February 2018 Issue #14 February 2018 Issue #14, 4GUYS | Page 63

As was the case for the second-generation Continental GT, the 12-cylinder
model arrives first. In the 2019
model, the 6.0-liter twin-turbo
W-12 will put down 626 hp (same
as the outgoing GT Speed) and
664 lb-ft of torque (same as the
Bentayga SUV). Peak power
comes on at 6,000 rpm, but peak
torque is on offer from 1,350 to
4,500 rpm (also same as the Ben-
tayga). Power is routed to all four wheels via a ZF-sourced eight-speed du-
al-clutch automatic, which can send up to 38% of torque to the front wheels
in normal or comfort mode—or just 17% in sport mode. The gearbox is fit-
ted with a dual-mass flywheel instead of a torque converter, which Bentley
says dampens out driveline oscillations and makes power delivery smooth
enough to befit the brand.
It’s a good thing the 2019 Continental GT has Bentayga-esque power, as it
has a Bentayga-esque curb weight of 4,947 lb, though that’s is about 170
lbs less than the weight of the second-generation GT. Despite the consid-
erable mass, this Bentley will hit 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds and top out
at 207 mph. Brake hardware is similarly massive—16.5-inch discs (0.6-
inch wider than before) mated to ten-piston calipers sit up front, while the
somewhat more pedestrian combination of 15.0-inch discs and four-piston
calipers is employed at rear. These sit behind the choice of 21- or 22-inch
wheels.
The footprint of the 2019 model is
about the same as the previous
GT’s, but the proportions are dif-
ferent thanks to a 4.1-inch longer
wheelbase of 112.2 inches and
front wheels that are positioned
5.3-inches farther forward. Like
other new high-end products from
the Volkswagen Group portfolio,
the new Continental GT rides on a version of the company’s modular MSB
architecture, which shares responsibility for some of the weight savings with
the aluminum body.