The updated Bentley Continental GT coupe and GTC convertible have been spied testing in the snow, ahead of an expected 2024 introduction.
The latest series of photos show an apparent – if minor – change in design for the headlights and tail lights, as well as tweaks to the front and rear bumpers.
Our spy photographers recently spied a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version of the Continental GT featuring both a fuel filler cap on the right-hand side and a squarer charging flap on the left.
Bentley has confirmed its Continental range will feature a PHEV variant.
The brand uses different PHEV powertrains in its Flying Spur and Bentayga, and it’s not yet clear which will be used in the Continental – or if it will use a different one entirely.
The Continental range is based on the Volkswagen Group MSB platform which also underpins the Bentley Flying Spur and Porsche Panamera.
In plug-in hybrid guise, the Flying Spur features a 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine alongside an electric motor and a 14.1kWh lithium-ion battery, with total system outputs of 400kW of power and 750Nm of torque.
The Porsche Panamera 4 E-Hybrid also features a 2.9-litre V6 with a pair of turbochargers, but a total system output of 340kW.
The hotter Turbo S E-Hybrid, in contrast, uses a 4.0-litre bi-turbo V8, a 17.9kWh lithium-ion battery, and total system outputs of 514kW and 870Nm.
Finally, Bentley’s plug-in hybrid Bentayga uses a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol and a 17.3kWh lithium-ion battery, with total outputs of 330kW and 700Nm.
Though unconfirmed, the Continental GT and GTC’s twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 and twin-turbo 6.0-litre W12 may continue, at least until 2026 when the brand says it will then only offer electrified or electric vehicles.
The current Continental was first revealed in 2017 and entered production in 2018, making it due for an update.
With the launch of a plug-in hybrid version of its coupe and convertible range, Bentley will have electrified variants across all its model lines.
Current Continental GT
The two-door PHEVs will then be followed by Bentley’s first electric vehicle, set to be revealed in 2025 ahead of a launch in 2026. The company will then exclusively sell EVs from 2030 onwards.
Bentley Motors claims to have delivered 15,174 vehicles to customers in 2022 across 65 countries, setting an all-time record for sales which were up four percent year-on-year.
With the introduction of PHEV versions of the Bentayga and Flying Spur, Bentley sales jumped 23 percent in the Asia-Pacific region alone. The Bentayga was Bentley’s top-selling model, accounting for 42 percent of total sales.
Current Continental GTC
