2007 Bentley Continental GTC

By and large, long-standing luxury brands have done well at mixing their traditions with modern image and technology. The latest effort from the fabled Bentley brand to bring that combination to a very wealthy public is the convertible Continental GTC.  It’s everything we expect in a modern Bentley. And that is a lot.

There are few prestige car brands like Bentley. And as a result, few rivals to the 2007 Continental GTC. This 2+2 drop-top version of Bentley’s breakout Continental GT coupe, is designed to be the ultimate in open-air motoring. This stunning full-size convertible is built on a heavily-braced variation of the coupe’s chassis. Convertible reinforcements add 242 pounds of metal, raising the GTC’s curb weight to a hefty 5,500 pounds.

The GTC’s top is a sleek, low-profile, multi-layer fabric design. With seven support bows, that’s at least two more than typical; it’s very strong yet also very compact. Retraction under a hard tonneau cover takes a graceful 25 seconds, and can be operated while the car is moving at up to 20 miles-per-hour. The top drops behind a high-tech rollover protection system with two quick-deploy steel roll hoops beneath the rear headrests. 

But even a compact top assembly takes up space. So, Bentley stretched the GTC’s rear deck so the storage well would not totally compromise rear seat and trunk space.  This means no loss of head and leg room in an already coupe tight second row.  And while the trunk does shrink 30%, its still a weekend getaway sized 9.2 cubic-feet.

And who wouldn’t want to get away in the GTC’s ultra-luxurious cabin. As in the coupe, there is of course, a wealth of wood.  The seats boast a wide range of power adjustments, plus standard heat and optional massage, while the power steering column tilts and telescopes.

But the heart of the GTC cabin is the multi-function infotainment center, that controls audio, navigation, phone, and in foreign markets, an optional TV tuner. This classy cabin, and the big broad-shouldered body that surrounds it, are motivated by the same Volkswagen-designed W12 engine that propels the Continental GT. This twin-turbo dual-cam powerplant churns out 552 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque.  It shifts gears with a ZF-built 6-speed automatic gearbox that can be manually controlled by paddles mounted on the steering wheel.

The GTC’s purebred ponies romp through the same full-time all-wheel-drive system with torque-sensing center differential as the GT and down to the pavement though big 19-inch 1-piece alloy wheels. Larger 20-inch wheels are optional. Tire pressure monitoring is standard. Wheel behavior is controlled by a 4-link assembly at the front, and at the rear, a GTC exclusive trapezoidal multi-link design with air springs and electronically controlled shocks.

Driver aids include electronic stability control and traction control.  All stopped by the biggest brakes on any production car, 15.9-inch discs up front and 13.2-inch in the rear. We put the GTC to our first state-side test on the roads, rather appropriately, through California’s wine country.

The W12 engine produces tons of refined power every time that you put your right foot down. The factory says 0 to 60 is dispatched in only 4.8 seconds, or just a hair longer than the coupe. Turn this big coupe into a corner and the front end will push, scrubbing off speed. But it melts away at mid-corner, as the all-wheel-drive’s copious grip takes hold.

Body roll is tightly monitored by the computerized suspension. The speed-sensitive steering is very quick, but like so many luxury cars, delivers little feedback.  It’s a long way from being a sports car, but Bentley’s big drop top is remarkably nimble for its size and weight.

Most owners will never drive the GTC as hard as we did, content to cruise serenely down quiet country roads, delighting in the refinement and luxury that few other cars can deliver. Of course only a few other cars will cost you more than the GTC’s $189,990. So, all this comes as no surprise.

As the third creation since being acquired by Volkswagen, the 2007 Bentley Continental GTC provides this historic English brand with a totally worthy open air ideal. A car that combine class, comfort, prestige, and technology that no other convertible can match.