Bentley Continental GTC Speed (2009) CAR review

Three years on from its original press launch, Bentley has just added extra appeal to its Continental-based GTC convertible with the introduction of the GTC Speed. Power climbs from 552bhp to 600bhp and torque from 479lb ft to 553lb ft, helping the Speed to crack 60mph in the same 4.8sec as the GT, while ‘only’ 195mph is on offer, roof down. Disappointed? Don’t be. Close the roof and the Speed will reach 200mph – a first for a drop-top Bentley.

I expect the price shoots up for the Bentley Continental GTC Speed?

It does, from £136,200 to £153,400. Fear not, though, the standard GTC remains on sale for those whose credit can’t quite stretch. But we expect the Speed to sell well. It’s the third Speed model (the Continental GT came first, followed by the Flying Spur), and the previous two have performed well – the Continental Speed accounting for 70% of all Continental sales since the Speed’s launch, the Flying Spur Speed 30%, perhaps because it’s a less sporting car in the first place.

This GTC Speed looks the same as the GTC to me.

Subtlety is the name of the game here. The only Speed branding we could find was hidden on the sill plates, while telltale clues are restricted to the more upright, dark tinted grille, new 20in rims that are a smidge wider than before, a discreet rear spoiler and a slightly lower stance.

So my £10k goes on the oily bits, then?

Pretty much. The GTC Speed gets the styling tweaks outlined above, plus the Mulliner pack (quilted hide seats, three-spoke multi-function wheel, knurled chrome gear lever) that comes at extra cost on the plain Jane model. But fettling that 6.0-litre, twin turbo W12 (two narrow angle V6s on a common crank) doesn’t come cheap, and the extra shove comes courtesy of lower friction, lighter-weight components and a new engine management system. Factor in the suspension upgrade and, what the hell, it’s £10k well spent.

How does it drive?

Very well. That W12 is as tunefully charismatic as ever with its surprisingly diverse repertoire seemingly played out on the bassiest of bongos. And by god is it quick – the GTC Speed fires itself forward with breathtaking rapidity for any car, let alone one weighing two and a half tonnes.

The six-speed ZF torque converter auto can feel a little lazy when you command gears via the fixed paddles, but the engine’s flexibility means you barely notice that in auto mode, and the pay-back is extraordinarily refined low-speed manners.

Speed spec also means revised steering with extra feedback around the straight ahead. It works well. There’s zero feel, of course, but it generally feels light and progressive, though it can bulk up through corners taken a tad too ambitiously, at which point you’re suddenly aware of how much metal you're chucking around. Thankfully the four-wheel drive system is more than up to the task of bailing you out of trouble, serving up amazing levels of grip.

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