Bentley Continental GTC

And that’s what Bentley provides, a car that delivers supreme levels of power and performance and a sensuous cabin that lacks for virtually nothing.

For the latest version of its Continental GTC, the epitome of sporting automotive luxury, head of design Robin Page and his styling team were given the brief to create a more dynamic and contemporary cabin with even greater levels of comfort, quality and craftsmanship.

A key element of the design approach was to ensure the style of the interior and exterior were in harmony when the roof was stowed.

Equally important, the new cabin design had to flow seamlessly from front to rear. Mission accomplished.

Sumptuous hand-crafted materials and the highest levels of attention to detail combine to provide an unrivalled experience of comfort and quality. There is a choice of 17 standard soft-touch leather hide colours with six colour-split combinations, complemented by a range of seven veneers, all handcrafted in Bentley’s workshops at its factory in Crewe.

Key to the creative process was a desire to set some new benchmarks in everyday practicality. That meant generating a lighter aesthetic to the interior by removing bulk where it wasn’t needed, creating more usable space.

It was a challenge which the styling team relished. For example, the ‘Cobra-style’ front seats with integrated headrests are each 25 mm slimmer than those in the previous Continental GTC, creating much-needed knee-room for rear passengers. Front-seat occupants also get more knee space thanks to the use of concave scalloping on the underside of the dashboard.

Seat comfort and support is improved through the use of new multi-layer foams and, available in the GTC for the first time, an optional front seat ventilation system paired with a revised pneumatic massage function.

Electrically operated seatbelt presenters make buckling-up effortless for front occupants. Also new to the GTC’s front seats is a neck-warming air-flow system with three power settings to provide additional comfort while driving with the roof down on cooler days. And the pampering just gets more and more impressive...

The GTC also features one of the most advanced in-car infotainment systems on sale today. Backed by a 30GB on-board hard drive, the eight-inch screen displays the car’s audio, satellite-navigation, phone, ride and comfort functionality, using a combination of touch-screen controls and knurled rotary switches. You can even watch TV when the car is stationary.

And if the standard eight-speaker sound system doesn’t quite match your needs, then you can opt for a Naim premium audio system featuring ten speakers that creates a virtual ‘sound field’ independent of speaker layout for concert hallquality sound reproduction, whether you are up front or riding in the back.

Taking cues from its GT coupe sibling, the GTC builds on the successful foundation of the previous cabriolet, which premiered in 2006.

While the original Continental GTC was elegant and understated, the assertive stance of the new model delivers a more contemporary and muscular presence. Advanced manufacturing techniques produce aluminium front wings without the need for seams or welds creating the look and feel of a coachbuilt car.

Unique jewelled headlamps with LED daytime running lights and more upright matrix radiator grille add further to the car’s magnificent presence.

Twenty-inch wheels are now standard, with the option of 21-inch, while the tailored, multi-layered fabric hood is complemented by acoustic glass and under-body panels, for optimum noise isolation.

A wider track, front and rear, sharper steering and retuned suspension provide a more exhilarating and class-leading drive.

Bentley’s advanced all-wheel drive system features a new 40:60 rear torque bias (compared with 50:50 of the original GTC), minimising understeer during hard cornering and allowing the spirited driver to manage the car’s line and balance via precise throttle control.

This package is combined with a more powerful version of the legendary 6.0-litre, twinturbocharged W12 engine as well as a new QuickShift transmission, enabling faster gear changes than ever before. Power output is raised from 560 PS to 575 PS (567 bhp) and the famed Bentley ‘wave of torque’ has been increased by a further 50 Nm to 700 Nm (516 lb ft).

The W12 is the most compact and technologically advanced 12- cylinder engine in the world Power-to-weight ratios are key to the speed of a car, and with the GTC weighing in at about two-andahalf tonnes (2,510kg) that huge amount of horsepower is vital to provide the GTC with its remarabkle acceleration. The GTC takes only 4.8 seconds to reach 62mph, and will go on to 100mph in 10.9 seconds.

For the record, the top speed is 195mph.

Propulsion is also helped by the Quickshift automatic system that cuts shift times by up to 50 per cent and enables double downshifts.

The GTC is not a car for wallflowers – you will constantly attract admiring glances – and neither is it for those lacking confidence behind the wheel of a big car with huge performance.

For the most part, it will simply glide beautifully to the acompaniment of a gentle purr. But stir its soul and you have a motor that will pin you to your plump, plush seating and carry you to new horizons in the blink of an eye.

It is quite simply one of the great cars of the world.

Fact file

Bentley Continental GTC

PRICE: £149,350 (£166,380 as tested with options)

ENGINE: six-litre petrol, developing 567hp

TRANSMISSION: six-speed automatic, driving all wheels

PERFORMANCE: 0 to 62mph in 4.8 seconds

ECONOMY: 17.1mpg combined

CO2 RATING: 384 g/km