2025 Bentley Continental GT Speed Drops W12 for Hybrid Power
A fourth generation of the Bentley Continental GT is making its debut this week, and the biggest news is that the base V8 and optional W12 engines are both gone.
Instead, the car features a plug-in hybrid system combining a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 with an electric motor for a total output of 771 horsepower—an increase of 121 horsepower from the outgoing Continental GT Speed—making it the most powerful road-going Bentley ever. Backed by 738 lb-ft of torque, 0-100 km/h sprints can be achieved in as little as 3.2 seconds.
- Also: Bentley’s New Hybrid V8 Packs More Punch Than Outgoing W12
- Also: Bentley to End W12 Engine Production
Feeding the motor is a 25.9kWh battery that adds considerable weight to the coupe, which now tips the scales at 2,459 kg (5,421 lbs). The Continental GTC convertible is some 177 kg (390 lbs) heavier.
Bentley claims a zero-emission range of up to 81 km, but that’s based on the slightly optimistic WLTP test cycle. Even a more realistic figure would represent an improvement over the 34 km enabled by the Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid. Charging the battery takes nearly three hours using a 240V power source.
Evolutionary Design
The 2025 Continental GT Speed is marginally longer and its wheelbase has not changed. According to the automaker, the car uses 68 percent new components versus the previous generation, though the evolution is not a radical one in terms of design.
There’s one exception, mind you. Not since the S2 of 1959 has a mainstream, non-coachbuilt Bentley had single headlamps. The new units feature a horizontal ‘eyebrow,’ a deep crystal cut diamond effect to the top of the lamps and an illuminated lower pattern. The matrix LED lamps contain 120 separate LEDs that are digitally controlled.
The interior will feel very familiar to existing Continental GT owners. The redesigned digital instruments are one of the main highlights. Once again, the car offers the innovative Bentley Rotating Display—the three-sided panel featuring a 12.3-inch touchscreen, three elegant analogue dials, and an unbroken side of handcrafted veneer. The three sides are selectable at the touch of a button.
A new Dark Chrome Specification provides a more contemporary aesthetic and gives a more understated character to the cabin. A choice of three audio systems is offered, topped by a 2,200W, 18-speaker Naim system for the true audiophiles. Customization options, as always, are virtually endless.
Production of the 2025 Bentley Continental GT Speed in coupe and cabriolet body styles will begin this summer.