ortourist.com: Frankfurt preview: second-gen Bentley Continental GTC

Thứ Năm, 25 tháng 8, 2011

Frankfurt preview: second-gen Bentley Continental GTC

Bentley’s Continental GTC convertible goes into its second-generation form next month, when the car makes its debut in Frankfurt. The drop-top, which replaces the current model that was introduced in 2006, will feature cues from its GT coupe sibling launched last year.

If the original Continental GTC was elegant and understated, then this one is beefier and has a more assertive presence. It also offers a more dynamic driving experience, with a wider track front and rear, sharper steering and retuned suspension helping to improve things on that front.

The all-wheel drive system features a new 40:60 rear torque bias (compared with 50:50 of the original GTC), minimising understeer during hard cornering and allowing the spirited driver to manage the car’s line and balance via precise throttle control.

At the heart of it is the 6.0 litre, twin-turbocharged W12, with a ZF 6HP28 transmission replete with QuickShift in tow. Power output has been raised from 552 hp to 567 hp and the famed Bentley ‘wave of torque’ has been increased by a further 50 Nm to 700 Nm. Performance specs include a 0-100 kph time of 4.8 seconds and a 314 kph top speed.

The new GTC’s cabin features additional rear legroom, new storage solutions and current faves such as touch-screen infotainment, automatic seat-belt presenters, Naim for Bentley premium audio and a Bentley-designed Neck Warmer for comfortable roof-down motoring.

Luxury continues to be the buzzword here, and the four-seater gets a new, even more spacious and sumptuous hand-crafted cabin, with soft-touch leather hides, an extensive range of wood veneers, cool-touch metals and deep-pile carpets. In all, 17 standard soft-touch leather hide colour choices are to be had, with six colour split combinations, complemented by a range of seven veneers, all done in house.

Twenty-inch ‘Five Spoke’ alloy wheels, wearing Pirelli P Zero 275/40 donuts, come as standard, with optional 21” wheels in three styles (‘Five Spoke Two-Piece’, ‘Seven Spoke Elegant’ and ‘Ten Spoke Propeller’) available, a first for the GTC. Going the latter route gets the 275/35 P Zero rubbers.