Driven: 2025 Bentley Continental GT Speed – A New Breed of Bentley

There’s a cliché about money not being able to buy happiness, but whoever coined that phrase probably never drove a Bentley. DrivingOnRoad had a chance to spend Thanksgiving driving the 2025 Bentley Continental GT Speed, a car that left us feeling thankful in spades. The Continental GT is all-new for the 2025 model year, ushering in the fourth generation of Bentley’s longstanding two-door nameplate. This model launches in coupe and convertible body styles, both of which are currently available only in the faster Speed variant, though less rapid models are likely in the works.

We drove the Continental GT Speed Coupe, which replaces Bentley’s era-defining W12 engine with a new plug-in hybrid system, paired with a twin-turbocharged V8. It may have fewer cylinders, but the PHEV delivers anything but a compromise. With eight pistons rapidly burning dinosaur juice and an electric motor supplementing the engine with current, the GT Speed generates 771 horsepower and 738 lb-ft. These numbers far exceed the outgoing W12. The resulting performance would embarrass most sports cars, all while maintaining a peaceful “Bentley” experience. We quickly learned that if you can afford a Continental GT Speed, happiness ensues.

Exterior Looks: Bespoke Luxury

You could be mistaken for thinking the 2025 Continental GT is just a facelift of the outgoing car, but it’s actually a new generation. Bentley mostly retained the outgoing car’s gorgeous shape, but changed many of the finer details. The quad headlights are gone, making this the first factory Bentley to have a two-headlight design since the 1959 S2. We think the Bacalar-inspired front end is more modern and youthful than the previous design. Those headlights, by the way, have over 120 LEDs to create a wider illumination area.

At the back, the taillights have more detail in them, with a 3D pattern that looks like a glowing Fabergé egg. New 22-inch wheels make the Continental GT Speed look like it’s moving while standing still, and the car can even be equipped with floating center caps that always stay level even as the wheels turn. Nearly any color can be created if the customer has deep enough pockets, and our tester’s Kingfisher Blue is a perfect example for $12,115.

Bentley retained the outgoing car’s 112.2-inch wheelbase, but the overall footprint grows by about two inches to 192.7. These measurements are quite large for a two-door car, outstretching the Maserati GranTurismo by half an inch. The Continental GT continues to ride on the Volkswagen Group MSB platform, which is also shared with the Bentley Flying Spur and the Porsche Panamera.

Interior & On-Board Technology: A Sporty Palace

Bentley calls this a benchmark interior because it’s hard to imagine a nicer place to sit. 20-way adjustable seats include optional Postural Adjust and Auto Climate, and can be wrapped in one of 15 standard colors and quilt patterns. Our tester wore a lovely Imperial Blue leather/suede interior with contrasting Kingfisher Blue accents to match the exterior. Buyers can pair their interior color with seven different materials, including various wood veneers, but we loved our tester’s Dark Tint Engine Turned Aluminum trim, which brought a sportier feel to the cabin.

If we only had a few negative things to say about the Continental GT, they would be limited to practicality. The cupholders, for example, are awkwardly positioned when you need to shift into drive or reverse. They are also too small for large bottles like a Yeti or Stanley, yet too deep for smaller cups from a coffee shop. Likewise, the rear seats are not spacious despite the car’s massive footprint. Even shorter adults will struggle to fit back there. Though the PHEV powertrain offers no compromises from a driving standpoint, the batteries take up some of the trunk space, limiting the area to 9.2 cubic feet (down from 12.6 cubes).

Infotainment: Bond-Approved Technology

James Bond may drive Aston Martin models in the 007 films, but in the original Ian Fleming novels, he drove a Blower Bentley, not unlike the new Continental GT. Bond would certainly approve of the technology found in the new Continental GT. There’s the trick rotating display that switches between a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, solid veneer, or a set of three analog dials for outside temperature, a compass, and stopwatch. It’s beyond cool to watch it spin into place. The infotainment is similar to what you’d find in a modern Audi vehicle, meaning it looks clean and is easy to use. Ditto for the digital gauges, which come in three different configurable styles.

