V8 Coupe
2013 Bentley Continental GT
The Entry Entry-Level Bentley I have a friend who once told me that he would never buy the cheapest version of anything. I pressed him about cars and figured he was backed into a corner when I mentioned Bentley. With only the Continental series of cars – GT coupe, GTC convertible, Flying Spur four-door – and Mulsanne sedan on offer, surely this friend of mine would go for something like the Continental GT coupe over the larger, much more expensive Mulsanne. While their base prices are separated by over $100,000, the Continental GT's starting price of $212,600 should still command enough respect from my friend's imaginary – and judgmental – group of country club acquaintances. "No way, it's the entry-level Bentley." Ouch, though on some level he's correct. Any automaker who offers more than one model technically has an entry-level option. The Continental GT coupe is that car for Bentley, the least expensive ticket that gains you access to the Flying B's party and all the pampering, personalization and performance that entails. Well, friend, have I got a car that's not for you. The 2013 Bentley Continental GT V8 is the new entry entry-level Bentley that offers less of everything: less weight, lower emissions, fewer horsepower and a smaller price. Indeed, my friend might say that by subtracting four cylinders, Bentley is taking its Continental range downmarket to the point where aspirational millionaires can now rub elbows with self-made billionaires. Oh, the humanity. Bentley has no interest in courting buyers who might cross-shop one of its cars with a loaded Camry. In fact, this isn't what Bentley is doing at all. While lesser luxury marques like Mercedes-Benz and BMW offer a range of automobiles that begin around the average price of a new car and reach well into six figures, Bentley has no interest in courting buyers who might cross-shop one of its cars with a loaded Camry. The proof is in the pricing, as this new V8-powered Continental GT comes with a base MSRP of $174,000 – only about 10 percent shy of the starting figure for the twelve-cylinder W12 model. At that price, the competition for Bentley's new entry-level model remains the very best offerings from those other brands, cars like the Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG and BMW M6. Buying even this base Bentley still keeps you a status level above those German bahn-stormers, and there's virtually no way a Continental customer will escape a Bentley dealership without having optioned up and customized his car for tens of thousands of dollars extra. Our test car certainly didn't exit the factory as a "base" Continental GT V8, arriving at our doorstep with an as-tested price of $215,880. Most expensive among its optional extras was the carbon ceramic brakes with black calipers, which ring in at $13,600. The next most costly option was our car's Mulliner Driving Specification with Color Specification package for $12,230. Believe it or not, all that one gets you are those lovely 21-inch "tuning fork" wheels with …
Full Review
The Entry Entry-Level Bentley I have a friend who once told me that he would never buy the cheapest version of anything. I pressed him about cars and figured he was backed into a corner when I mentioned Bentley. With only the Continental series of cars – GT coupe, GTC convertible, Flying Spur four-door – and Mulsanne sedan on offer, surely this friend of mine would go for something like the Continental GT coupe over the larger, much more expensive Mulsanne. While their base prices are separated by over $100,000, the Continental GT's starting price of $212,600 should still command enough respect from my friend's imaginary – and judgmental – group of country club acquaintances. "No way, it's the entry-level Bentley." Ouch, though on some level he's correct. Any automaker who offers more than one model technically has an entry-level option. The Continental GT coupe is that car for Bentley, the least expensive ticket that gains you access to the Flying B's party and all the pampering, personalization and performance that entails. Well, friend, have I got a car that's not for you. The 2013 Bentley Continental GT V8 is the new entry entry-level Bentley that offers less of everything: less weight, lower emissions, fewer horsepower and a smaller price. Indeed, my friend might say that by subtracting four cylinders, Bentley is taking its Continental range downmarket to the point where aspirational millionaires can now rub elbows with self-made billionaires. Oh, the humanity. Bentley has no interest in courting buyers who might cross-shop one of its cars with a loaded Camry. In fact, this isn't what Bentley is doing at all. While lesser luxury marques like Mercedes-Benz and BMW offer a range of automobiles that begin around the average price of a new car and reach well into six figures, Bentley has no interest in courting buyers who might cross-shop one of its cars with a loaded Camry. The proof is in the pricing, as this new V8-powered Continental GT comes with a base MSRP of $174,000 – only about 10 percent shy of the starting figure for the twelve-cylinder W12 model. At that price, the competition for Bentley's new entry-level model remains the very best offerings from those other brands, cars like the Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG and BMW M6. Buying even this base Bentley still keeps you a status level above those German bahn-stormers, and there's virtually no way a Continental customer will escape a Bentley dealership without having optioned up and customized his car for tens of thousands of dollars extra. Our test car certainly didn't exit the factory as a "base" Continental GT V8, arriving at our doorstep with an as-tested price of $215,880. Most expensive among its optional extras was the carbon ceramic brakes with black calipers, which ring in at $13,600. The next most costly option was our car's Mulliner Driving Specification with Color Specification package for $12,230. Believe it or not, all that one gets you are those lovely 21-inch "tuning fork" wheels with …
Hide Full Review
Hide Full Review
Retail Price
$175,700
MSRP / Window Sticker Price
| Engine | 4.0L V-8 |
| MPG | 15 City / 24 Hwy |
| Seating | 4 Passengers |
| Transmission | 8-spd w/OD |
| Power | 500 @ 6000 rpm |
| Drivetrain | all wheel |
Smart Buy Program is powered by 
