Bentley Has Just Built Its 80,000th Continental GT

Bentley has just built the 80,000^th example of the Continental GT at its factory in Crewe, taking them 18 years and three generations since the original model debuted in 2003.

The landmark vehicle is a right-hand drive Continental GT V8 finished in Orange Flame and featuring the optional Blackline and Styling specifications.

The original Continental GT was launched in 2003 as the first model in Bentley’s modern era. The two-door luxury GT was inspired by the 1952 R-Type Continental, and, according to Bentley, established the market segment of the modern luxury Grand Tourer.

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Ever since the original Conti GT came out, the British carmaker sold an average of nearly 5,000 examples per year to customers around the world.

“I had the pleasure of launching the original GT in 2003 in my first stint at Bentley, and being here for the launch of the latest generation – and the iterations that have followed – has been a source of great pride for me personally,” said Bentley’s Chairman and Chief Executive, Adrian Hallmark. “It will continue to be the iconic backbone of the Bentley business for years to come, even as we transition to the world’s leading provider of sustainable luxury mobility.”

The current Continental GT is the first generation to sit on a Bentley-designed platform, which allowed a completely new stance, proportions, and dynamic capabilities.  Customers can pick between a twin-turbo 542 HP 4.0-liter V8 and the range-topping 626 HP 6.0-liter W12 engine, with both of them powering all four wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission.

In addition, Bentley offers one of the most extensive color palettes in the world, combined with virtually limitless interior options for its customers to create a truly unique configuration for their new Continental GT. In fact, Bentley estimates that there are a total of 17 billion ways a customer can specify his new Conti GT, and if that’s not enough, they can always choose Bentley’s in-house bespoke division, Mulliner.