Bentley Continental GT Speed W12 - 2013

From boardroom plan to boulevard icon. The first-generation Bentley Continental GT (internal Mk1), unveiled at the 2003 Geneva Motor Show, was the car that rewired Bentley for the 21st century. Built at Crewe but engineered with deep Volkswagen Group resources, it married hand-finished craftsmanship to a modern, high-volume architecture related to the VW Phaeton. Its 6.0-litre twin‑turbo W12, standard all-wheel drive and air suspension gave it cross-continental pace in all weather, and the headline 560 PS (552 bhp) became the defining number of the early GT.

Why 560 mattered. At launch the 560 PS W12 delivered 0–100 km/h in about 4.8 s and 318 km/h flat out—extraordinary numbers for a 2.3‑tonne 2+2. Early cars used a 50:50 Torsen split; later model years adopted a rear‑biased 40:60 tune to dial out understeer, one of several running upgrades. The ZF 6‑speed Tiptronic, CDC air suspension and huge vented discs gave the Continental GT real-world, any‑season ability that rivals—Aston Martin DB9, Mercedes‑Benz CL, later Maserati GranTurismo—could only match in parts.

Upgrades and evolution (2003–2010). Bentley kept polishing the 560 package: the Mulliner Driving Specification arrived with 20‑inch wheels, diamond‑quilted hide, drilled pedals and sportier calibration; steering and chassis revisions rolled in by mid‑cycle; the torque split moved rear‑ward; and premium options like the Naim for Bentley 1,100‑W audio appeared. The range broadened around it—GT Speed (more power, 40:60 split, optional carbon‑ceramics) in 2007 and the biofuel‑capable Supersports in 2009—yet the 560 remained the core grand tourer that most customers chose. Limited design packs (e.g. Series 51) kept it fresh near the end of Mk1 production before the second‑generation GT arrived for MY2011.

Impact and reception. Critics lauded its tidal torque, beautifully trimmed cabin and uncanny ease at speed, while noting its mass and sometimes aloof steering feel. Jeremy Clarkson famously quipped about its VW parentage, yet the marketplace voted with chequebooks: the GT became Britain’s best‑selling six‑figure coupe for years and the first “volume” Bentley, securing the brand’s financial future. It also normalised all‑wheel drive and twin‑turbo 12‑cylinders in the luxury GT class.

Culture and curios. The Continental GT 560 quickly became a fixture in Premier League car parks and on music videos, a rolling shorthand for success. It’s appeared across major racing games (Forza, Need for Speed et al.), starred in glossy print ads that juxtaposed Savile Row tailoring with autobahn velocity, and served as a discreet yet unmistakable chariot for celebrities who preferred understatement to supercar flash.

In sum: the Mk1 Continental GT 560 wasn’t just fast; it redefined the modern Bentley—handcrafted, high tech, devastatingly rapid and usable every day—while setting the template for the two generations that followed (to 2018) and much of the luxury GT market as we know it.