Bentley announces specs and images for new Continental GTC
New Bentley Continental Grand Tourer Convertible
By Bob Hume, 24th August 2011
Bentley has just released images and specifications of the second generation of its Continental GTC convertible, which is set to be unveiled at next month‘s International Automobile Exhibition in Frankfurt.
The GT coupe was launched last year and looked very similar to the previous model; as does the forthcoming GTC. Bentley describes the new soft-top as "building on the highly successful foundation of the previous cabriolet, which premiered in 2006" rather that "looking almost exactly like it".
New Bentley Continental GTC
It cannot be denied; the outgoing car possesses the sort of aesthetics that most other luxury car manufacturers would kill for and a complete departure would just be daft
The changes include a subtly more muscular shape, with new manufacturing techniques allowing aluminium front wings without the need for seams or welds. Twenty-inch wheels are now standard with three styles of 21-inch wheel available as an option.
2011 Bentley Continental GTC
The four-seater convertible has a new hand-made cabin, with soft-touch leather hides, an extensive range of wood veneers, metals and deep-pile carpets. The fabric hood now has acoustic glass and under-body panels to reduce noise.
There's a wider track, front and rear, retuned suspension and an all-wheel drive system with a 40:60 rear torque bias (compared with 50:50 of the original GTC), which should help to minimise understeer.
A more powerful 6.0-litre, twin-turbocharged W12 engine is twinned to a new QuickShift transmission enabling faster gear changes. Power output is raised from 560PS to 575PS and torque has been increased by 50Nm to 700Nm (516lb ft).
New Bentley Continental GTC Convertible
Wolfgang Dürheimer, CEO of Bentley Motors said:“The GTC has always been the most emotional model in the Continental range and a showcase for Bentley design. With its tailored soft top, the GTC is a pure British convertible true to those classic Bentleys of the past. However, the technology, performance and overall design excellence invested in this model means that we are now writing a new chapter for the Bentley convertible driver.”
First deliveries will be in late 2011 and pricing starts at £149,350.
