2007 Bentley Continental GTC

[YSSMAN]

Surprising no one, Bentley unveils the new drop-top Continental...

The 2007 Bentley Continental GTC convertible made its North American debut at the New York Auto Show. The car has a top speed of 195mph (312km/h), a sophisticated all-wheel drive system, state-of-the-art 12-cylinder engine, advanced air suspension, and ultra-stiff body structure. It accelerates from rest to 60 mph in just 4.8 seconds, and is nearly as stiff as its coupe counterpart, according to the automaker.

“The Continental GTC is the most distinctive new Bentley yet,” explains Bentley Motors’ Chairman and Chief Executive, Dr Franz-Josef Paefgen. “It is very elegant and at the same time effortlessly modern. It will appeal to many different customers: people who are tired of driving sports cars that require too much effort; people who want to move up from more standard convertibles; and people who want to make a statement about what they drive, yet still own a car that they can use every day of the year.”

To ensure that the design was not compromised in any way, the Continental GTC’s engineering team was charged with creating a completely new rear suspension package that allowed the rear design of the car to be kept as compact as possible while still giving enough space to stow the roof when folded. Similarly, a great deal of time was spent on ensuring that the soft fabric roof is perfectly taut and not ‘bowed’ or ‘pitched’ when raised.

The front seats have a new sculpted rear which produces an additional 30mm (1.2 inches) of knee-space in the rear.

There was one clear target when Bentley’s engineering team began work on the Continental GTC: to create a convertible that drives exactly like its coupe counterpart. By removing the roof – an integral part of the body structure that provides stiffness to the chassis – a convertible has a tendency to shake or vibrate when driven.

Consequently, the Continental GTC’s engineers were determined to rid the car of any such ’scuttle shake’ and began an extensive development programme aimed at ensuring the Continental GTC’s steel body had a torsional stiffness in the region of 30Hz – an incredible figure for a convertible.

To hit that target the engineers added significant steel reinforcement to the sills as well as additional cross braces that run beneath the cabin. Strengthened steel tubing was also used in the A-pillars and windscreen surround. To remove unwanted resonance – as vital a task as ensuring stiffness – a great deal of time was also spent improving the mountings for the rear subframe. Despite the significant reinforcement to the car’s body, the weight of the car has risen by just 110kg over the Continental GT coupe, to 2495kg (5500lb).

To ensure occupant safety, an advanced rollover protection system is installed beneath the rear headrests. If the car’s onboard computer senses that the car is about to roll during an accident, two reinforced steel hoops are deployed in a split second, thereby working in conjunction with the exceptionally strong windshield frame to protect passengers in the front and rear seats.

I'm kinda dissapointed that it uses a soft top... But oh well, its no big deal.

 

[DuckRacer]

Ewww.... that second pic makes it look like the #1 high-end chick car...

 

[BMWteamPTG]

Ewww.... that second pic makes it look like the #1 high-end chick car...

definately...a hard top would have been a much better choice...looks disappointing

 

[Danny]

I'm...in...love...

 

[BMW POWER]

I like it a lot but I nearly spat the contents of my chinese takeaway across the monitor when I read 2495kg!!! I had no idea those Continental's carry that much weight around.

 

[YSSMAN]

IMO, the best of the Continentals are still the Flying Spurs. Atleast with those, there is some justification for being so heavy.

 

[JCE]

IMO, the best of the Continentals are still the Flying Spurs. Atleast with those, there is some justification for being so heavy.

+1 But why bother? The Audi A8, BMW 7-series (V12 models), and the Mercedes S-class are still much better buys. And hell for the kind of money Bentley wants for anything I'd rather drive the much prettier Rolls Phantom--and it's got presence which no Bentley has in my opinion. When I buy a super luxury saloon I want the car to have presence when you walk up to it--hell even the new DC Imperial concept has presence--if you've seen it in person it's SO MASSIVE. The nicest interior in the world can't compete with an equally nice interior with an exterior with presence.

My 2 quid.

 

[ExigeEvan]

+1 But why bother? The Audi A8, BMW 7-series (V12 models), and the Mercedes S-class are still much better buys.

Yeah, but it's a Bentley.

 

[BMW POWER]

and it's got presence which no Bentley has in my opinion.

I respect your opinion can I just ask why you think a Bentley has no presence?

 

[JCE]

Yeah, but it's a Bentley.

And maybe that's the problem--who owns Bentley's now? Rappers and rich young 20 and 30 somethings who don't even know ANY of the history. I'd still rather have an Audi A8, Mercedes S65 AMG, or BMW 760. I'd save some cash and buy some toys with the left over funds. If I wanted to blow that much money on ONE super luxury saloon the Rolls gets my money.

 

[joseph dobson]

It's just like the DB9, the boys take the hardcore unlimited Coupe and the girls take the not so hardcore and limited to 165mph soft top. I thought by the sound of the name that the Bentley Continantal GTC was a race car!! Would of been cool if it was!!!

 

[JCE]

I respect your opinion can I just ask why you think a Bentley has no presence?

I've been to our local Bentley dealer and took a look and a sat in them--it just doesn't feel like the money it costs. When I sit in an A8 quattro or BMW 760 I get the feeling that I'm on top of the world and that nothing gets better from here. I just don't get the same feeling when I'm around a Bentley, but I'm sure the Rolls gives off that feeling mostly for the fact that it's huge. I look at Bentley like this, even lesser "luxury" cars some some Lexus models, BMW, Audi, Merc, and etc have real real nice interiors that are more luxury than anyone will ever need so that part of the Bentley is nullified--so what's next? The exterior--which is where it falls short in my eyes. Hell, I'd rather have an A8 quattro over any Bentley--maybe it's not as fast (but it probably is since it probably weighs less?) but to me it's just as luxurious. I'm not completely against Bentley mind you--I just don't see the point of it now other than "it's a Bentley". And nothing has tarnished it more than rappers and young people who are now buying them. Paris Hilton has a damn Continental GT (albeit she wrecked it twice already) that alone proves my point. She should be buying some cute little convertable and not a luxury sports car.

 

[ExigeEvan]

And maybe that's the problem--who owns Bentley's now? Rappers and rich young 20 and 30 somethings who don't even know ANY of the history. I'd still rather have an Audi A8, Mercedes S65 AMG, or BMW 760. I'd save some cash and buy some toys with the left over funds. If I wanted to blow that much money on ONE super luxury saloon the Rolls gets my money.

Err footballer's (Soccer players). Though I know of a bloke in his 60s that runs a jewellers in a town market and drives one.

 

[JCE]

Err footballer's (Soccer players). Though I know of a bloke in his 60s that runs a jewellers in a town market and drives one.

Also correct, professional Athletes. Still somewhat proves my point--they get it because "it's a Bentley" and everyone else of thier economic class has one.

 

[ImprezaAddict]

seems familiar to me somehow.....though its a nice convertible

 

[JohnBM01]

I'd take these over the Maserati Quattroporte almost any day. I don't necessarily know about the drop-top thing. My mom and stepfather usually say that having tops down in hot weather is a bad idea, since it's too hot for them. Anyone who knows how hot it can get in southeast Texas knows what I'm talking about when we talk about heat here. I mean, heat from the sun, not the expression "packing heat." Regardless, this is a nice little deal here. The headline has been that the Continental was always considered an affordable Bentley, much like the X-Type was considered an affordable Jaguar.

I'll give the Continental drop top an approval rating of 80% out of 100. I can dig this machine.