Fourth-gen Bentley Continental GT coming to Malaysia in Q2 2025 – 782 PS, 1k Nm Speed PHEV leads the line

The fourth-generation Bentley Continental GT is set to arrive at Bentley Kuala Lumpur in the second quarter of 2025. The latest generation of Crewe’s grand tourer was first announced in June, and production of the most powerful road-going Bentley ever started on September 16, which is the birthday of founder Walter Owen Bentley.

It’s a departure from the norm that a new Bentley model is making its debut in high-performance Speed form. Typically, the regular variants surface first, before the performance flagship crowns the range at a later date. This time, the Speed leads the line for the fourth-gen Continental GT from kick-off. Similarly, the GTC convertible usually arrives later, but now you can choose between the coupe or the soft top at launch.

There’s plenty new about the Continental GT Speed, but the biggest news is that it’s now a plug-in hybrid riding on a fresh 400-volt electrical architecture. At the heart of the ‘Ultra Performance Hybrid’ powertrain is a 4.0-litre V8 engine with 600 PS and 800 Nm of torque. The ICE isn’t a carryover – with no traditional vacuum system and 350 bar fuel injection pressure (from 200 bar), it provides cleaner combustion and improved emissions.

Now that it has an electric motor to cancel out turbo lag, the engine uses twin single-scroll turbochargers, which reduces complexity and allows them to run hotter, minimising emissions. Also, there’s no longer need for cylinder deactivation hardware, as the ICE can be switched off entirely when the electric motor is running.

The V8’s smooth partner in crime is a 190 PS/450 Nm electric motor that resides in the transmission housing. Capable of powering the big GT by itself, the e-motor also delivers torque-fill at low engine speed and during gear shifts for extra smoothness. The motor is juiced by a 25.9 kWh battery mounted behind the rear axle, which brings weight distribution to 49:51, which Crewe says is perfect.

The GT comes alive silently, and the system manages energy flow based on the mode chosen – pure EV, electric boost, regenerative braking and charge mode, where the engine drives the wheels and charges the battery at the same time. Full electric mode can be deployed at speeds of up 140 km/h, with throttle applications of up to 75%. The max AC charging rate is 11 kW and the pack can be fully replenished in under three hours.

Aside from blessing the Continental GT Speed with 81 km (WLTP) of pure electric drive – perfect in urban areas – the e-motor brings total system output to 782 PS and 1,000 Nm. Compared to the outgoing W12-powered GT Speed, that’s 19% more power (from 659 PS) and 11% more torque (from 900 Nm), making this car the most powerful Bentley ever, surpassing even the second-generation Supersports and Mulliner’s Batur.

The 0-100 km/h sprint is dispatched in 3.2 seconds (four tenths faster than the previous W12 Speed), and if you keep at it, Vmax is 335 km/h – those are supercar figures in a big GT that has every imaginable luxury and feature, with an interior covered in leather and wood, let’s not forget.

All that power is delivered via an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission and an electronic limited slip differential to all four wheels. The system uses front-rear active torque vectoring through a centre differential, and precision vectoring across each axle itself using the brakes. Also included are all-wheel steering, Bentley Dynamic Ride active anti-roll and new dual-valve dampers and dual-chamber air springs. The ESC can be fully turned off.

Great power needs even greater stopping power and the GT uses 10-piston front calipers and four-piston rears. The standard ventilated iron brakes are 420 mm in front and 380 mm at the rear, and there’s a Carbon-Silicon-Carbide option with 440 mm front discs and 410 mm rears. Crewe says that with the latest GT, comfort mode is even more comfortable, and sport mode has even better body control than before, which again – let’s not forget – was already physics-defying.

The modern Continental GT is the car that saved Bentley, a great success for Crewe over the past three generations. Fitting then, that the latest GT is an evolution of the design, which carries three design aspects seen on the iconic R-Type Continental of 1952.

At the new Continental GT’s recent Asia Pacific launch held at the stunning Magarigawa Club in Chiba, Japan, Bentley’s designers pointed out to us the big two-door’s ‘resting beast’ stance. They were visualising a tiger at rest – a majestic beast sitting calm, but ready to unleash massive force when it decides to pounce. The idea is manifested in the GT’s well-defined haunches.

The next point of interest is ‘upright elegance’, which describes the vertical front end of the GT. Like a thoroughbred horse, we’re told. This proud chest pairs perfectly with the Bentley’s ‘endless bonnet’. Seen from the side, the long hood hints at the high-performance engine residing within. While these cues have been on all Continental GTs, they’re stronger than ever now, and Crewe got the proportions spot on with the third-generation GT (wheelbase grew by 105 mm). Peak form.

An evolutionary design needs a headlining fresh element, lest it be confused for a facelift. That new thing is the headlamp design – gone are the twin circles and in comes a single eye on each side, the first mainstream Bentley with single headlamps since the 1950s. Car guys will point to the Bacalar, but that’s a 12-unit coachbuilt special by Bentley Mulliner.

That single eye is pierced by a horizontal LED ‘eyebrow’ for a distinctive gaze. Go nearer and you’ll see that the headlamps are like art sculptures – the upper portion has a deep crystal cut diamond effect and the base of the housing has an illuminated pattern. The actual matrix headlamps have 120 separate LEDs that are digitally controlled to cover… everything.

The rear is a nip/tuck with a redesigned bumper, taillights, tail pipes and boot lid. The latter incorporates an integrated aerodynamic form to provide rear downforce without the need for a deployable spoiler, and the bumper emphasises the considerable width of the GT while being cleaner. Together, they combine for a neater look. Finally, the Speed gets a new 22-inch wheel option with a strong directional design. The designers say that the spokes are like tiger claws digging into the road.

The cockpit of the Continental GT (and Flying Spur limo) is my favourite in the ultra-luxury segment, combining a traditional layout with modern tech. While there seems to be a physical button or knob for everything important, all the functions are also housed in the infotainment system, so it’s the best of both worlds.

This unique ana-digi approach is personified by the Bentley Rotating Display, which is still cool after all these years. The three-sided display features a 12.3-inch display, three classical analogue dials, and an unbroken side of handcrafted veneer that matches the rest of the trim. The three faces swivel at the touch of a button.

New for this generation are a ‘precision quilt pattern’ on the seats and doors (those with an eye for detail will marvel at the sculptured quilting, fading perforations and the new quilt embroidery), optional ‘wellness’ seating with postural adjust and auto climate functions, and a new ‘Dark Chrome’ theme for the brightwork.

Bentley’s partnership with Naim continues in the new Continental GT, and the top rung sound system is a 2,200W, 18-speaker setup with Active Bass Transducers built into the front seats and eight sound modes. Otherwise, you can have the 650W 10-speaker standard system or a Bang & Olufsen 1,500W 16-speaker system with illuminated speaker grilles. As before, laminated acoustic glass is used for the windscreen and side windows for a nine-decibel reduction in exterior noise.

Finally, the air con system now includes air ionisers, a new particulate matter filter and displays showing air quality inside and outside the car. The HVAC also synchronises with the car’s sat-nav, so it knows when it might be necessary to improve cabin air quality; automatically recirculating air when in a tunnel, for instance.

As mentioned in the opener, the Speed performance flagship is leading the line for the fourth-generation Continental GT range, with other models to come (the luxury-focused Mulliner was announced last month). Also breaking tradition is the availability of the GTC open-top model from launch. The new Continental GT Speed will be arriving at Bentley Kuala Lumpur in the second quarter of 2025.

GALLERY: 2025 Bentley Continental GT Speed, GTC Speed APAC launch

GALLERY: 2025 Bentley Continental GT Speed, GTC Speed official images

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