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Bentley Continental GT
Car and Driver says the 2025 Bentley Continental GT has been fully revealed with the Speed model's plug-in-hybrid V8 powertrain producing 771 horsepower, and that it is now 21 years since the first Volkswagen-era Continental GT launched with a turbocharged 6.0-liter W12 making 552 horsepower to motivate 5,250 pounds of mass. It says the 2025 car, which Bentley describes as the fourth generation despite continuing to share much of its core structure with its predecessor, is heavier but mightier. MotorTrend says it hustled the all-wheel-drive Continental GT Speed to 60 mph in just 2.8 seconds, and that electrifying the Continental helps make it the most powerful Bentley ever.
From W12 to plug-in hybrid
Car and Driver (opens in a new tab) says the 2025 Bentley Continental GT has been fully revealed, with the Speed model's plug-in-hybrid V8 powertrain producing 771 horsepower, and that it is now 21 years since the first Volkswagen-era Continental GT was launched, a car that used a turbocharged 6.0-liter W12 making 552 horsepower to motivate its 5,250 pounds of mass.
A heavier, mightier fourth generation
Car and Driver (opens in a new tab) says more radical change arrives with the 2025 Continental GT, which Bentley describes as the fourth generation, despite continuing to share much of its core structure with its predecessor, and titles its report on the change 'heavier but mightier.'
The most powerful Bentley ever
MotorTrend (opens in a new tab) says it hustled the all-wheel-drive 2025 Bentley Continental GT Speed to a 60-mph time of just 2.8 seconds, on to a 10.8-second quarter mile at 130.7 mph, and that electrifying the Continental helps make it the most powerful Bentley ever, while also giving it a sedate EV-touring mode.
Questions buyers ask
How much horsepower does the Bentley Continental GT Speed have?
Car and Driver (opens in a new tab) says 771 hp from its plug-in-hybrid V8.
How old is the Bentley Continental GT nameplate?
Car and Driver (opens in a new tab) says 21 years as of the 2025 model's reveal.
Research map
Every major decision path.
The 2026 Bentley Continental GT is built around Ultra Performance Hybrid V8, rated at 771 horsepower across its grand touring coupe/convertible body style.
Explore this topic →02Trims and equipmentThe 2026 U.S. lineup has 5 trims.
Explore this topic →03Towing and capabilityThe 2026 Continental GT seats 4 and is a Grand touring coupe/convertible.
Explore this topic →04Safety and ownershipNHTSA recalls, complaints and crash ratings for the 2026 Continental GT.
Explore this topic →Current model year
2026 Bentley Continental GT
Every current Continental GT trim shares the same Ultra Performance Hybrid V8 at 771 horsepower and 738 lb-ft; the five trims separate by chassis tuning (S), wellbeing-focused equipment (Azure) and top-tier craftsmanship (Mulliner), not output.
Read specifications, trims, answers and sourcesModel-year archive
3 indexed Bentley Continental GT model years.
| Model year | Trims | Open record |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Bentley Continental GT | 2026 record → | |
| 2025 Bentley Continental | 2025 record → | |
| 2020 Bentley Continental | 2020 record → |
Background and safety record
What public sources say about the Bentley Continental GT.
The Bentley Continental GT is a grand touring car manufactured and marketed by the British company Bentley Motors since 2003. The Continental GT is offered as a two-door coupé or convertible, with four seats. It was the first new Bentley released after the company's acquisition by Volkswagen AG in 1998, and the first Bentley to employ mass production manufacturing techniques.
Source: Bentley Continental GT (Wikipedia); safety and recall figures from NHTSA.
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)
Bentley Continental GT generations
The Bentley Continental GT has been redesigned in 2011, 2018, 2024, gaps of 8, 7, 6 years, an average of 7.0 years between generations. The current generation (fourth generation) began in 2024.
| Generation | Code | Began | What changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| Second generation | n/a | 2011–2018 | The vehicle was unveiled at the 2010 Paris Motor Show. |
| Third generation | n/a | 2018–2024 | The press release announcing a third-generation Continental GT was made on 29 August 2017. |
| 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. |
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.
