The greatest testament to the prestige and authenticity of the Bentley->ke15 nameplate and the street cred of the Continental GT->ke3108 coupe->ke141 isn’t the car’s stunning blend of performance and top-shelf luxury. Nor is it its remarkable success in carrying the legend of the “Bentley Boys” forward into the new millennium. No, what really sets the Continental GT apart from the average automobile is its ability to spawn themed limited editions and still be taken seriously.

Don’t get me wrong; the Continental GT is a fantastic car, especially in GT Speed trim. And I am fully in favor of broadening the range with new trim combinations. But the fact remains that at a certain point, paint-and-trim upgrades to a car begin to erode its ability to be taken seriously. The introduction of the Breitling Jet Team-inspired limited-edition Continental GT Speed could come off like a six-figure mullet, but Bentley’s Mulliner coachworks seems to have created yet another elegant variant without watering down the model range.

Introduced in 2003, the Continental GT has been among Bentley’s best-sellers, helping to bring the company back to profitability after the recession. The Continental GT Speed Breitling Jet Team Series is a seven-car limited-production run featuring unique paint and interior trim. One car will be produced for each of the seven aircraft on the team, and the special edition debuts alongside the Breitling Jet Team at the Boeing Seafair Airshow in Seattle on July 31.

Continue reading to learn more about the Bentley Continental GT Speed Breitling Jet Team Series Limited Edition.

bentley-continental-gt-speed-breitling-jet-team-series-limited-edition

Specifications
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  • Model: bentley-continental-gt-speed-breitling-jet-team-series-limited-edition
Pros
Cons

2016 Bentley Continental GT Speed Breitling Jet Team Series Limited Edition

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2016 Bentley Continental GT Speed Breitling Jet Team Series Limited Edition
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

The Continental GT is a big slab of a car whose bulky appearance belies the athlete beneath. The car’s smooth sides have also aged well (the basic design dates to 2003) and take customization like a blank canvas. The frameless grille and large, round headlamps are arguably the modern face of Bentley, and the Continental GT seems to have been carved from a single piece of aluminum thanks to a flowing, organic design.

The Continental GT Speed features 21-inch wheels and a unique, air-managing rear fascia. The Breitling Jet Team Limited Edition cars are distinguished by a handsome Hallmark and Onyx two-tone that hugs and accentuates the car’s curves perfectly. The lower edges of the front splitter and side skirts are highlighted in a yellow Pantone-matched to that of the Breitling team jets.

Interior

The black-on-yellow theme continues inside, where the diamond-patterned leather seats and twin-cockpit instrument panel are outlined in Breitling Yellow.

The Continental GT Speed’s watch-like gauge faces go well with the aeronautical theme. Soft semi-aniline leather and an Alcantara headliner are a part of the package, of course.

The folks at Mulliner are assembling one limited-edition car to correspond to each of the airplanes on the Breitling team, and artwork on the carbon-fiber dash fascia and the headrests showing the planes in formation highlights exactly which of the jets the individually numbered cars represents.

Additionally, this limited-edition offers something that no other can: the opportunity for a flight in the jet that corresponds to the car, courtesy of Bentley. Bentley has thought this theme all the way through!

Drivetrain

This is a big car and it’s designed for high-speed grand touring. The Continental GT Speed is motivated by a 6.0 liter twin-turbocharged W12.

Tweaks over the standard version raise output to 616 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. Bentley says the Continental GT Speed maxes out at 205 miles per hour, earning it the distinction of being the fastest road-going Bentley ever.

This also means that it’s able to match the takeoff speed of one of the L-39 Albatros jets that inspired it. The power is transferred to the road through all four wheels by a paddle-shifted eight-speed automatic transmission.

The Continental GT Speed is kept firmly in contact with the road by a double wishbone front suspension and a multilink rear. Active air springs are included at all four corners, to help smooth out this heavy car's road manners. There are also some fairly monstrous brakes on hand to draw things to a halt if necessary.

Pricing

Exclusivity doesn’t come cheap. The Continental GT starts at $193,500 for the V8 and $209,600 for the W12. The GT Speed is a W12-only and steps up to $234,400. Convertible Continental GTs start at $212,500, bouncing to $257,600 for the Continental GT Speed. Pricing for the Continental GT Speed Breitling Jet Team Series has not yet been set, but is likely to be in the neighborhood of $300,000.

Competition

2014 Rolls-Royce Wraith

The Wraith->ke1710 is a shakeup for Rolls-Royce,->ke74 thanks to the expectation that it’ll be driven hard. The Wraith is the Rolls-Royce for drivers who want to pilot themselves, and this massive two-door offers a more engaging driving experience than the average Rolls without losing the magic-carpet ride that defines the marque.

Read our full review here.

2015 Mercedes S-Class Coupe

Formerly known as the CL,->ke254 Mercedes’->ke187 top-level four-passenger coupe captures the blend of exclusivity and approachability that is one of the new S-Class’ hallmarks. The interior design almost looks more expensive than it is, no small feat in this price range, and Mercedes offers a twin-turbo V8 with 448 horsepower and a raft of high-tech active driving aids to make the trip to Point B seamless.

Read our full review here.

Conclusion

It’s unlikely that anyone is going to complain about there being more Continental GTs running around, and given Mulliner’s skill at augmenting Bentley’s already stunning vehicles, more special editions is always a good thing. The Continental GT Speed Breitling Jet Team Series is a unique limited edition that offers a bit more thematic exclusivity than similar short-production exotics, and doesn’t run the risk of watering down the brand.