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Bentley is giving its top-selling Bentley Continental GT models a power and styling refresh for the Geneva Motor Show 2015. The wraps will come off the luxury GT at the Swiss event early next month with the refreshed cars hitting the road this summer.

The luxurious and powerful Flying Spur saloon sister car is also refreshed, concentrating on powertrain development, on-board technology and comfort. Onboard WiFi, providing connectivity to all handheld devices in the car, is also now available across the Continental family.

Chairman and CEO of Bentley Motors Wolfgang Dürheimer says: “We listen carefully to our customers, and with these new evolutions we’re making our cars even more stylish, efficient, connected and useable every day.”

Under the bonnet of the 2015 Bentley Continental GT W12, the mighty 6.0-litre twin turbo W12 sees power rise from 575 to 590 PS and torque increase from 700 to 720 Nm. Fuel economy is also improved by up to 5 per cent with the added ability to run on just six of the 12 cylinders to cut thirst, with CO2 emissions down to 329 g/km and combined economy of 20 mpg (14.1 litres/100 km).

2015 Bentley Continental GT Facelift

The more powerful 2015 Bentley Flying Spur’s 625 PS / 800 Nm W12 engine also gains in efficiency and gets the same variable displacement system as the Continental GT W12, meaning lower consumption, raised range and 333 g/km emissions.

The 2015 Bentley Continental GTs are distinguished by a new, more assertive, ‘face’ with new front bumper and a smaller radiator shell. The GT gets more pronounced front wings with a new side vent highlighted by a metallic ‘Flying B’ badge to emphasise the ‘power lines’ flowing back from the front wheel arches. Bright chrome badging for V8 S and W12 models match those already distinguishing the GT Speed.

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At the back, the more sculpted boot lid’s trailing edge gains a pronounced aerodynamic profile, the rear bumper is reshaped and widened and adds full-width brightware, while the V8 S and GT Speed also gain a new rear diffuser emphasising the performance models.

In between on the road there are new 20-inch and 21-inch wheel designs available, with a new 20-inch, six-tri-spoke wheel standard for the GT V8 and GT W12, painted for the V8 and bright machined for the W12. The Mulliner Driving Specification wheel changes to a new 21-inch seven-twin-spoke design in Graphite grey with bright spokes, while a new 21-inch five-spoke directional sports wheel joins the existing design for the V8 S and GT Speed.

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Inside, the luxurious cabins are upgraded with a new straight-fluting pattern for the four seats, while the Mulliner Driving Specification – standard on GT Speed – adds a tight “small-diamond” quilt pattern. Driver controls are all-new, with an optional more ergonomic and sports-orientated steering wheel and larger gear-shift paddles with tactile knurled metal embellishers.

The instrument panel gets new dials and graphics for a refreshed look, now given a cool highlight with LED illumination. The centre console also features a new black gear lever surround. In the back both V8 and V8 S coupe models get a new storage compartment hidden between the seats, for hiding and charging electronic devices such as iPads.

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New options include the best quality leather available in the automotive market for the GT W12 and Speed, with softer semi-aniline hide for the cushions and backrests for an even more luxurious feel, and Alcantara headlining colour-matched to all 17 available hide colours is available for GT V8 S, GT W12 and Speed coupe models.

Completing the refresh are three new paint colours: Marlin, a rich metallic blue; Camel, a soft golden tone, and Jetstream, a light, bright metallic blue.

[showhide](Crewe, 17th February 2015) Bentley Motors is building on the global demand for the Continental GT family with a suite of contemporary design updates and new exquisite features for its most successful model. Bentley’s luxurious and powerful Flying Spur also receives a set of features for 2015, focusing on powertrain development, on-board technology and interior comfort.

The new models will be unveiled and displayed at the Geneva Motor Show from Tuesday 3rd March, with deliveries starting this summer.

Wolfgang Dürheimer, chairman and CEO of Bentley Motors, comments:

“Bentley offers uncompromised luxury and performance with ultimate comfort for grand touring and our new 2015 features extend the appeal of our family. We listen carefully to our customers, and with these new evolutions we’re making our cars even more stylish, efficient, connected and useable every day.”

Exterior Evolution for the Continental GT

The Bentley Continental GT is refreshed with a complement of new exterior design features, aimed at sharpening the on-road presence of the iconic Grand Tourer. A new front bumper combines with a smaller radiator shell and new, more pronounced fenders to lend a more assertive and confident stance to the front of the car. The fenders now feature a new vent, complete with a graceful metallic “B” adornment, which serve to emphasise and enhance the renowned Bentley “power line” that flows rearwards from the front arches. New bright chrome fender badges for the V8 S and W12 models now match those applied to the GT Speed.

