Into the Next Dimension
Bentley updates its Continental GT range for 2016 and invites Andre Lam for a drive in Norway to see what it brings to the table
n norway, speeding fines are based proportionally to one’s income, so the prospect of driving briskly was not particularly inviting—but the chance to drive the new Bentleys over the famous Atlantic Road was far too attractive to pass up. Our starting point was at Storfjord Hotel high in the mountains near Ålesund and, in the name of efficiency, we were whisked from the airport to the location by helicopter in 15min instead of the hour-long drive. Our collection of Bentley Continentals comprised both coupes (GT) and convertibles (GTC). The base V8 offers 507hp, the uprated V8 S comes with 528hp, the standard W12 with 590hp, and the GT Speed W12 engine, a stunning 635hp. For 2016, only the standard W12 engine has been tweaked for a modest 15hp increase in power and with the addition of cylinder deactivation and some optimising of the excellent eight-speed ZF automatic transmission, there is as much as a five per cent improvement in fuel consumption and reduction of CO2. Some may question what is a Bentley if it does not offer a big displacement 6.0L W12. That notion was challenged in 2012 when Bentley introduced the smaller twin-turbo 4.0L V8. Against expectations, the V8 was a huge success accounting for about half of the 11,000 Continental GT and GTC sales last year. Since its introduction in 2003, this