Year by year
The Bentley Continental GT across 10 model years.
| Model year | Combined MPG/MPGe | EPA annual fuel cost | EPA records | NHTSA recalls | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Bentley Continental GT | 19 | $4,200 | 2 | ||
| 2025 Bentley Continental | 19 | $4,100 | 4 | ||
| 2024 Bentley Continental | 14–17 | $4,550–$5,550 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2023 Bentley Continental | 14–18 | $4,300–$5,550 | 4 | 1 | |
| 2022 Bentley Continental | 14–19 | $4,100–$5,550 | 4 | ||
| 2021 Bentley Continental | 15–19 | $4,100–$5,150 | 4 | ||
| 2020 Bentley Continental | 15–19 | $4,100–$5,150 | 3 | ||
| 2017 Bentley Continental | 15–18 | $4,300–$5,150 | 2 | 1 | |
| 2016 Bentley Continental | 15–18 | $4,300–$5,150 | 2 | ||
| 2015 Bentley Continental | 15–18 | $4,300–$5,150 | 3 |
Year-to-year changes
What changed in the Bentley Continental GT, one model year at a time.
| Step | EPA records | Combined MPG/MPGe, midpoint | Electric range, miles | Added | No longer listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 to 2026 | 4 to 2 | Labels: Continental GT Speed, Continental GTC Speed | |||
| 2024 to 2025 | 15.5 to 19.0 | first listed: 30 | Labels: Continental GT Speed, Continental GTC Speed; Engines: 4L 8-cyl SIDI; PHEV; Fuels: Premium and Electricity | Engines: 4L 8-cyl SIDI, 6L 12-cyl SIDI & PFI; Fuels: Premium | |
| 2023 to 2024 | 16.0 to 15.5 | Labels: Continental GTC | Labels: Continental GT Convertible, Continental GT Convertible Speed, Continental GT Speed | ||
| 2022 to 2023 | 16.5 to 16.0 | Labels: Continental GT Convertible, Continental GT Convertible Speed | Labels: Continental GT Speed Convertible, Continental GT V8 Convertible | ||
| 2021 to 2022 | 17.0 to 16.5 | Labels: Continental GT Speed, Continental GT Speed Convertible, Continental GT V8 Convertible | Labels: Continental GT Convertible | ||
| 2020 to 2021 | 3 to 4 | ||||
| 2017 to 2020 | 2 to 3 | 16.5 to 17.0 | Labels: Continental GT Convertible; Engines: 6L 12-cyl SIDI & PFI; Transmissions: Automatic (AM-S8); Size classes: Minicompact Cars, Subcompact Cars | Engines: 6L 12-cyl; Transmissions: Automatic (S8); Size classes: Compact Cars | |
| 2015 to 2016 | 3 to 2 | Engines: 6L 12-cyl | Labels: Continental GT3-R; Engines: 6L 12-cyl FFV; Fuels: Premium or E85; Size classes: Two Seaters |
Trim by trim
Every 2017 Bentley Continental GT trim side by side.
| Trim | Drive | Engine | Horsepower | Torque (lb-ft) | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Combined mpg | Base price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GT V8 | AWD | 4.0-liter V8 (Twin Turbo) | 500 | 487 | 5,060 | – | 19 | – |
| GT V8 S | AWD | 4.0-liter V8 (Twin Turbo) | 521 | 502 | 5,060 | – | 19 | – |
| GT | AWD | W12, Twin Turbo, FF, 6.0L | 582 | 531 | 5,115 | – | 15 | – |
| GT Speed | AWD | W12, Twin Turbo, FF, 6.0L | 633 | 620 | 5,115 | – | 15 | – |
| Supersports | AWD | W12, Twin Turbo, FF, 6.0L | 700 | 750 | 5,027 | – | 14 | – |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for the 2017 model year; base price is KBB's national base price where its list carries the trim by the same name. A dash means KBB lists no figure.
