(continued from above)
While the first Continental GTC was elegant and understated, the
sharper radii and assertive stance of the new model delivers a more contemporary
and muscular presence. Advanced manufacturing techniques produce aluminium front
wings without the need for seams or welds creating the look and feel of a
coach-built car. Twenty-inch wheels are now standard with three styles of
21-inch wheel, a first for GTC, available as an option, reinforcing the
distinctive, sporting stance of the new Bentley.
The four-seater luxury
convertible features a new, even more spacious and sumptuous hand-crafted cabin,
with soft-touch leather hides, an extensive range of wood veneers, cool-touch
metals and deep-pile carpets. There are 17 standard soft-touch leather hide
colors with six color split combinations, complemented by a range of seven
veneers, all produced by Bentley's talented craftsmen and women.
The
GTC's renowned coupe-like refinement is also enhanced. The tailored,
multi-layered fabric hood is complemented by acoustic glass and under-body
panels, for optimum noise isolation.
Superb everyday practicality for a
luxury convertible was a hallmark of the original GTC and much valued by its
customers. The cabin of the 2012 Bentley Continental GTC is now even more
practical, with additional rear legroom, new storage solutions and innovative
features such as touch-screen infotainment, automatic seat-belt presenters and a
Bentley-designed Neck Warmer for comfortable roof-down motoring whatever the
temperature.
A wider track, front and rear, sharper steering and retuned
suspension provides a more exhilarating and class-leading drive. Bentley's
advanced all-wheel drive system features a new 40:60 rear torque bias (compared
with 50:50 of the original GTC) minimizing understeer during hard cornering and
allowing the spirited driver to manage the car's line and balance via precise
throttle control.
This compelling dynamic package is combined with a more
powerful 6.0-liter, twin-turbocharged W12 engine as well as a new QuickShift
transmission enabling faster gear changes than ever before. Power output is
raised from 575 hp and the famed Bentley 'wave of torque' has been increased by
to 516 lb-ft (700 Nm).
"The GTC has always been the most emotional model
in the Continental range and a showcase for Bentley design. With its tailored
soft top, the GTC is a pure British convertible true to those classic Bentleys
of the past. However, the technology, performance and overall design excellence
invested in this model means that we are now writing a new chapter for the
Bentley convertible driver," said Wolfgang Dürheimer, Chairman and Chief Executive, Bentley Motors.
The 2012 Bentley Continental GTC is now available to order and first customer
deliveries will begin in late 2011.