As standard, the Continental GT gets a 10-speaker audio system with 650 watts. That can be upgraded to a Bang & Olufsen system with 16 speakers and 1,500 watts, but true audiophiles will want to opt for the top-tier Naim setup with 18 speakers, 2,200 watts, and Active Base Transducers in the front seats. The Naim system delivers crystal-clear audio that packs a punch to your ears.

Performance: Electrified Freight Train

Bentley didn’t bother launching a base model and working its way up; it started with the range-topping Continental GT Speed. The outgoing model used a twin-turbo W12, which has now been replaced by a twin-turbo V8 with a PHEV system. Total output is now 771 hp and 738 lb-ft – increases of 145 and 74, respectively. Drive goes out to all four wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. This is the same PDK transmission used by many Porsche vehicles, and is commonly called the finest DCT in the world.

Performance Impressions

According to Bentley, the Continental GT Speed hits 60 mph in 3.1 seconds. What a load of baloney. We launched the Continental GT Speed to 60 in just 2.91 seconds, solidifying it as the second-quickest car we have tested this year to date. It gets off the line perfectly every time after dumping the clutch and pawing the pavement with all four wheels. You get an electric shove at the beginning, which seamlessly blends with the V8 acceleration. It feels like being catapulted off a cliff. We tried to time a 0-60 run in full EV mode, but the car will kick on the V8 if you go too heavy on the throttle.

Ride and Handling

We said in the introduction that the new Continental GT Speed might be a perfect car, and it all boils down to how this car drives. Thanks to active anti-roll air suspension, the Bentley glides over rough roads while keeping the vehicle level during hard cornering. This is a large, heavy car, but a combination of all-wheel steering and torque vectoring makes it feel sports-car nimble when driving spiritedly. Well-calibrated steering adds to the experience, keeping the driving entertaining without ruining highway comfort.

When it’s time to stop, available 10-piston carbon silicon carbide brakes ($18,820) bring the car to an abrupt halt, as if you just hit a wall. There is quite literally no driving scenario where the Continental GT doesn’t excel. You could drive this car across the country, lap it around a racetrack, then immediately turn back and drive it more. Where Bentleys of old were designed to offer luxury chauffeur-driven experiences, this is Bentley for the driving enthusiast. Nothing on four wheels blends comfort, handling, and driver involvement in such a perfect package.

Fuel Economy, Range and Battery

The EPA has not released official fuel economy figures for the 2025 Continental GT Speed, but we expect to see improvements over the outgoing 12-cylinder model. That car was thirsty, yielding only 12/20/15 mpg city/highway/combined. In approximately 200 miles of around-town driving, we averaged just over 19 mpg without being able to charge at home.

If you have home charging, which you likely do if you can afford this car, you might expect to see fuel economy well over 20 mpg. In fact, this GT Speed is not hit with a gas guzzler tax like the outgoing model. If you need to rely on the V8 to recharge the battery, it’s worth noting that it will only get it to 75% before stopping. On a Level 2 home charger, the Continental GT should refill its battery in around two hours and 45 minutes, yielding around a 30-mile range. Including the 21-gallon fuel tank, you should go nearly 500 miles total.

Verdict & Pricing: Perfect… For A Price

If you built a “perfect” product, you probably wouldn’t let it go at an affordable price. The Bentely Continental GT Speed is a car that handles every task exceptionally, so it doesn’t come cheap. Pricing for the Speed model starts at $302,100 before a $4,000 destination charge and any customization. Our tester was loaded with options, including a $50,940 First Edition Launch Specification, which bundles popular features for the first model year. Paint and interior options plus carbon brakes brought the as-tested price to $392,025, which is more than many homes even in a post-inflation economy.

Most people will never have a chance to experience a Bentley Continental GT Speed, and that makes us sad. This car defines what it means to be a Grand Tourer, and redefines what we know a car to be. This is a new type of Bentley entirely – not just because of the powertrain, but because this is a Flying B you will want to drive, not just be driven in. You no longer have to trade comfort for handling, speed for efficiency, or opulence for modernity. You can have your cake, eat it, and also get a filet mignon for good measure. There isn’t a finer two-door luxury coupe on the market, and there may not be a superior vehicle; period.