last the life of the car and the brake pads double that of the standard stoppers. They’re not just fade resistant but fade proof is the proper assessment.
I love this car but I have to say that if I was getting one, I would get the standard one because I have driven the speed and its hardly convincing as a super car and the standard is already a fantastic GT. I do love those wheels though…
Awesome review! Much better than Rolls any day!
Awesome car, but for $400k+ that gear lever surrounding look so cheap just like your $20k VW.
Now lets not go crazy Zahmad, It’s a fantastic car but have you driven the Rolls Royce coupe? Or Phantom? Or DHC? Im afraid Bentley havn’t quite gotten to Rolls Royce standards yet.
gorgeous interior. Fantastic pictures guys!
Not bad I guess. Would I have one? No cos nearly every premiership footballer has one. Its a bit Chavs-ville here i’m afraid. Sorry Bentley!!
TC ! Are there any 20k VW? I have never seen one
makes me salivate….they seem a lot smaller in the flesh than they look in the pics, but I’ve never driven in one. I suppose that if you can afford one, you could also afford to hire someone to clean the brake dust out of those gorgeous wheels
Hmmm, this or the Aston Martin DBS?
I’m leaning towards the Aston
Very nice pics.
Bentley Continental has more gadgets but still luxurious, but Rolls Royce like to keep it simple and luxurious. So it’s up to you to decide what makes you smile more.
Personally, I would go for the Rolls Drop Head. By the time I can afford one, I’ll be too old for all the buttons and settings to worry about.
4 valves per cylinder and overhead camshafts in 1926. The Chevrolet/Holden V8 can’t manage that 82 years later.
beautiful…
i think that’s all i need to say? haha.
GTC Speed for me please!
i’d still take on of these though, really stunning.
i think this, and the DB9 have to me in my top3.
Beautiful vehicle… beautiful interior…
But for that price I would want close to perfection – unfortunately there are a few cheap touches.
Nice review, took a while to read but worth it in the end. So, who’s the lucky bloke who got to drive it? I’m envious!
How much would a DB9 set you back?
I’d still prefer one of those to this, but its definitely an astonishing car. I just can’t imagine how it can be nimble to drive with that much weight.
Pure decadence. I love the front 3/4 view. I guess if you can afford one of these its purely a question of personal preference. Why not have an Aston and a Bentley?!
Story and photographs really captured the glory of this car. Well done!
As a parent of a toddler, I would be concerned about whether the rear will accommodate a baby capsule and the impact of food and other toddler ’stuff’ on the leather.
I was just wondering if this car available in Brisbane, Queensland? I have been looking in Bentley Brisbane, but there is no information about the car
you could always have a look at http://www.bentleymotors.com for information. The dealer in Brisbane would definately have information and cars to look at.