With few true rivals available in Australia, the Bentley Continental GTC Speed is the ultimate grand tourer that can eat up long stretches of tarmac with unnerving pace and opulent comfort in equal measure.
2025 Bentley Continental GTC Speed
Where do you even begin with something like the 2025 Bentley Continental GTC Speed? From whatever angle you approach it, Bentley’s new grand tourer is just insane by all metrics.
Powering this new fourth-generation version is now a 4.0-litre twin-turbo petrol V8 with plug-in hybrid assistance, and while some will bemoan the loss of the characterful 6.0-litre W12, do not.
On petrol power alone, the V8 produces 441kW/800Nm, which is already a 40kW/30Nm increase over the outgoing V8-powered model, but adding a 140kW/450Nm electric-motor boost means peak power and torque reaches a stratospheric 575kW/1000Nm.
Yep, the 2025 Bentley Continental GTC Speed literally has a tonne of torque.
The combined output is 90kW/100Nm more than what was on tap in the old W12, and cuts the 0–100km/h down by 0.2 seconds to just 3.4s by sending drive to all four wheels via a Porsche-derived eight-speed dual-clutch ‘PDK’ automatic transmission.
And while it is hard to gauge that difference from behind the driver’s seat, the 2025 Bentley Continental GTC Speed is simply ferociously fast.
As a replacement for the 12-cylinder engine, this ‘Ultra Performance’ (Bentley’s term for the new powertrain) V8 PHEV is more than a worthy successor, and adds even more feathers to the Continental GTC Speed’s bow.
With a 25.9kWh battery pack in play, the Continental GTC Speed can also travel around 80km without using a single drop of petrol.
But don’t go thinking because it’s now a hybrid that the Continental GTC Speed is some kind of high-end Toyota Prius.
Bentley has implemented the electric boost to augment performance and increase comfort, rather than trying to be as frugal and fuel-efficient as possible.
As evidenced by the above-stated 0–100km/h, the Continental GTC Speed is no slouch in a straight line, and its claimed combined 10.6 litres per 100 kilometres fuel economy figure proves this model is not about saving money at the bowser.
It also means that for daily driving, the new Bentley can be operated in electric-only mode, adding another level of comfort on top of the already supremely serene ambience.
This level of potent performance and breadth of usability does come at a cost, though, with this particular Continental GTC Speed ringing the till up to $639,800 before on-road costs – a $14,900 increase over the equivalent outgoing model.
And that’s not even counting the options.
Key highlights include black-painted brake callipers ($2390), dual-finish linen and gloss black dashboard ($7100), self-levelling wheel caps ($935), optional 22-inch wheels in black ($5240), diamond knurling on interior touchpoints ($3495), Bang & Olufsen sound system ($9685), and a rotating infotainment display ($9105).
All in, the options amount to $96,543 in total, which might seem excessive, but this level of customisation and individualisation at this end of the market is key.
It is an experience building your own Bentley, and with almost everything able to be tweaked to your own liking, it helps set the ‘ultra luxury’ experience apart from just the usual ‘luxury’ car purchase.
Even if you don’t dip into options, the Continental GTC Speed still comes well equipped in ‘stock’ form, with LED matrix headlights, acoustic and heat-insulating windscreen, double-glazed windows, power-operated boot, nappa leather interior, heated steering wheel, heated front seats, deep-pile carpets, and multi-zone climate control.
The infotainment touchscreen, which measures 12.3 inches, comes equipped with digital radio, Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto support, and connected car services for remote vehicle monitoring.
What really sets an ultra-luxurious brand like Bentley apart from the run-of-the-mill premium brands like BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz, however, is the attention to detail.
Naturally, all the touchpoints are soft and supple with high-quality materials throughout the cabin.
But small things like the massaging seats that actually work your back, a soft-closing and well-damped centre console lid, and body-temperature sensors in the seats that automatically adjust levels of seat heating/cooling, combine to elevate the cabin into something truly special.
There are some Volkswagen Group hangovers, though, such as chimes, beeps, and bongs being familiar to anyone who has driven a new Audi. Likewise, the steering wheel buttons are lifted from Audi models, but in a matte finish rather than the usual gloss.
Does it detract from the Continental GTC’s appeal, though? Not even a little, because those small touches aren’t wrapped around the gorgeous two-door, drop-top body with massive rear haunches like this Bentley.
Besides, downsizing that engine also has another hidden benefit, as the PHEV powertrain means the 2025 Continental GTC Speed counts as a ‘green car’ – at least in Victoria – due to much lower tailpipe emissions.
This means stamp duty is calculated at a lower rate, and is less than half of the equivalent W12 – or around $26,900 versus $56,250 on base cars.
Arguably, that leaves more money in your pocket for those options, so if you look at it a particular way… the new Continental GTC Speed is a smarter buy than the old one was.
