The Continental->ke3108 GT Speed is the flagship model for Bentley’s->ke15 pavement devouring line of grand touring cars and it is based on the second-generation GT, launched in 2011. The current Speed version followed in 2012 and received an update for the 2015 model year, which brought mild improvements inside and out and an upgraded drivetrain. Te W-12 engine has been massaged, increasing power to 626 horsepower and 605 pound-feet of toque. Consequently, the top speed has been pushed to 206 mph. That makes this the fastest production Bentley ever.

All that power also comes with a revised exterior. The visual presence of the Bentley has never been lacking, but a large collection of subtle enhancements make the GT Speed look that much better. As everyone knows, red ones go faster, so thankfully the exterior changes to the new GT Speed include a new Candy Red paint color.

The fastest Bentley at the 2014 Geneva Auto Show->ke228 and went on sale in the summer of the same year. How does it compare to the outgoing model and its Aston Martin->ke13- and Maserati->ke51-badged competitors?

Continue reading my review to find out more about that.

Exterior

The exterior of the GT Speed has always been bold, but the new design changes make the fastest Bentley look more elegant. The aggressive body kit is now painted. It might not seem that noticeable on the grey car we have pictured by the sharp contrast that was present on lighter colored cars was too boy-racer for a true Bentley.

The 21-inch alloy wheels, headlamps and taillights have been treated to a darker finish to round out the subtleties. Of course the new chrome “Speed” badge that has been slapped on the fenders and the red brake calipers are a step in the opposite direction.

2015 Bentley GT Speed - Exterior Dimensions

Interior

The interior is fairly traditional Bentley. Acres of leather cover nearly every surface that isn’t metal or wood, and the seats are stitched in a quilted pattern. It is all very luxurious. GT Speed-exclusive touches include a dark monotone interior that features bright painted accents on the doors, console, gear lever, basically anywhere you would traditionally find wood. The Speed branding is stitched into the seats, and the front passenger gets the luxury of having a “subtle yet elegant” Speed badge plastered on the dash in front of them. I think it’s because they don’t have gauges, so Bentley wanted to give them something to look at.

The final new touch, and my favorite, is to have the diamond pattern stitching through the seats done in a contrasting color, rather than just having the contrast on the seat edges.

Drivetrain

Powering the big Bentley GT Speed is the old standby W-12 that has been used since its introduction. Thanks to some fettling by the engineers the engine power has been pushed to 626 horsepower and 820 Nm (607 pound-feet) of torque. The transmission is the same ZF eight-speed automatic found across the Bentley range. As is expected with such things, the GT Speed is equipped with paddles on the steering wheel for manual control over the gear changes.

2015 Bentley GT Speed - Drivetrain Specifications

Prices

Pricing for the Continental GT Speed starts from $242,125, which makes it the most expensive Continental as of 2016.

Competitors

Aston Martin Vanquish

In a class this expensive, there are not truly competitors. You buy what you want, and that is the end of it. With that in mind, if I were laying down cash I would go with the Aston Martin Vanquish. Both have 12 cylinders, both are filled with leather and both have legendary badges. That said, the Bentley is merely pretty while the Vanquish is achingly beautiful.

Find out more aobut the Aston Martin Vanquish here.

Maserati Gran Turismo

If you want a little less power, but a lot more flamboyance to your supercar the Maserati Gran Turismo will oblige. It is prettier than the Bentley to my eyes, but far less elegant. It is a bit to showy for most Bentley drivers, but the sonorous V8 engine can do much to woo many potential buyers. The size is also smaller, but few Bentley owners will use the extra space in the back of their GT Speed.

Read more about the Maserati GranTurismo here.

Conclusion

The Continental GT Speed is one of the ultimate expressions of speed and luxury from Bentley. It is a Grand Tourer in the truest sense of the world. Thanks to the revised exterior that features a more elegant integration of its go faster bits, the Speed is better looking and more restrained than any previous version. The W-12 is amazing, but Bentley still needs to move its power higher up to make this a better choice than the amazing V8 model.