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2011 Bentley's Continental GTC is the convertible version of the automaker's Continental GT coupe. A performance model, called GTC Speed, debuted in 2009. Exterior features include:

Interior
The GTC can seat up to four people on front and rear bucket seats, though the rear seats would likely only be comfortable for children.

Continental GTC Speed
The twin-turbo W-12 can go from zero to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds and reach a maximum
More substantively, the 2011 Conti gets a boost in horsepower from its 6.0-liter twin-turbo W12 engine, hitting 567 horsepower and 516 pound-feet. To keep that power in the right place, the rear track is wider, front-to-rear bias of the all-wheel-drive system is now 40/60 front-to-rear, and the coefficient of drag has been reduced to 0.33. 0-60 mph? Top speed? 198 mph.

Joining that are a sleeker dash, climate-controlled "Cobra" seats sculpted to provide more rear legroom, and leather-lined door pouches with water bottle holders. It's everything the current Continental GT is.

When the last-generation Continental GT debuted in 2003, it proved surprisingly popular—not because the grand touring coupe wasn’t exceptional, but because it wasn’t cheap.

The Continental GT is not only a modern icon, it’s also largely responsible for changing the image of the brand from stodgy to sporting. (A small percentage of the population knows that Bentley won Le Mans in 2003, a much larger percentage knows about Bentley because of its top seller.)

The message behind these changes has carried over into the car’s performance, which has improved due to three key factors: more engine, less weight, more refinement.

While the twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre W12 engine of the original model was powerful (406 kW; 649 Nm), the new version is even more so (423 kW; 700 Nm). A quick blast along the desert roads of Oman proved that the new Continental GT represents a marked improvement. The revised 6-speed automatic transmission shifts gears in half the time, giving the Bentley a distinctly racier feeling compared to the original (although it’s still no dual-clutch speedster.)

The top speed claim could not be verified—at 210 km/h, a message on the instrument panel warned that the tires weren’t properly inflated for such speeds. It turns out that the technicians had prepared the coupe for comfortable touring not edge-of-your-seat drag racing.

The all-wheel drive system now features a basic 40/60 torque split (front/rear), which has carried over from the outgoing, high-performance Continental Supersports model. Of course, the traction control system varies the torque distribution if it detects wheel slippage at the back. As an everyday driver, the Continental GT is definitely more than a little intimidating: It’s big, it’s fast and it’s expensive. The Continental GT is a true 2+2 coupe, meaning that the back seat is suitable only for small children.

The front seats were also made lighter, in part by moving the seat-belt mechanism to the car’s B-pillar. The seats are sporty and supportive.

All things considered, the Continental GT is a more mature, higher-performing and more engaging version of its predecessor.

The New Continental GT 2011 is one of Bentley's sexiest machines ever, and the brand's best-selling model. Granted, the nearly two-inch-wider track (65.51 inches front/65.15 inches rear) and standard 20-inch, five-spoke wheels (21-inch optional) also add to the effect. (The logo's wings are a longstanding Conti design flourish, stemming from the 1950 R-Type Continental.) Also shaped in Mulsanne fashion are the car's skinny, elliptical chrome exhaust tips, which expel the fumes created by the twin-turbocharged, 567-horsepower 6.0-liter W-12.

No other car in the premium sports car segment offers such a dichotomy of luxury and performance.

Power lines streak from front to back, accentuating the body like a finely pressed suit. Aluminum Super Forming heats body panels to 500° Celsius, eliminating the need for spot welding on the front wing panels and trunk lid. Flared elliptical tailpipes are chromed while the rear Bentley signature “floating” LED lamps extend around the corner accentuating size and stance.
At its core, Bentley has designed a sports coupe of the highest magnitude. Power stems from a 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged W12 engine. Steering wheel mounted paddle-shifters allow for rapid transition between gears. Mated to a 6-speed ZF Quickshift automatic transmission, it takes only 4.4 seconds to reach 60 mph. Additional performance figures indicate passing times of 1.7 seconds from 30-50 mph and 2.9 seconds from 50-75 mph. Top speed is set at 198 mph.
Speed is not the only factor propelling the new Bentley Continental GT to the top of its class. Continuous damping aids performance; the ride is supple yet tight with very little lean or body roll even at high speeds.

