Motoring in Spain - Bentley GTC
Rocket on wheels
Bentley GTC Rocket on wheels
MOTORING CORRESPONDENT CHARLIE FLINDT WASN’T SURE WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN THE HUGE "PACKAGE" ARRIVED ON HIS DOORSTEP – IN THE END, HE WAS NOT JUST PLEASANTLY SURPRISED BUT ENORMOUSLY IMPRESSED WITH THE NEW BENTLEY GTC.
In some ways, you have to feel a bit sorry for Bentley. For most of the last century, they were stuck in the shadow of Rolls Royce. Right from the start of the 1930s (when Rolls Royce bought its prestigious but financially challenged rival) up until the late 1990s (when the Bentley name was sold to Volkswagen), Bentleys have been – to put it rather crudely and rudely – souped up Rolls Royces.
Not "souped up" in the "stick on a spoiler and a big exhaust pipe" way, of course; Bentleys have been based on Rolls Royce machines, but they were tweaked and tuned to produce thundering performance and sports car behaviour from massive saloon car bodies.
For all those years, however, you could tell that Bentley were itching to get out on their own. And now, thanks to a new and kindly parent – VW – they are doing just that. This parent isn’t just kind, though. It is generous with all sorts of advice, money, and toys.
I thought I’d better have a week with the new Bentley GTC, just to see what VW’s ownership of this proud British name has produced. It arrived in my yard in an anonymous and slightly beaten-up lorry – probably a wise move, bearing in mind the value of the cargo.
And, yes, I had been expecting something the size of a small ship to float gracefully down the ramps; what throbbed its way almost menacingly down onto the gravel was a compact (or so it seemed) two-door soft-top. The styling couldn’t be further from a big-winged British barge. It’s sleek, Dan-dare, futuristic – but stunning.
Mind you, while I was trying to take in its looks, I was distracted by the noise. The engine makes the most heavenly din, even idling into its parking spot. It’s one of the most obvious results of being part of the VW group. It’s the six-litre W12, seen under the occasional top-of-the-range VW bonnet.
It’s worth explaining the "W12’ idea". Not least because I think it’s a misnomer. VW has for some years had a V6 where the six cylinders are staggered slightly, rather than separated into two wide banks of three. This makes it shorter than a straight six, but simpler than a true wide-V six. Then some bright-spark suggested that two of these V6s would be attached to the same camshaft to make a compact 12-cylinder engine. Compact, but fantastically powerful: 411kW – enough to do 0–100 kph in about five seconds, and a top speed of 312 kph. And from my seat in Pedants’ Corner, I reckon it should be called a "double-V" rather than a "W". I also reckon I should get out more.
What this astonishing machine also gets from VW is full-time four-wheel-drive and a sophisticated air suspension system. What this all means is that the grip levels are incredible; 411kW would leave two wheels scrabbling, but fed to all four… power delivery is smooth and exhilarating. The adjustable air suspension is continuously monitoring and adjusting ride levels, keeping the GTC flat and level, and adding to the feeling that you’re actually driving a rocket-powered train.
But the best advice I can give you, if you ever find yourself at the wheel of a Bentley GTC, is to slow down. This may seem odd, given that you will be in control of one of the fastest open-topped cars in the world; but there are amazing benefits to be had. The first is that you will have more time to appreciate the interior. This is pure traditional Bentley; no whizzo techno-stuff in here. You know what to expect, and you get it. Acres of leather – carefully chosen from northern European beasts to minimise insect blemishes. Swathes of laser-cut and hand-lacquered wood veneers.
The second reason to slow down is to enjoy the hood-down experience. The hood itself is another technological marvel: press a button, and there’s a lot of opening and shutting of windows and flaps, but after 30 seconds of whirring and humming, the roof has vanished, and that marvellous feeling of open-air motoring is yours to enjoy. True, the Bentley cabin is cleverly engineered to reduce air buffeting at high speeds, but at modest speeds, there is next to none.
And this is important, because you need to hear that engine with the minimum of other noises to distract you. That clever W12 has a unique burbling, throbbing note that stretches your smile wider than you would believe. You can be at a gentle 80 kph, with the engine pootling at 1700 rpm. Suggest, via your right foot, an increase in speed. There’s a pause in the contented burble, a shift down from sixth to fifth, and the W12 wails approval as the GTC forces you back into your seat. Find your nearest road tunnel, and repeat this procedure over and over again; you’ll never tire of it.
The Bentley GTC is a marvel. Not only is it fantastically fast, but Bentley have also pulled off the Mazda MX-5 trick: it is a joy to drive at real-life speeds. It looks good, feels good to drive and – forgive me if I keep on about it – sounds magnificent. If this is the result of Bentley being under new ownership, then the future is looking – and sounding - very bright indeed for this historic British name.
BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GTC
Engine: 6.0 litre W12
Power: 411 kW
Maximum speed: 312 kph
Performance, 0 to 100 kph: 5.1 seconds
Combined fuel economy: 17.1 lt/100 km
SUMMARY: Did I mention the noise it makes?
