Have you ever tried the grand tour? It seems like a common term—it's like a synonym for road trip, right? But many things need to be considered for the right vehicle for this. You could say that there are brands that are good at this; and we're here to say that Bentley is one of them.
For decades, the Bentley Continental GT has been the British luxury automaker's flagship model when it comes to GT cars. Its presence is felt and heard the moment it hits the road, both in looks and in power. Sorry if it sounds boring, but the latest model is the best of all, not just in incremental improvements but in massive changes.
Alright, let's face it—yes, it's electrified. We've said it before and we'll say it again: embrace it. But if you put it all on paper, the hybrid makes sense with today's 4.0L twin single-scroll turbo V8. We are not talking about efficiency, and no, this is not an eco-conscious statement. It's logical because the ride is super smooth, the power delivery is instant when you need it, and there's plenty of push available. Add in the very attractive build and luxury you'd expect at $300k+ USD, and the 2025 Bentley Continental GT Speed could potentially become your favorite GT.
As such, we had the opportunity to Test Drive the new brute coupé over ~100 miles in the Swiss Alps. Here are the insights we gained.
This is the Best of All Continental GTs
The Continental GT coupe has always been Bentley's aggressive and muscular brute. With its long hood and open rear fenders, it gave it a menacing stance and an uncompromising macho aesthetic that was closer to a muscle car than a sleek grand tourer. The new edition is no different, but there are updates that are really sexy.
The most obvious change is at the front, with a new set of headlights that bring the Bentley into a new era of design. Gone are the quad headlamps; we really liked it because it gave it a distinct look that defines a Bentley, but we can't deny that the new eyebrows are also attractive. The headlights are now embedded in the bumper with a sharper angle, under the hood which is lower and less bulgy. At the front, the latest edition is really very different from the first generation which was too round and curvy – the Continental GT is serious about this new design language and more clearly expresses the “Grand Tourer” style.
At the back, the long LED tail lamps are definitely more updated, and Design 101 notes that the wider elements promote a wider line, so the back of the new Continental GT is really big. The trunk has also been redesigned with a more open and sharper “tail” that helps with downforce, without the need for an active spoiler to deploy. This not only made the design simpler and more streamlined, but also a better design with no moving parts. Our car has a Gravity Gray color that looks subdued, but it's a good choice for those looking for something less flashy—it might be better to go for the 22” “Tiger Claw”-styled wheels in silver, since the all-black variety We are less impressive.
It's Still Very Luxury
To us, Bentley means “luxury” from start to finish. It's priced high, the branding is elegant, and its audience expects the best in automotive performance. So, for a Grand Tourer that is not only powerful and smooth on the outside, the inside must also be impressive and extremely comfortable.
We really like the quilt pattern door panels, but we were impressed by how much we liked it even though it wasn't an exotic material—in fact, it almost felt like fabric. However, its design is sharp and always catches our eye every time we open the doors. The leather accents – baby blue against the dark wine interior – also make a lasting impression. If you're not a fan of this combo, of course Bentley has endless possibilities for you through their Mulliner customization program.
Well, one of the things that hasn't changed from the first-to-third generations is the selection of super premium interior materials, like polished aluminum vent pulls, metallic paddle shifters, swatches of alcantara in front of you, and more. . We're not big fans of carbon fiber interiors—real or not—but touching the entire dashboard and seeing that consistency and perfection is something you've come to expect from Bentley, and they didn't disappoint. Simply put, our fun trip to the Swiss Alps is unparalleled, inside and out.
Hybrid Drive Makes the Grand Tourer Amazing
And speaking of cruises, this brings up the elephant-in-the-room – the Bentley Continental GT Speed has officially gone hybrid. Say what you will, but the hybrid engine—or dare we say, full EV—even—is perfect for the grand tour. Let us explain.
The whole point of a grand tour drive depends on a few key factors: speed through smoothness, refined driving, elegant interior, and of course, massive power. And if electric/hybrid power can do it all, what are we really arguing about? At our briefing, we were not surprised to learn that our 2025 Continental GT Speed is “the most powerful GT ever” – marketing jargon for “well, duh.” But when we saw the numbers, it was the advancement that really surprised us, as power rose from 659 PS (650 hp) and 900 Nm (664 lb-ft) to 782 and 1000 (771 hp, 737 lb-ft) accordingly. The 120 hp and 107 lb-ft increase is a big deal, of course considering the added hybridized weight. So even though you can be proud of "the good ol' V12," the 4.0L twin-turbo V8 and electric motor pairing still makes our stomach churn.
Although a grand tourer isn't really meant to corner as fast as a light and nimble roadster, the CGT Speed actually performs well, not only absorbing sudden jerks and dives but also absorbing of undulations like a champion. We didn't feel much pitch and squat from accelerating and braking. The latter worried us a bit, as our cold driving didn't play well with the carbon ceramic brakes as it squealed until it was “hot hot” as needed. But overall, there were times during our two-hour stint where we realized that as heavy as the Conti GT Speed is (Bentley didn't provide an exact number), it lived up to our expectations for a grand tourer.
Is the Bentley Continental GT Speed the new benchmark for grand tourers? Nope. There is always room for further development when it comes to everything a GT car should be—balance between power and efficiency, exhilaration, handling, extreme comfort, and so much more. But what we experienced in our short time with it painted a clear picture; there's a reason Bentley touts the Continental GT as the ultimate journey car for your ultimate journeys, and for the folks in Crewe, England to turn it into a hybrid was the right move, no doubt.