Standard wheel sizes are 20-inch 5-spoke aluminum alloys with two 21-inch Elegant and split-rim Sports variations optional. Large 405 mm (16-in.) front and 335 mm (13.2-in.) rear ventilated disc brakes bring the new Continental GT to a rapid and controlled stop. Optional 420 mm (16.5-in.) front and 356 mm (14-in.) rear cross-drilled carbon ceramic brakes supply the best stopping power.

Soft-touch leather is placed throughout the hand-crafted cabin. Rear seats are surprisingly comfortable, even for those over six-feet tall and a center armrest offers storage and rear ventilation adjustment. The 2011 Bentley Continental GT will offer the 6.0 W12 engine as its only source of power at launch. Worldwide sales for the original Bentley Continental topped 45,000 units since its introduction in 2003. A lofty achievement in the premium sports coupe segment, the 2011 Bentley Continental GT seems poised and capable to take the lead once more.

The 2011 Bentley Continental GT is just the second generation of the blockbuster coupe that rumbled ashore eight years ago. 0-60 mph? Top speed? 198 mph.

It's everything the current Continental GT is. For Crewe's design and engineering teams, the new Continental GT coupe is an opportunity to set a bold and exciting direction for one of Bentley's most revered names – the Continental.

Now the new Continental GT 4-seat coupe builds on the success of its iconic predecessor, capturing that GT spirit but with even higher standards of design, engineering, luxury, craftsmanship, dynamic performance, everyday practicality and refinement. The contemporary interior offers new levels of cabin design, comfort and hand-crafted luxury. This advanced power unit will deliver a 40 percent reduction in emissions compared with the W12 engine and will offer a class-leading CO2 emissions-to-power ratio with Bentley levels of performance and refinement.

Both engines are coupled to an all-wheel drive system with a sporty 40:60 rear-torque bias (compared with the 50:50 bias of the original Continental GT), minimising understeer during hard cornering and allowing the experienced driver to control the car's line and balance via precise throttle control. - Dr Franz-Josef Paefgen, Chairman and Chief Executive

"The new GT coupe interior combines form, practicality and innovation. The Continental GT's new infotainment system also provides the ultimate in in-car audio entertainment. An eight-speaker sound system is offered as standard employing the latest Balanced Mode Radiator technology. An 11-speaker Naim for Bentley system – created exclusively for the Continental GT by British audiophiles Naim – employs revolutionary Dirac Dimensions ™ digital signal processing. At launch, the new Continental GT coupe is powered by the latest evolution of Bentley's acclaimed 12-cylinder, 6-litre twin-turbocharged engine, now calibrated to provide even greater performance, thanks to increases in power, torque and fuel efficiency.

A new company in the tuning scene called Amari Design has presented its take on the Bentley Continental GT through the release of two teaser photos. The UK-based firm’s upgrade package includes a body kit, interior revisions and a variety of modifications under the hood.

By adding a supercharger, a sports exhaust system and a new ECU, Amani Design says output is lifted to 750-horsepower. The car also rides on beefier alloy wheels and tires, though the tuner has not yet released specific details.

To celebrate the 205.5mph (330.7km/h) world ice-speed record that was set two weeks ago by Finland’s four-time world rally champion Juha Kankkunen in a Continental Supersports convertible, Bentley has unveiled a new special edition version of its drop-top model that will be built in a limited run of 100 units.

In 2007, four-time world rally champion Juha Kankkunen shattered the world ice speed record by achieving an average two way speed on a 1000m long straight on the frozen waters of the Baltic Sea, off the coast of Finland, of 199.86 mph (321.6 km/h) in a Bentley Continental GT. Fast forward to 2011, and Kankkunen has done it again breaking his own record at the same location with a Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible. This time, Kankkunen surpassed the 200mph mark reaching a top speed of 205.48 mph (330.695 km/h).

2011 Bentley Mulsanne.
Bentley describes the Mulsanne’s design as a “unique fusion of sportiness, coachbuilt elegance, and solidity.” Six inches longer than the Arnage but similar in height and width, the Mulsanne is indeed flagship-sized. The base wheels are 20 inches in diameter, and two 21-inch variants are optional, the latter wrapped in 265/40 series Pirelli P Zeros like the ones found on Bentley’s Speed variants.

