The new car will make its world debut at the 2017 Frankfurt motor show in September. This Bentley has been developed from the ground up and will be built on the Porsche-developed MSB (Modularen Standardantrieb Baukasten) platform. It will share its underpinnings with the latest Panamera and will also be made as an open-top GTC.
The structure is claimed to be more rigid, front-to-rear weight distribution is significantly improved and a reduced centre of gravity – factors which give the car better handling, sharper responses and greater refinement than the current model. The new platform also allows both rear- and four-wheel-drive versions of the new coupé.
The second incarnation will also feature an extended range of powertrains, including a new petrol-electric hybrid unit. The top-of-the-line Continental GT will continue to be powered by Bentley’s 6.0-litre, twin-turbocharged W12 engine, which will include a particulate filter, among other changes, to meet the stringent new EU-mandated emissions standards slated for 2021.
There will also be a diesel engine to the Continental GT for the first time – the Audi-sourced 4.0-litre, twin-turbocharged V8 motor already used by the Bentayga.