However, if convertibles are not your thing, buyers can also opt for the coupe version – known as the Continental GT Speed priced at $581,900 (plus on-road costs) – which makes use of the same powertrain and leaves a little more change in your back pocket.
The key difference between the two is obviously the folding roof, but whereas the GTC offers unlimited head room (when the weather permits), it also has a smaller boot.
With a folding soft-top to contend with, boot space in the Continental GTC Speed is a scant 134 litres, compared with the coupe’s not-much-better 260L.
Practicality, then, might be the Continental GTC Speed’s Achilles heel, with the boot not even able to accommodate a full set of golf clubs (it is the driver that is the problem).
The boot will still take a set of weekend bags, but not much more.
Then again, the Continental isn’t designed to be practical. It’s designed to eat up large swathes of tarmac as quickly (and smoothly) as possible, and here is where the new Bentley really shines.
The Continental GTC Speed is wonderfully smooth to drive – in fact, it’s one of the smoothest PHEV powertrains I’ve ever experienced, with a seamless changeover from electric to petrol.
With 575kW/1000Nm on tap, the level of performance on offer is nothing short of insane – especially on Australia’s public roads – but it’s still a very welcome figure.
The Continental GTC easily outclasses all its grand touring peers, including the Aston Martin DB12 Volante (500kW/800Nm), Maserati GranCabrio Trofeo (410kW/650Nm), McLaren Artura Spider (515kW/720Nm), and Porsche 911 Carrera 4 GTS cabriolet (398kW/610Nm) – but is also more expensive.
Even without the electric boost, the V8 engine makes a sizeable 441kW/800Nm on its own, but because the system is always regenerating charge and keeping a little in reserve, the full outputs are always available.
However, while the Bentley will accelerate to 100km/h in mind-warping speed, it does it with an air of elegance and poise rarely seen in cars with this much performance potential.
The eight-speed transmission shifts smoothly too, without any whisper of mechanical clunk or whirr.
The sports exhaust fitted to the Continental GTC Speed still gives a welcome V8 burble, but everything is tinged through a lens of high-end luxury and refinement – it’s great.
Riding on air suspension, but 22-inch wheels (wrapped in 275/35 and 315/30 tyres front and rear), also means ride and comfort should be compromised, especially on this car that weighs a hefty 2615kg.
But, as you would expect from a Bentley, comfort is a highlight – especially when running in silent, all-electric mode.
Speaking of which, the various drive modes include Sport, Comfort, Bentley (a mix of Sport and Comfort), and Custom – the latter allowing you to adjust various settings to your liking.
I found the brake to be a bit soft by default, but this can be dialled up for more bite in the vehicle’s settings.
In terms of handling a corner, the Continental GTC Speed is surprisingly agile thanks to its four-wheel steering system.
At low speeds, because the rear axle can turn counter to the front, it makes manoeuvrability a breeze in tighter spaces, while at high speeds it aids in stability.
In other cars, I have not loved the feature much, but the long wheelbase of the Continental GTC Speed (2848mm) helps make the 4894mm long and 1965mm-wide model feel smaller than its footprint suggests.
Of course, choosing the GTC over the GT also affords buyers a folding soft-top, which may lead you to expect a downgrade in terms of noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH), but this isn’t the case here.
| Key details | 2025 Bentley Continental GTC Speed |
| Engine | 4.0-litre twin-turbo petrol V8 PHEV Single electric motor |
| Battery pack | 25.9kWh |
| Driving range | 80km |
| Power | 441kW petrol 140kW electric 575kW combined |
| Torque | 800Nm petrol 450Nm electric 1000Nm combined |
| Drive type | All-wheel drive |
| Transmission | 8-speed dual-clutch automatic |
| Length | 4894mm |
| Width | 1965mm |
| Height | 1392mm |
| Wheelbase | 2848mm |
With the roof up, the Continental GTC Speed feels much like a coupe in terms of NVH, thanks to the roof also being lined with a soft-touch suede material to help dampen outside noises.
In fact, even though Melbourne’s pouring rain, noise intrusion in the cabin was kept at a minimal, and the drop-top affords owners the opportunity for unlimited head room (and maximum aural sensation) when the mood arises.
However, a surprising aspect of the Continental GTC Speed cropped up after the two-day drive, and that is how efficient it actually is.
After nearly 300km through Melbourne’s country roads, the Bentley model returned 11.7L/100km, and used 12.1kWh of energy per 100 kilometres – making it surprisingly frugal and efficient for a high-end, ultra-luxury performance model.
As a grand tourer, no one does it better than Bentley, and its new Continental GTC Speed is testament to respecting its heritage and past, while also future-proofing itself for many years to come.
Attention to detail is the key distinguisher when shopping for cars in this stratosphere, and Bentley shines through here.
You don’t need me to tell you the 2025 Bentley GTC Speed is a wonderfully fast and comfortable car – if you had the money to buy one, you would – but every now and then it’s eye-opening to see exactly what you get when spending close to $1 million on a new car.
And it’s worth every cent.
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