Arguably the most important part of any luxury car is its interior, and the Mulsanne’s is both loaded with modern technology and lined in traditional luxury. A Naim for Bentley premium audio system is available as an option, complete with 20 speakers, eight DSP modes, and—get this—a 2200-watt in-car amplifier. “It will be priced at the pinnacle of the ultra-luxury segment,” said a Bentley insider.

It harnesses near-absolute power in the form of a big, low-revving V-8 engine, swaths of wood and leather and real chrome, and elegant proportions, staking its claim as one of the finest four-doors on the planet.

According to Bentley executives, the 2011 Mulsanne is "a big, heavy car, and unashamedly so." The engine is a 6.75-liter V-8 engine, which drives the rear wheels through a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. When pushed, the engine noise is a muted roar, and the Mulsanne gathers speed swiftly but almost discreetly. Details matter inside the Mulsanne.

TheCarConnection focuses on reviewing mass-market vehicles. Our sister site MotorAuthority covers the world of luxury and performance vehicles--and they've filed this first drive of the 2011 Bentley Mulsanne.

The 2011 Bentley Mulsanne is the best car for you if you desire the latest in automotive luxury and status – and are only peripherally concerned about what it costs.

The 2011 Bentley Mulsanne is the magnificent new flagship from the marque second only to Rolls-Royce as Britain’s best-known purveyor of sumptuous motorcars. Should you wait for the 2011 Bentley Mulsanne or redecorate the cottage on Martha’s Vineyard?

The 2011 Bentley Mulsanne styling builds on the tradition of classic Bentleys and manages to look both extravagant and tasteful. Present is the upright Bentley crosshatch grille, long bonnet (hood to us Yanks), and sweeping rear overhang. Bentley employs aerospace technology called superforming to shape the complex aluminum front fenders. Dimensionally, the Mulsanne is assertive. An entire Mini Cooper would just about fit within the Mulsanne’s 128.6-inch wheelbase.

The "2011 Mulsanne" symbolizes a sort of closure to a confusing Bentley odyssey. It’s the first car designed and built purely as a Bentley since the 1930s. Volkswagen took over Bentley in 1998, and the smaller, highly successful Bentley Continental series launched in 2004 was based on VW’s Phaeton sedan. Bentley acknowledges VW’s financial backing in the creation of the Mulsanne. The origins of Mulsanne’s 6.8-liter V-8 can be traced to classic Bentley V-8s of that displacement. Torque is the force that does the heavy lifting during acceleration and the Bentley ideal is seemingly effortless torque. Unlike the all-wheel-drive Continental series, the 2011 Mulsanne is strictly rear-wheel drive to preserve styling objectives and a certain Bentley driving feel. Standard wheels are fulsome 20-inch alloys; 21s are optional.

The 2011 Bentley Mulsanne features story is one of opulence and opportunity. “Our customers are individualists,” Bentley sales and marketing chief Stuart McCullough says. A 40 GB hard disc drives the navigation functions and the standard 14-speaker audio system, which includes USB iPod interface and Bluetooth connectivity.

If you're a petrol head and live in or are considering a trip to England, you may want to make plans to visit Bentley's headquarters in Crewe and check out a new design exhibition called "An Unbroken Line", which offers a rare glimpse inside the company's usually secret studios.

Furthermore, the exhibition also captures key moments of the company’s lineage with signature characteristics that define a Bentley to this day such as the positioning of the headlights, the use of inverted needles on the dashboard and the pronounced ‘powerlines’ that sweep down the flanks of the car.

Japanese tuners sure love breaking the mold and shocking people with their creations. Revealed at the Tokyo Auto Salon, the 4509 GTR is the product of VeilSide, a Japan-based tuning firm established in 1990 by Yokomaku Hironao. It is based on a fourth generation Toyota Supra Turbo from 1993 and has received a complete makeover with the exterior design borrowing styling elements from the Bentley Continental with a hint of an Audi R8 here and there.

The body parts are made out of carbon fiber and fiberglass, while the look is completed by the new black wheels sized 20-inches up front and 22-inches at the back. The alloys are wrapped in Bridgestone Potenza rubber, 255/30R20 at the front and 295/25R22 at the rear.

