How W.O. Bentley’s established Bentley Born on September 16th, 1888, in Hampstead, London, Walter Owen Bentley’s journey into engineering began at age 16 as an apprentice on the Great Northern Railway. After a brief stint racing motorcycles in 1909 and 1910, he honed his engineering expertise at King’s College London. He then joined his brother Horace Milner Bentley in the company “Bentley & Bentley” selling Doriot, Flandrin & Parant French cars. During World War I, the company pivoted to developing rotary engines for the Royal Navy, where Bentley himself served as a Naval officer. In 1919, W.O. Bentley, Frank Burgess and Harry Varley founded Bentley Motors. Later, Clive Gallop joined the team and developed the legendary 3-litre engine, which hit the roads in 1920. Bentley’s ethos was simple: “To build a good car, a fast car, the best in class. The ultimate expression in luxury and performance.” His cars lived up to that motto, dominating Le Mans in the 1920s. Sadly, the company accumulated substantial losses totalling £136,200, which forced it to be sold to Rolls–Royce in 1931. Why the Continental GT embodies Bentley’s Mantra? Despite being around for less than a decade, the Continental GT has become an icon for Bentley Motors Launched as the first model under Volkswagen’s ownership, it introduced ground-breaking innovations like the twin-turbo W12 engine and torsen–based four-wheel drive system. The Continental GT recaptured Bentley’s ethos of "building the best in class," a sentiment that had been absent since the 1930s. In contrast to most of its rivals, which have come and gone over its 21-year life span, this AWD 2+2 Anglo-German Bruiser’s recipe has remained consistently focused on ultimate luxury and performance. It is very much Bentley’s 911, the same iconic recipe with every new generation bringing significant advancements. Fromthe 4.0L twin-turbo V8 introduced in the second generation to the inauguration of Porsche’s PDK transmission in the third. Now, with the fourth generation, Bentley is making its most significant leap yet. The Fourth-Generation Continental GT: The Most Powerful, Fastest and most Luxurious Bentley Ever made The fourth-generation Bentley Continental GT Speed blends state-of-the-art hybrid technology with the traditional time-honoured craftsmanship Bentley is known for. This iteration features a Batur-inspired sleek singular headlight look, abandoning the traditional dual-headlight arrangement that has become a staple for the Continental since its launch.Powered by the new Ultra Performance Hybrid system, the new Continental GT Speed utilises a 4.0L twin-turbocharged 584 horsepower V8 working in tandem with a 187 horsepower 25.9 kWh Electric Motor. Together, they unleash a jaw-dropping 771 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque, making the new Speed the most powerful Bentley ever built. This bruiser accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in a blistering 3.3 seconds and maxes out at 208 mph. All whilst offering an electric-only range of 50 miles, a total driving range of 534 miles and CO2 emissions now less than 30g/km. Bentley offers a staggering 46 billion configuration options for this latest Continental Speed. This list includes a wide range of exterior colours, interior materials, and custom finishes. These options allow customers to tailor their Continental to their personal desires and needs. All this for $285,000. The Celebration Car The first production Speed rolled off the production line at Bentley’s Factory in Crewe, England, on September 16th, 2024, perfectly coinciding with W.O. Bentley’s 136th birthday. The Tourmaline Green exterior harkens back to when Bentley set the unofficial ‘Underwater Speed Record’ in Norway. It also nods to Bentley’s historic racing green of the 20s. This car also features a Gravity Grey and Mandarin interior as well as three-dimensional leather textures, modern quilting, and dark chrome finishes. This GT Speed will first serve as a UK Press Fleet vehicle, showcasing Bentley’s latest innovations to automotive journalists and enthusiasts. After its time in the spotlight, it will join Bentley’s prestigious Heritage Fleet. This collection includes 45 iconic vehicles from Bentley’s 105-year-old history. These include the 1919 3-Litre EXP2, the very first Bentley, the 1929 Speed Six GU 409 that won LeMans in 1929 and 1930 and record-breaking 2019 Pikes Peak Continental GT. The GT Speed stands as a testament to Bentley’s Future. A New Chapter Whilst Maintaining Tradition As the fourth-generation Continental GT enters production, Bentley continues to push the boundaries of luxury, performance, and sustainability. The Speed blends blistering performance with unrivalled luxury, making it one of the most versatile cars in the world. With this balance between tradition and innovation, the 2025 Speed places Bentley at the forefront of the industry for years to come. And being “The best in class”, this car honours that Mantra set by W.O. Bentley 105 years ago.
