Generation history
Bentley Continental GT generations and next redesign.
The Bentley Continental GT has been through 4 generations, starting in 2003, 2011, 2018 and 2024. The gaps were 8, 7, 6 years, an average of 7.0. The pace has been steady. The current generation began in 2024. On that cadence the next full redesign points to 2030 through 2032, centered on 2031. This is a projection. It comes from the model's own past redesign years, not from the manufacturer. A mid-cycle refresh usually lands in between. Public records describe the current generation this way: The press release for the 2025 Continental GT was made on 25 June 2024, following several weeks of media previews with the model's prototype. Specifications, trims and the NHTSA safety record are on the Bentley Continental GT model page.
Every generation
The Bentley Continental GT, generation by generation.
| Generation | Code | Years | What changed |
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| First generation | n/a | 2003–2011 | The vehicle debuted in 2002 at the Paris Motor Show, followed by Le Mans, the 2003 Goodwood Festival of Speed and the 2003 annual Bentley Drivers Club meeting at Silverstone. |
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| Second generation | n/a | 2011–2018 | The vehicle was unveiled at the 2010 Paris Motor Show. |
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| Third generation | n/a | 2018–2024 | The press release announcing a third-generation Continental GT was made on 29 August 2017. |
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| Fourth generation | n/a | 2024–present | The press release for the 2025 Continental GT was made on 25 June 2024, following several weeks of media previews with the model's prototype. |
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The Bentley Continental GT spent 7.0 years per generation on average. The current one is 2 years old. Treat 2030 to 2032 as a range, not a date.
Source: Bentley Continental GT (Wikipedia). The estimate is our arithmetic on those start years.
Open the Bentley Continental GT model page for specifications, trims, safety record and answers.
In more detail
What each Bentley Continental GT generation changed.
First generation, 2003 to 2011
The vehicle debuted in 2002 at the Paris Motor Show, followed by Le Mans, the 2003 Goodwood Festival of Speed and the 2003 annual Bentley Drivers Club meeting at Silverstone. The car differed from the previous Continental R & T models in terms of its concept: although much of the car is hand assembled, it is a mass-produced car made in significantly larger numbers. It is not a coach-built car. The price at launch was less than half the price of the Continental R, giving the car a wider customer base.
Second generation, 2011 to 2018
The vehicle was unveiled at the 2010 Paris Motor Show. Ordering of the Continental GT began in October 2010, with deliveries of 2011 Continental GT beginning in the first quarter of 2011. The Continental GT3's steering wheel, door pulls and seat were built in the Crewe plant. The first Continental GT3 car was built by the Bentley motorsport team in conjunction with M-Sport. The Continental GT3-R was built in the Crewe plant and finished in Bentley's Motorsport division. The production of the Volkswagen Group W12 engines used in Continental GT W12 engine models were relocated to the Crewe plant from the end of 2014 onwards.
Third generation, 2018 to 2024
The press release announcing a third-generation Continental GT was made on 29 August 2017. The model made its physical debut when it was unveiled at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show where it drew a huge crowd. Production began in 2018 with a base price of £156,700. In January 2019, Bentley announced it would celebrate its 100th birthday with a limited-edition car, likely based on the Continental GT, to debut at the Geneva auto show.
Fourth generation, 2024 to today
The press release for the 2025 Continental GT was made on 25 June 2024, following several weeks of media previews with the model's prototype. The fourth generation Continental was introduced with the top range Speed specification which made its public debut at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed. The fourth generation GT Speed is powered by a twin-turbo Ultra Performance Hybrid V8 engine, replacing the outgoing W12 engine which ceased production in mid-2024.
Generation notes adapted from Bentley Continental GT (Wikipedia).
Today's Bentley Continental GT
What the current generation is, and how it has held up.
Bentley Continental GT at a glance
- Production
- 2003–present
- Assembly
- United Kingdom: Crewe (Bentley Crewe)
- Class
- Grand tourer (S)
- Body style
- 2-door fastback coupé, 2-door convertible
- Layout
- F4 layout, FR layout (2025–present Supersports)
Recent recalls (2 campaigns across the latest model years)
- May 2026, Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft. Bentley Motors, Inc. (Bentley) is recalling certain 2026 Continental GT and Continental GTC vehicles. The front axles may have been assembled with an incorrect shorter driveshaft, which can cause the hub securing nut to loosen over time. Consequence: A loose hub securing nut can cause vibration and a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- September 2025, Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump. Bentley Motors, Inc. (Bentley) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Continental GTC, Continental GT, and 2025 Flying Spur vehicles. The bolted joint connection securing the high-pressure fuel pump to the V8 Evo engine may be improperly tightened and cause a fuel leak. Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.