Here’s a scary admission for you: I actually don’t mind the first generation Chrysler Sebring. It was sort of “Mustang-lite” in the styling department and is still a lot better looking than the latest incarnation of America’s middle-age spread, the almost universally despised third generation Sebring. And, as you no doubt know by now, here at Carscoop we love us some eBay-found Euro reskins of fifteen plus year old American cars.

Today’s entrant is this, dare I say it, rather convincing replica of a 2009 Bentley Continental GT convertible or GTC based on a ’96 Chrysler Sebring Convertible. Fashioned in ghetto / Saudi Arabian sheik white with the typical, so-not-a-Bentley blinger rims that’d make even Lil’ Jon a lil ill, our wanna-B (you see what I did there?) comes complete with 175,000 miles on the clock and a full fibreglass body.

Leaving no stone unturned, Anderson Germany has presented a new tuning take on the Bentley Continental GT Speed. Called the Elegance Edition, the package enhances the British grand tourer with number of performance and styling goodies.

First seen on the Continental GT and GTC, Bentley now offers the Series 51 design options – 14 in total – on the Continental Flying Spur and Speed. These range from duo-tone exterior paint options to new interior color and trim combinations. Also, all Continental Flying Spur and Supersports models are specified as standard with a "state-of-the-art" 30GB touchscreen infotainment system.

We first saw the refreshed and re-powered 2011 Bentley Continental GT at last month's Paris International Motor Show, but today, the British automaker released a new batch of images. Judging by the Continental GT's license plates and the surroundings, the photo shoot appears to have taken place somewhere in the Middle East.

At the 1999 Geneva Motorshow, Volkswagen Group-owned British carmaker Bentley showed a W16 powered supercar concept called the Hunaudières. It was a sleek, cab-forward design finished in British Racing Green and with more chrome than Ludacris' Escalade.

Like so many concept cars, the Hunaudières never made it past being a one-off and Bentley consigned itself once more to making cars for wealthy Brits and Paris Hilton.

Now, two industrial design students from China's Tainjin Academy of Fine Arts, Shawn Wood and Guohua Cheng, have resurrected the Hunaudières in the form of a design study called the Bentley Silver [Filver in one pic, but we guess that was a mistake] Wings.

Tuning house Anderson Germany has the solution to anyone looking to upgrade their... dreadfully plain Bentley GT Supersports. Starting with the performance enhancements, the chief modification to the Bentley's inner works is the application of a tuning kit, which fits a reprogrammed ECU, sports air filters and a lighter valve controlled sports exhaust system with free-flow catalysts.

If you're interested in the redesigned 2011 Continental GT, you'll be happy to know that Bentley released pricing today and has confirmed that customer deliveries of the twin-turbocharged W12 model will start in the first quarter of 2011.

Technical specs and pricing of the newly added base model, which is powered by a 4.0-liter V8 engine and will be available later in 2011, have not yet been announced.

Classic cars come with classic car problems. The sort of reliability we take for granted today was unheard of thirty years ago. Classic cars don't start in cold weather They overheat in hot weather. They leak brake fluid. Their wiper motors break. Bits of trim fall off them. Their clutches fail. Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.

This time, Japan's Wald International has set its eyes on the Bentley Continental Flying Spur luxury sedan with the introduction of a Sports Line Black Bison styling package.

The makeover includes a new front bumper with added air vents and LED daytime running lights, side skirts, a revised rear bumper with -you-guessed it- air ducts and something that's supposed to resemble a diffuser, nifty quad-pipe exhaust and a rather subtle carbon fiber boot lid spoiler.

Having been introduced in 2003, Bentley's Continental GT is officially the oldest model in the British automaker's lineup. About time for a facelift? Bentley thought so, too. The 2011 Conti has been brought up to date with an evolved interior and exterior that put it more in-line with the brand's Mulsanne flagship, while a new 4.0-liter V8 engine will join the tweaked W12 in 2011.

Hot on the heels of the Ferrari 458 fire recall, here's some footage of a toasted Bentley Continental GT in Irkutsk, Eastern Siberia. Now, my Russian's a little weak, so if anyone could clarify these video reports that would be greeeeeaaaat.