Bentley, on the occasion of the 20th birthday of the iconic Continental GT, presented a unique example of the sedan, with specifications inspired by those of the very first GT of 2003
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emilianoragoni
The Bentley Continental GT is one of those sedans that manages to enclose luxury and exclusivity within a fascinating bodywork, with timeless shapes. It was the year 2003 when the English house released the first version of the Continental GT on the market. On the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of the iconic sedan, the Crewe company has decided to create a unique specimen with characteristics such as to recall those of the very first model.
a one off for the 20th anniversary
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The muse of the VIN20001 project, the first GT off the Crewe production line, was exhibited together with the 2023 version at Monterey Car Week. The first mass-produced GT was finished in the shade Cypress Green, with Saddle leather interior and Burr Walnut veneer. The Continental GT Speed 2023, one off built to customer specifications, features a customized interior inspired by that of its illustrious ancestor.
super luxury interior
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Saddle leather and Burr Walnut veneer are featured in the interior of the 2003 GT and the 2023 one-off’s cabin, however, the latter has slight improvements over the original model. The Saddle color is completed by a “Special Green” leather, with contrasting stitching in the same shade. The fascia and stringers feature two different veneer finishes; open pore dark burl walnut and high gloss dark burl walnut, separated by a varnished cypress stripe, connecting the inside with the outside. The cockpit is also equipped with Naim for Bentley sound and the rotating display, with personalized nameplates engraved with 20 years of Continental GT by Bentley Mulliner.
an iconic bodywork
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The bodywork of the one off is characterized by the presence of bright black luminous elements, as well as a series of technical improvements which include a carbon fiber front splitter, side skirts, diffuser and a subtle spoiler lip on the trunk lip. Self-leveling Mulliner trims finish the 22″ Dark Gray Satin sports wheels.
20 years and three generations
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The first Bentley Continental GT was designed under the guidance of the then director of design Dirk van Braeckel and the head of exterior design Raul Pires. The sleek lines of Bentley’s new grand tourer were inspired by those of the 1952 Continental R Type. Under the bonnet was a 6.0-litre 48-valve twin-turbo W12 developing 550PS and 650Nm, powering all four the wheels via a six-speed ZF automatic transmission. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h took 4.8 seconds. The second generation Continental GT, launched with the 6.0-litre W12 at the 2010 Paris Auto Show, saw the arrival of a second new Bentley engine. This is the 4.0-litre V8, which made its debut in 2012. In 2017 the limited edition 710PS Supersports was added to the range, inspired by Team Bentley’s GT3 racing car. In 2018 the third generation was launched, characterized by a new design, with sharper and more slender lines. Also the W12 engine was completely new, mated to a new dual clutch transmission. Highlights of the new model’s specifications include three-chamber air springs and 48V electric active anti-roll control, while on-board technology has taken a major leap forward thanks to an all-new electric architecture.
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