Bentley Continental GT Speed (2007) CAR review

GT Speed? I guess the clue is in the title...

Right. Think of the Speed as a big GT GTi. It’s still offers the same luxury appeal as the original Conti GT launched in 2003, but looks meaner and goes harder. The highlights are an extra 50bhp for the big W12, lowered suspension, tasty new and wider alloys plus some subtle visual tweaks.

So the Speed replaces the original Conti GT?

No, it’s an addition to the range. The existing cars - GT coupé, Flying Spur saloon and GTC convertible - are all still available, but only the two-door coupé can be had as a Speed. It’s 35kg lighter than the old GT thanks to lighter suspeniosn and cooling system components, but still weighs a scale-buckling 2350kg. You can shave a further 25kg if you order the optional ceramic brakes, though. As well as reducing the unsprung weight, they even chop a tenth from the 0-60mph time because there’s less mass to rotate. But the big changes are under the bonnet. The W12 engine retains its 6.0-litre capacity and 552bhp/479lb ft outputs of the the regular GT (despite some minor mechanical tweaks) but the Speed's new pistons and revised engine management system endow it with 600bhp and 553lb ft. Both cars emit a rain forest-raping 396g/km but at least that's better than the 410g/km the old car produced.