Bentley Continental GT (2nd gen)
2011–2018 · Bentley Continental GT (2nd gen) — Grand Tourer, W12 Twin-Turbo, designed by Dirk van Braeckel.
The Story
The 2003 Continental GT had already worked a miracle — turning Bentley from a maker of under 1,000 coachbuilt cars a year into a near-10,000-car business without cheapening the badge. The second-generation car of 2011 was the careful sequel: the same silhouette nodding to the 1952 R-Type Continental, but sharper and lighter, and from 2012 available with a punchy 4.0-litre V8 alongside the 6.0 W12.
The GT Speed crowned the range at 626 hp and 205 mph — Bentley’s fastest-ever production car at launch — and brought an 8-speed automatic to the line for the first time. It is the car that perfected ‘everyday supercar in black tie.’
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 depreciation sweet spot of the modern Bentley world: genuine 200-mph craft for used-executive money. We’d take the V8 to drive and the W12 to be seen — and the GT3-R if you’re investing.
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 (2nd gen)
Worth Knowing About the Continental GT (2nd gen)
3 Things You Didn’t Know
- 1. The GT Speed was the first Continental GT to get the 8-speed ZF automatic.
- 2. The 4.0 V8 (from 2012) used cylinder deactivation and could clear 500 miles on a tank — a genuinely usable Bentley.
- 3. Jeremy Clarkson lifted and modified a 2nd-gen GT V8 (the 'MFB') for The Grand Tour's Madagascar special and called it the best car he's ever driven; the car was later saved from the crusher.
5 Fast Facts
- 1. GT Speed: 626 hp, 0-60 in 4.0s, 205 mph.
- 2. Superformed aluminium bodywork; 6.0 W12 or 4.0 V8.
- 3. The Continental line multiplied Bentley's output roughly tenfold versus pre-2003.
- 4. Styling by Dirk van Braeckel, echoing the 1952 R-Type Continental.
- 5. Spin-offs: GTC convertible, the 300-car Continental GT3-R, and the 2017 Supersports.
Provenance
Owners & what to look for
Famous Owners
Jeremy Clarkson ran a modified 2nd-gen Continental GT V8 (‘MFB’) across Madagascar for The Grand Tour. The famous celebrity Continental GTs — Cristiano Ronaldo’s GT Speed, Paris Hilton’s pink GT — are FIRST-generation cars.
Studio Buyer’s Brief
The W12 for theatre, the 4.0 V8 for lighter steering and real-world usability; GT Speed for pace, the 300-built GT3-R as the future collectible. Tyres, brakes and air struts are the big-ticket items — buy on history, not price.
Full Specifications
- Make / Model
- Bentley Continental GT (2nd gen)
- Class
- Grand Tourer
- Production years
- 2011–2018
- Units built
- per-generation figure not separately disclosed
- Variants
- 4.0 V8 Twin-Turbo & V8 S (from 2013); GTC convertible; GT Speed; Supersports (2017); Continental GT3-R (2014, 300 built)
- Engine layout
- Front
- Engine
- W12 Twin-Turbo
- Engine family
- Volkswagen Group 6.0 W12 (Twin-Turbo)
- Displacement
- 5,998 cc (6.0 L)
- Power
- 626 hp
- Torque
- 605 lb-ft
- 0–60 mph
- 4 s
- Top speed
- 206 mph
- Power-to-weight
- 270 hp/tonne · 8.2 lb/hp
- Transmission
- 8-speed ZF automatic
- Drivetrain
- AWD · Petrol
- Curb weight
- 5115 lb
Questions
Continental GT (2nd gen) FAQ
What are the specs of the Bentley Continental GT Speed (2nd gen)?
The 2nd-gen Continental GT Speed produces 626 hp from a 6.0-litre twin-turbo W12, reaching 206 mph and 0-60 mph in 4.0 seconds. It was the first Continental GT fitted with an 8-speed ZF automatic gearbox.
What is the difference between the Continental GT W12 and V8?
The W12 (6.0-litre) delivers effortless long-distance power; the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, introduced in 2012 for MY2013, uses cylinder deactivation for better fuel economy and is widely noted as more responsive in feel. Both share the same AWD chassis and bodywork.
Who designed the 2nd-gen Bentley Continental GT?
The 2nd-gen Continental GT was styled under Dirk van Braeckel, Bentley’s Design Director from 1999 to 2015. The design deliberately referenced the 1952 Bentley R-Type Continental fastback, the car that established the Continental name.
How much is a 2nd-gen Bentley Continental GT worth today?
Second-generation Continental GTs (2011-2018) typically trade for $70,000-$110,000, with GT Speed and low-mileage examples at the upper end. Hagerty tracks current valuations.
Can I lease a 2nd-gen Bentley Continental GT?
Yes, specialty lenders structure collector-car leases regardless of model year.
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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