Continental GT Speed Edition 12

The Continental GT Speed Edition 12 marks the end of a glorious automotive era. The engine it celebrates originally appeared in the groundbreaking first-generation Continental GT, launched in 2003. Since then, both the car and the engine have become Bentley icons. And while the engine has gone on to power other Bentley models, its story remains inseparable from that of the Continental GT.

The most successful 12-cylinder engine in history, it has played a unique part in propelling Bentley to the position it occupies today – all while remaining true to founder W.O. Bentley’s belief that the way to build better, faster cars was to build more powerful engines. Today, Bentley remains the only automotive manufacturer to produce engines of this kind.

Limited in number this car may be, yet when it comes to its power, limitless might be a better word. The Continental GT Speed Edition 12 is, after all, a celebration of a truly remarkable engine – one capable of producing 650 bhp and 900 Nm of torque. That’s enough to propel you from zero to 60 mph in a thrilling 3.5 seconds. It also features variable displacement, enabling six of the car’s cylinders to shut off automatically when the full power of the engine is not needed, improving fuel efficiency and emissions. Put your foot down hard and the entire bank of cylinders re-engages faster than the blink of an eye. Approximately ten times faster, in fact.

BUILT FOR AN UNRIVALLED DRIVE

To drive the Continental GT Speed Edition 12 is to experience performance unlike that of any other grand tourer. It features adaptive all-wheel drive, affording the exhilaration of a rear-wheel drive sports car until road conditions become too slippery – at which point it redistributes a portion of the car’s power to the front axle, providing the sure grip of all-wheel drive.

All-wheel steering makes for greater agility at low speeds, while allowing you to glide between lanes with confidence on the open road. The Bentley Dynamic Ride anti-roll system keeps the car stable through corners without compromising on comfort while cruising. Torque vectoring, meanwhile, is delivered both via the brakes and an electronic limited-slip differential (eLSD), for greater control when cornering at speed.

Even the exhaust system has been designed with the thrill of the drive in mind. Adaptive Valve Control ensures you hear little more than a murmur when driving in Comfort mode – but accelerate in Sport mode and you’ll experience the fearsome power of the W12 engine’s roar. Consider it a fitting reminder of the engine’s historic pedigree.

The Continental GT Speed Edition 12 builds on the iconic lines of the Continental GT Speed with a wealth of finely crafted details, collectively designed to look back on the life of the W12 engine and its role in Bentley’s history.

It is a tale that begins before you even touch the door handle. Edition 12 Welcome Lamps fitted to the underside of the door mirrors illuminate the ground as you step inside, while Speed Edition 12 badges can be seen gleaming on the front fenders. Silver-painted brake callipers peek through the spokes of the 22” Speed wheels, while in the centre of each wheel, a self-levelling Bentley badge ensures the famous ‘B’ always remains upright.

Open the bonnet and the object of all this adulation is revealed: the 6.0 litre W12 engine, ready to roar into life. Displayed prominently atop it is an Edition 12 plaque, complete with the inscription, ‘1 of 120’.

Among the wide range of exterior colours you can choose from is the exclusive Opalite, a beautiful grey-green colour with subtle undertones of copper that can be seen when the car catches the light.

As a final flourish, every car is issued with a handcrafted presentation box that contains a scale model of the W12 engine, cast from a real, recycled W12 engine block. All told, this is more than just automotive luxury. It is a showcase of design and hand craftsmanship; a celebration of both an iconic engine and an iconic car.

The story that started outside the car continues as you take a seat inside. From the soft white glow emitted by the illuminated outer treadplates to the Edition 12 inner treadplates and the Edition 12 embroidery on each seat, there is no mistaking the car’s significance.

The fascia, waistrails and centre console are finished in smooth Grand Black veneer – the perfect backdrop for the solid brass organ-stop controls, each one bearing a clearly visible number 12. On the passenger’s side of the fascia, meanwhile, metal overlays display the Speed Edition 12 emblem, alongside a sequence of numbers representing the firing order of the engine’s twelve cylinders.

Handcrafted Precision Diamond quilting is applied to the seats and the door panels, while ombré stitching allows three thread colours to blend together on the seats. The leather colour scheme can be selected from a choice of five, each one curated specifically by Bentley’s design team.