The Bentley Continental GT is a two door, four seater grand tourer produced by Bentley from 2003 onwards. It's offered in a variety of forms, the two door GT Conti Coupe, the two door GTC, and the four door Flying Spur with a selection of engines, it's 6.0L Twin-Turbo W12 and it's 4.0L Twin-Turbo V8.
When the first gen Continental GT first came out, it was a car hated by all three Top Gear presenters, due it's footballers image, dreary styling, dull interior and awful imagery. Jeremy Clarkson in particular, noted it being the most dreary piece of styling he'd ever seen. However as time went, on, mainly thanks to the introduction of 4.0L V8, the trio grew fond of the Bentley, praising it's solid engineering, charming characteristics and improved styling. It changed from being a car that all three presenters disliked to a car that all three presenters admired. Jeremy Clarkson was so impressed that he recently purchased a third gen Continental Flying Spur.
Appearances[]
- In Series 3, Episode 3, Jeremy tested the Continental GT for the first time. While he praised the comfort, speed and reliability, he criticized its dull interior and it's lack of personality, comparing it to Budleigh Salterton. Jeremy and James are amazed by how popular the Continental is.
- In Clarkson: Shoot-Out, Jeremy reviewed the Continental GT once again, criticizing it's lack of personality, comparing it to the old Bentley Arnage. He concluded that the Arnage "was a bad car, that was exciting" while the Continental was "a good car, that isn't".
- In Series 4, Episode 7, James in the Continental GT loses in a drag race against Richard in the Aston Martin DB9 and Jeremy in the Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG.
- In Series 6, Episode 10, James heads to Dubai to test the Bentley Continental Flying Spur. Despite having initial reservations over it's styling and engine, he ends up enjoying the car, praising it for being a proper Bentley. Jeremy however, still was unappealed by the styling and states that a Volkswagen Phaeton is a better buy.
- In Series 15, Episode 1, Jeremy loathes the Continental Supersports, describing it as sham and lambasting Bentley for attempting to turn a luxury cruiser into a superyacht. He concludes stating that if he wanted a British supercar for £170,000, he'd buy an Aston Martin DBS. The Stig takes it around the Top Gear Test Track in 1:24.9.
- In Series 18, Episode 4, Jeremy heads to Arjeplog Sweden where he compares the updated V8 Continental GT against the Ferrari FF. In a surprise turn of events, Jeremy praises the Continental's ease of drive, beautiful interior, comfortable seats, bellowing soundtrack and easy handling, stating it was far superior to the FF, being 14 seconds quicker on an ice track. Despite this, he felt that if he wanted to visit Arjeplog, he'd use a Range Rover. Despite this, Jeremy admitted he was deeply impressed with the Continental.
- In "Supercars", Ferrara chooses a Continental GTC as the supercar for a wealthy client against Wood in the Lamborghini LP640 Murciélago Roadster and Foust in a Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet.
- In Series 19, Episode 1, James reviews the Continental GT Speed, praising it's speed, comfort, build quality and drivability. He later puts the Continental in the hands of Kris Meeke as it's taken around a Welsh Rally Stage, beating a WRC Rally Car. Jeremy and James conclude that the Continental is a fabulous car despite the image problem.
- In "Winter Drive" Foust is rewarded by driving the Continental GT V8, beating a snowboarder down a ski slope before beating the snowboarder up it again.
- In Top Gear: The Perfect Road Trip, Jeremy and Richard choose a Continental GTC V8 to drive along the French coast. Despite hating each other's company, the fall in love with the Continental's soundtrack, handling, comfort and ease, both concluding that it was now a Great Car.
- In Series 22, Episode 2, Richard uses the Continental GT V8S to take on the Northern Territory in Australia against James in the Nissan GT-R and Jeremy in the BMW M6 Gran Coupe. He praises the Bentleys luxury, comfort and surprising speed, stating it would be his choice easily.
- Before his termination Jeremy was tipped to review the latest Flying Spur around the Top Gear Test Track in Series 22.
- In Series 26, Episode 3, Harris and LeBlanc conduct a dual review of the latest Continental GT, where to proves to handle a snow drift, make effortless work of a mountain road and beat a 2003 Le-Mans winning Speed 8 round Ascari. LeBlanc concludes that it's "the Best Bentley Ever".
- In Sea to Unsalty Sea, Hammond uses the latest Continental GT on a grand tour from Georgia to Azerbaijan against Clarkson in the Aston Martin DBS Superlegerra and May in the new BMW 8 Series. He praises it's interior, comfort, class and driftability, with both he and Clarkson agreeing that it was the best car used on the trip.
- In the Sunday Times, Clarkson announced the Continental GT V8 as his 2019 People's Car of the Year.
- In Series 28, Episode 6, the new Continental GT is seen as an better alternative GT car to the BMW M8 alongside an Aston Martin DB11.
- In Series 29, Episode 4, Harris uses the latest Flying Spur in a GT trip across Wales with Flintoff in a McLaren GT and McGuinness in an Aston Martin DBX as they compete against a selection of German GTs. The Flying Spur manages to beat a Panamera Sport Turismo Turbo in a comfort test.
- In A Massive Hunt, Clarkson modifies a second-gen Continental GT V8 to tackle Madagascar against Hammond in a modified Ford Focus RS and May in a modified Caterham 7 310R. Despite overheating at one point the Bentley manages to complete the journey and win it's way into Clarkson's heart, so much so that he declares it to be the best car he's ever driven. The car is now currently stored at the Bentley factory in Crewe.