Brilliant Bentley outlives the pack

One of the longest-standing brands is still with us, and indeed, thriving on the competition for its crown, says Steve Teale

Bentley is a great survivor. So many other illustrious marques have vanished over the years that we should be grateful that this brand – arguably the greatest of the lot – is still with us.

In fact, it is more than surviving. It is thriving, thanks to the melding of German business sense with old-fashioned British craft. Bentley is part of the Volkswagen empire, and all the better for it.

Modern Bentley is a complicated beast, a brand which appeals to starchy old-money as much as the nouveau-riche, without alienating anyone. It is elegant without being arrogant, a brand which evokes respect and admiration rather than envy.

This is particularly true about Continental GT, a model which fir st appeared in 2003 and which is the most successl fu luxy ur car in the world. It has redefined Bentley. It is far from common, but it is a far more familiar sight than you might expect for a six-figure auto.

Tested here is the new 4.0 V 8, a 198 mph model which oozes to 60 mph in under four seconds. It remains cool, almost aloof. Admirable. Definitely desirable. Very capable.

No wonder it is hailed as one of the best cars in the world. No wonder it is the bestselling Bentley ever. No wonder it is on my list should my six numbers land on Saturday night.

Prices start at £151,800, but you can add thousands more for the inevitable extras. This is a 4.0 litre V8, and a relatively newcomer joining the beefier 6.0 litre W12. It sounds almost as good and is a little cheaper to run.

But probably the main reason for choosing this smallerengined car is that the car is nimbler and more agile. It is still a heavy, but you would never know. It handles brilliantly.

For me the biggest surprise was that the V8 has a burble to match the W 12. It seduces. Performance-wise, it’s a dream. Top speed 198mph and 0 to 60mph in 3.9 seconds, and it is a proper Grand Tourer with a range of 500 miles between fill ups.

But what the Bentley really offers over and above its many rivals is heritage, allied to cutting edge technology. No other car really comes close.

Spirited performance is complemented by refined efficiency, from the ability of the engine to de-activate four of its eight cylinders, without compromising the drive. The seamless change happens in just 20 milliseconds so is imperceptible. Stop-start technology, which operates at ‘near-to-stop’ speeds, is also available.

It is a handcrafted car with LED lights inspired by the finest cut-crystal glasses. The interior is a thrill which integrates natural materials such as the highest quality leathers and rare, sustainably sourced veneers into the finest cabin on earth.

It has walnut – or other timber, if you prefer - and a 10-speaker Bentley Audio system as standard pumping out a powerful 650 watts of entertainment.

This Bentley has Drive Dynamics selector, offering different modes from classleading refinement and comfort to focussed handling. An Active All-Wheel Drive System varies the front-to-rear torque split dependent on the driving situation. The Continental GT V8 will use rear-wheel drive as much as possible during normal driving for optimum efficiency and dynamic performance.