BUILD YOUR BENTLEY

The Continental GT range is really fast when you want it but it is comfortable at all times and, above all, truly majestic AndreA Lam finds out what it takes to make your one-of-a-kind Bentley

with 507hp can sprint to 100km/h in 4.8sec and will reach a top speed of 303km/h. The Continental GT V8 S is rather more impressive, sprinting to 100km/h in just 4.5sec, which is identical to the GT W12. The performance difference between the V8 S and W12 is a little harder to discern and only at much higher speeds does the strength of the mighty W12 show its mettle, stretching out a 10km/h lead at top speed to reach 319km/h against the V8 S at 309km/h. This is not to say these models are nearly identical because the characters are different. The W12 is noticeably more refined in its operation and has a softer step driving around town. The V8 S is a little more raucous going about its duties, being almost antisocial when pushed flat-out with an angry sounding exhaust note replete with crackling and small explosions on the overrun. This is a very different kind of Bentley and should appeal to a new subset of Bentley clientele looking for a bit more excitement from their chariots. For those who need ultimate performance there is just one choice, the 635bhp Continental GT Speed. It flashes by the 100km/h mark in just 4.2sec and attains an impressive 331km/h top speed. On the road, the GT Speed feels even brawnier than the figures suggest as it gains speed at an alarming rate—enough to put it in touch with the Bentley’sb current home in Crewe wasw also where it once shared productionp with Rolls-royce untilu the German suitors renderedr them asunder. In those earlye days, Bentley would make thet chassis and the engine, butb a separate coachbuilder likel Mulliner would build the bodywork.b Once complete, the bodyb and chassis would be “married” at the Bentley factory. Of course, those days are long gone but Mulliner still exists on the grounds of Bentley as a division that is charged with delivering the ultimate in interior opulence to please the wealthy, cognizant few who seek the ultimate in a luxury car. Mulliner’s expertise does not only extend to the interiors as it can, with the right motivation, make a slightly different body for the customer like with the Queen’s Bentley. Previously, the most common requests were stretched versions but now that Bentley has included that into model production, clients look to create a lavish interior or have a mobile office builtin. In fact, to this day Mulliner still provides services to its previous Rolls-royce clients who had their cars outfitted by Mulliner before the brands went their separate ways. While the automotive industry has blurred the lines between mass manufactured cars and handmade ones, the handcrafted tradition still lives on in the car’s interior. If this is what you appreciate, a visit