At the rear of the car, the boot lid is now more sculpted, with a pronounced aerodynamic profile to the trailing edge. The rear bumper has been reshaped and widened for an added sense of power, and now features full-width brightware. The V8 S and GT Speed also gain a new rear diffuser design to further differentiate the performance-focused members of the Continental family.

The revisions to the exterior aesthetic are completed with the addition of new wheels to the range of 20” and 21” designs available. The standard wheel for the GT V8 and GT W12 becomes a new 20”, six-tri-spoke wheel, in painted finish for the V8 and bright machined for the W12. The Mulliner Driving Specification wheel changes to a new 21” seven-twin-spoke design, finished in Graphite grey with bright machined spokes. Finally, a new 21” five-spoke directional sports wheel joins the existing 21” design available for the V8 S and GT Speed.

Enhancing the GT’s iconic silhouette further, three new paint colours are available: Marlin (a rich metallic blue), Camel (a soft golden tone) and Jetstream (a light, bright metallic blue).

Modern Refinements to an Unrivalled Cabin

The visual upgrades continue inside the luxury cabin of the Continental range. A new and contemporary straight-fluting pattern adorns the four generous seats, while the Mulliner Driving Specification (standard on GT Speed) gains a tightened, “small-diamond” quilting pattern reminiscent of a tailored British jacket. Driver controls are all-new, with an optional, more ergonomic and sports-orientated steering wheel and larger gear-shift paddles incorporating tactile knurled metal embellishers.

Brightware elements across the console are updated, the driver’s instrument panel receives new dials and graphics for a refreshed, more contemporary look, and the beauty of the new interior is now illuminated by LEDs. The centre console also features a new black gear lever surround, unifying the style of all driver controls. For V8 and V8 S coupe models, a new hidden storage compartment is fitted between the rear seats, capable of accommodating and charging electronic devices including iPads.

In addition to the changes to the standard specification, a new range of optional interior features has been developed.

GT W12 and GT Speed models can now be specified with new, softer semi-aniline hide for the seat cushions and backrests, represent the highest quality of leather available in the automotive market and giving an even more comfortable, luxurious and natural feel. Two new leather colours join the Continental range for 2015 – Shortbread and Camel.

Furthermore, the headlining of GT V8 S, GT W12 and Speed coupe models is now available in Alcantara®, colour matched to all 17 of the available interior hide colours.

Onboard WiFi, providing connectivity to all handheld devices in the car is also now available across the Continental family.

W12 Performance and Efficiency Continues

Under the revised skin of the Continental GT W12 lie three changes to the mighty 6.0-litre twin turbo W12 powertrain. Firstly, the engine receives a power and torque increase, from 575 PS (567 bhp / 423 kW) and 700 Nm (516 lb.ft) to 590 PS (582 bhp / 434 kW) and 720 Nm (531 lb.ft), to maintain the model’s reputation of effortless performance.

The power upgrade is accompanied by improvements to fuel economy of up to 5%. The GT W12 now includes a variable displacement system and the new evolution is able to run at part throttle on six of its 12 cylinders to reduce fuel consumption without sacrificing refinement and offers lower CO2 emissions of 329 g/km and combined fuel economy of 20 mpg (14.1 litres/100 km).

Luxury of choice extended on Flying Spur

Bentley’s four-door luxury sedan, the Flying Spur, continues to appeal to the discerning, successful individual and additional features for 2015 offer even more bespoke choice.

A new 20” six-tri-spoke wheel is available for both V8 and W12 powered Flying Spurs, in three different finishes, while a 21” seven-twin-spoke design is offered on the Flying Spur W12 Mulliner in polished or Graphite painted with bright machining finishes.

The exquisite cabin of the Flying Spur also gains modern and tactile new features to maintain Bentley’s reputation for interior style and usability. The driver instruments are updated with contemporary graphics, while the steering wheel receives a new more sporting design. A knurled metal finisher adorns the optional gear shift paddles, and the Flying Spur receives the same onboard WiFi hotspot system as the updated Continental family for ultimate connectivity while travelling – keeping the Flying Spur as the ultimate car for work or relaxation.

Complementing the feature upgrades are new paint colours in the hues of Marlin, Camel and Jetstream – as per the Continental GT – and the addition of Shortbread and Camel hides to the extensive range of leathers.

The 625 PS (616 bhp / 460 kw) / 800 Nm (590 lb.ft) Flying Spur W12 engine gains efficiencies and even greater grand touring capability thanks to the variable displacement system now included on the Continental GT W12, for lower fuel consumption, increased range and lower emissions of 333 g/km CO2.[/showhide]

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3 COMMENTS

  1. I’ll aaaaaaaaalways prefer the base model when it comes to Bentleys. I want the softest suspension and the cushiest tire sidewall. A stiffened Bentley is a rolling paradox.

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