‘On The Road With Alex Mascioli' ‘The Convertible As Art Form'; 2011 Bentley Continental GTC

The 2011 Bentley Continental GTCSpeed weighs as much as a truck

, but thissophisticated member of British automotiveroyalty will reach sixty miles anhour from a standing stop in an impressive4.5 seconds. The latter is achievedby the W-12 located under the bonnet,producing 600 horsepower and 553 lbftof torque, bumped up from the baselineGTC engine specs of 552 and 479respectively, both of which address a topspeed of 195 mph with the top down, and200 mph with it closed. Theseaforementionednumbers are so impressive,and normally reserved for super car classstats, that one has to intuit the originalintent of the Crewe England engineers' visionof these quiet beasts. One gets thefeeling driving around town of the car'strue bulk. It is quite a sizable car, whichis why I was surprised when I stepped onhe gas going into turns to find out howcrisp and responsive its suspension is,and its ability to handle the power comingfrom its engine. I did find the GTC'ssteering a bit sloshy, but not enough tocomplain considering the massive weightand the engine power it is controlling. Shifting the gears is done either throughthe fully automatic setting or, for you do-it-yourselfers, engaging the paddle shiftslocated behind the steering wheel. Theadvantage of the paddles is they provideimmediate return on input. To slow thecar down from triple digit speeds, 16.5-inch front rotors with 8 piston caliperscarrying carbon-ceramic brake pads areoptional on all GTC's. The GTC Speedis distinguishable on the outside fromthe entry level' version GTC because ofa trunk lid lip spoiler, 20-inch wheels, andmatte-finished grilles (although the car Itested had the optional chrome grilles). The latest offering from Bentley is nothingshort of a welcome reinvention ofmodels of the past. It is designed to be ayear-round car, not just a trophy for pullingup to be noticed at the country club. All wheel drive is standard; it has comfortableseating that will accommodatefour adults and a trunk that will fit copiousamounts of luggage. It finishes offwith a convertible top that, when closed,envelopes its occupants in luxury, sealingthem off from the outside world. This caris an attention getter, a great-looking car,but if you don't find yourself head overheels, you should at least be in awe of itscapabilities. From optional front massagingseats to sports car-like performancethis amenity ridden example of Britishluxury is too self indulgent to pass up. If this automobile tickles your fancy, youwill be pleased to know that you can commissionyour own unique version throughthe countless personal options availableto you through Bentley dealers. And thesticker price? As the old adage goes, "ifyou have to ask you can't afford it." Thisfour-wheeled opulence can be yours forjust under a quarter of a million dollars.

On The Road With Alex Mascioli' The Convertible As Art Form'; 2011 Bentley Continental GTC

By: Alex Mascioli

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