2007 Bentley Continental GT

Click image for a high-res gallery of the Bentley Continental GTC Gaudy. Overstyled. Ostentatious. Attention-hungry. These are words that can be used to describe any number of high-end, six-figure automobiles with pedigreed names and gobs of power. Often, those credentials are accompanied by trademark styling that ranges from the merely adventurous to the outright extreme. That particular branch of motoring is not ideal for everyone, however. Some prefer elegance to envelope pushing; understatement to "Look at me!" Thankfully, elegance and power are not mutually exclusive. Bentley, you see, has just about perfected the art of merging the two. Tastefully beautiful, the Bentley Continental GTC draws as many stares as cars designed to be attention magnets. With 6.0 liters, 12 cylinders, and 552 twin-turbocharged horses underhood, it's no shrinking violet, either. That's the best part, you see. When asked, the Bentley sizes up all comers, and then it blows their doors off -- with panache. %Gallery-9856% All photos Copyright ©2007 Alex Núñez / Weblogs, Inc. You know the weekend's off to a good start when Friday involves the delivery of droptop Bentley. Glistening in the afternoon sun, resplendent in an Anthracite finish from the Arnage line (a $4K option, by the way) with an interior swathed in Fireglow red leather and piano-black wood inserts, the GTC almost looks back at you through the window as if to ask, "Why on Earth are you in the house when you could be out here driving me?" Not a bad question. The GTC is easily the most attractive of the Continentals, its topless profile transforming a car that is eye-catching as a coupe into a classically gorgeous open tourer. Though its design looks thoroughly modern, there are distinct nods to Bentley's heritage in that sculpted bodywork. The accent line that follows the front wheel arch and extends into the door is just like the one you'll find on an old R-Type Continental. The same goes for the car's pronounced rear haunches, which are perhaps the strongest visual indicator of the immense muscle it packs underhood. Those elements, along with the subtly back-angled headlamps, the deeply raked windscreen, and the gentle downward slope at the rear give the GTC a jaunty, streamlined presence when viewed from the side. Fortunately, raising the roof does nothing to spoil the look, either. In fact, on our tester, the roof added an unexpected shot of pizazz, as it was finished in the same shade of red as the interior. The front end of the car is simple and uncluttered. Four circular lamps flank the bright, diamond-patterned grille that looks metallic, but isn't. It's a more pedestrian-friendly lightweight plastic. Since the Contis are the sportier model range, there's no upright Flying B ornament. Those are reserved for the Arnages. Instead, a flush-mount "winged B" sits above the grillework. It also acts as the bonnet's lift. When you pop the engine cover, the "B" rises, becoming a handle. Pull on it, and up swings the hood, revealing the twin-turbocharged W12 it …
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