Specifications by year
Power, weight and towing for every Bentley Continental GT model year.
| Model year | Trims | Engines | Horsepower | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Fuel tank (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 5 | 4.0-liter V8 (Twin Turbo) / W12, Twin Turbo, FF, 6.0L | 500–700 | 5,027–5,115 | – | 24 |
| 2016 | 4 | 4.0-liter V8 (Twin Turbo) / W12, Twin Turbo, FF, 6.0L | 500–626 | 5,445–5,500 | – | 24 |
| 2015 | 5 | 4.0-liter V8 (Twin Turbo) / W12, Twin Turbo, FF, 6.0L | 500–626 | 4,840–5,115 | – | 24 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for each model year. A range covers every trim KBB lists that year; a dash means KBB lists no figure.
Model-year recall record
Bentley Continental GT: which model years carry more or fewer federal safety recalls.
| Model year | Federal recalls on file | Complaints on file | Recalls most commonly affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | not available | ||
| 2025 | not available | ||
| 2024 | 0 | ||
| 2023 | 1 | ||
| 2022 | not available | ||
| 2021 | not available | ||
| 2020 | not available | ||
| 2019 | 0 | ||
| 2018 | 1 | not available | steering |
| 2017 | 1 | not available | steering |
| 2016 | not available | ||
| 2015 | not available |
Method: recall counts and their affected components come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Recalls API, queried by exact make, model and model year. Complaint counts come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Complaints API, same query pattern. Data pulled 2026-09-04.
Known gap: the NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Bentley Continental GT model years 2017, 2018 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream, not returning a genuine zero. Those years are marked "not available" above instead of shown as clean; recall counts for those years are unaffected and come from the separate recalls API, which returned data for every year listed.
Check open recalls by VIN for one particular vehicle.
Q01Is there a best year to buy a Bentley Continental GT?
Federal recall records don't single out a best Bentley Continental GT model year: recall counts across the 2 published model years checked here stay within a normal range of this nameplate's own average (about n/a recalls per year), with no year standing out as notably higher or lower. Recall count is one input, not a purchase verdict. It says nothing about a specific vehicle's price, mileage, accident history or maintenance record.
Q02What are common recall-related problems on the Bentley Continental GT by model year?
2018: steering. 2017: steering.
Q03Why do some Bentley Continental GT model years show "not available" for complaints?
The NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Bentley Continental GT model years 2017, 2018 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream instead of the count genuinely being zero. Recall counts for those years are unaffected; they come from a separate NHTSA endpoint that returned data for every year listed.
Diagnosing one of these symptoms? The recalled systems above map to this site’s own ownership desks: general, evidence-first guidance that applies regardless of whether the specific vehicle in front of you was ever part of a recall campaign: Brakes, tires and steering.
Compared with
Models this Bentley Continental GT is most often compared with.
Nearest Bentley models
Other Bentley models.
Frequent questions
Answers with their conditions intact.
Q01How many trims does the 2026 Continental GT come in?
The 2026 Bentley Continental GT (grand touring coupe/convertible) comes in 5 trims: Continental GT, Continental GT S, Continental GT Azure, Continental GT Speed, Continental GT Mulliner.
Q02What are the 2026 Continental GT trims?
The 2026 Bentley Continental GT trims are Continental GT, Continental GT S, Continental GT Azure, Continental GT Speed, Continental GT Mulliner, listed from the entry Continental GT up to the top Continental GT Mulliner.
Q03What engine or powertrain does the 2026 Continental GT use?
The 2026 Bentley Continental GT is built around Ultra Performance Hybrid V8, rated at 771 horsepower across its grand touring coupe/convertible body style.
Q04How much horsepower does the 2026 Continental GT have?
The 2026 Bentley Continental GT is rated at 771 horsepower (Ultra Performance Hybrid V8).
Q05Is AWD or 4WD available on the 2026 Continental GT?
The 2026 Bentley Continental GT is offered with Standard AWD.