Bentley Continental GT (1st gen)
2003–2011 · Bentley Continental GT (1st gen) — Grand Tourer, W12 Twin-Turbo, designed by Dirk van Braeckel.
The Story
No single car matters more to modern Bentley than this one. The 2003 Continental GT — the first all-new Bentley after Volkswagen’s 1998 takeover, and the first built with mass-production techniques — dragged a forgotten, semi-dead marque into the centre of the automotive world almost overnight.
It did it by being brilliant: a 552-hp, 197-mph W12 grand tourer with lines that nodded to the 1952 R-Type Continental, sold for less than half the price of the old Continental R. Volumes went from under 1,000 cars a year to nearly ten times that, without cheapening the badge — and a whole new clientele of musicians, athletes and entrepreneurs walked in. As evo put it, Bentley’s very survival ‘is down to this car.’
The Numbers
Benchmarked against its class
Each dial ranks this car within its Grand Tourer class — fuller means higher, and the tick marks the class midpoint.
Signature Colors
The Designer
Dirk van Braeckel
Belgian designer; joined Audi in 1984, then chosen by Ferdinand Piëch to head Škoda design (1993, the Octavia/Fabia), then Bentley Director of Design from 1999 — author of the modern Continental GT (2003) and the VW-era Bentley design language.
Studio Motors POV
The most important Bentley of the modern era — and now its cheapest way in. A genuine 197-mph hand-finished GT for family-SUV money. The bargain of the bunch.
The Engine
Volkswagen Group 6.0 W12 (Twin-Turbo)
Lineage
Where it sits in the bloodline
Market & Value
Values on cars like this move monthly. Our brokers price from real transactions.
What Reviewers Said About Continental GT (1st gen)
Worth Knowing About the Continental GT (1st gen)
3 Things You Didn’t Know
- 1. It was the first Bentley built with mass-production techniques and the first all-new model after VW's 1998 acquisition.
- 2. It shed Bentley's 'Olde England' image overnight, drawing in buyers who'd never have looked at the old marque.
- 3. Prince owned a baby-blue Continental GT, now on permanent display at his Paisley Park complex.
5 Fast Facts
- 1. 552 hp 6.0 W12, 197 mph, 0-60 ~4.8s.
- 2. Took Bentley from under 1,000 to nearly 10,000 cars a year.
- 3. Designed by Dirk van Braeckel, echoing the 1952 R-Type Continental.
- 4. Spawned the GTC convertible, GT Speed (2007) and 621-hp Supersports (2009).
- 5. Launched at less than half the price of the Continental R.
Provenance
Owners & what to look for
Famous Owners
Prince — a baby-blue Continental GT, now displayed at Paisley Park. Cristiano Ronaldo — a GT Speed bought during his Manchester United years (later auctioned). Paris Hilton — her long-owned ‘Barbie-pink’ Continental GT. (All documented; autoevolution / motoringresearch / celebrity press.)
Studio Buyer’s Brief
The Speed and Supersports for performance, but the base W12 is the bargain of the modern Bentley world; watch coil packs, air suspension and brakes, and buy on history. A Mulliner Driving Spec adds desirability.
Full Specifications
- Make / Model
- Bentley Continental GT (1st gen)
- Class
- Grand Tourer
- Production years
- 2003–2011
- Units built
- Total high-volume not disclosed. Supersports: 1,207 coupes.
- Variants
- Continental GTC (convertible, 2006); GT Speed (2007); Continental Supersports (2009)
- Engine layout
- Front
- Engine
- W12 Twin-Turbo
- Engine family
- Volkswagen Group 6.0 W12 (Twin-Turbo)
- Displacement
- 5,998 cc (6.0 L)
- Power
- 621 hp
- Torque
- 590 lb-ft
- 0–60 mph
- 3.7 s
- Top speed
- 205 mph
- Power-to-weight
- 264 hp/tonne · 8.3 lb/hp
- Transmission
- 6-speed ZF automatic
- Drivetrain
- AWD · Petrol
- Curb weight
- 5181 lb
Questions
Continental GT (1st gen) FAQ
Why was the first-generation Bentley Continental GT so significant?
The 2003 Continental GT was the first all-new Bentley after Volkswagen’s 1998 acquisition and the first built with mass-production techniques, lifting annual output from under 1,000 cars to nearly 10,000 and returning the marque to financial health. Automotive press described it as the car that saved Bentley from extinction.
How fast is the Bentley Continental GT Supersports?
The 2009 Bentley Continental GT Supersports produces 621 horsepower from its twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre W12 and reaches 60 mph in 3.7 seconds, with a top speed of 204 mph (330 km/h).
Who designed the first-generation Bentley Continental GT?
The first-generation Continental GT was designed by Dirk van Braeckel, whose styling consciously referenced the 1952 R-Type Continental, widely regarded as one of the most beautiful Bentleys ever built.
Can you lease a first-generation Bentley Continental GT?
Yes, specialty lenders structure collector-car leases regardless of model year.
What is the difference between the base Continental GT and the Supersports?
The 2009 Continental GT Supersports produced 621 horsepower versus the base GT’s 552 horsepower, reducing 0-60 mph from approximately 4.8 seconds to 3.7 seconds and raising the top speed from 197 mph to 204 mph (330 km/h).
The Bentley Lineup
Explore every Bentley
3 Litre ’216½ Litre / Speed Six ’264½ Litre ’27Blower 4½ Litre ’29
R-Type Continental ’52S1 Continental ’55S-Type Saloon (S1/S2/S3) ’55S2/S3 Continental ’59
Mulsanne (1980) ’80Turbo R ’85
Continental R ’91Azure ’95Arnage ’98
Continental GT (1st gen) ’03Continental Flying Spur ’05Azure (2nd gen) ’06Brooklands (Coupé) ’08
Mulsanne (2010) ’10Continental GT (2nd gen) ’11Flying Spur (2nd gen) ’13Bentayga ’15Continental GT (3rd gen) ’18Flying Spur (3rd gen) ’19
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