September 4, 2006 – Bentley Continental GTC production begins

The Bentley Continental GTC, a convertible variation of the Bentley Continental GT, began production on September 4, 2006. To understand its history, we need to go back to the mid-1990s when Rolls-Royce Motors, the then-owner of the Bentley brand, showcased a convertible concept car at the Geneva Motor Show called the “Concept Java.” This concept was designed to create a smaller and more affordable Bentley, expanding the brand’s appeal and increasing sales volume. At that time, the existing Bentley Continental R was a highly exclusive and expensive model, selling only 200-300 units annually.

Although the Concept Java never entered production in its original form, 13 units were custom-made for the Sultan of Brunei. However, the vision of a more accessible Bentley came to fruition with the Bentley Continental GT, which was introduced in 2003. While the external styling differed from the Concept Java, the dashboard design was notably influenced by it.

Bentley Continental GT stats

The Bentley Continental GTC was part of the first generation Bentley Continental GT, which was produced from 2003 to 2011. This generation marked a significant departure from previous Bentley models in terms of production methods. While still featuring hand assembly for many components, it was a mass-produced car, not a coach-built one like its predecessors. This shift allowed Bentley to offer the Continental GT at a substantially lower price than the Continental R, broadening its customer base.

Under the hood, the Continental GT featured a 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged W12 engine, producing a DIN-rated power output of 560 PS (412 kW; 552 bhp) at 6,100 rpm and a torque of 650 N⋅m (479 lbf⋅ft) at 1,600–6,100 rpm. It came standard with a Torsen-based permanent four-wheel-drive system. These performance features enabled the car to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (0.0 to 62.1 mph) in just 4.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 318 km/h (197.6 mph).

The Continental GT was offered in various exterior and interior configurations, including body colors, hide colors, veneer types, and carpet and seatbelt options. The dashboard clock was made by Swiss luxury watchmaker Breitling.

Bentley Continental GTC (2006–2011)

The Bentley Continental GTC, a convertible variant of the Continental GT, made its debut in September 2005 and was introduced to several global markets in the autumn of 2006. The GTC retained the powertrain details of its coupe counterpart and featured a convertible roof produced by Karmann in Osnabrück, Germany.

With the roof up, the Continental GTC could achieve a top speed of 314 km/h (195.1 mph), while with the roof down, its top speed dropped slightly to 305 km/h (189.5 mph). It boasted impressive performance, accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h (0.0 to 62.1 mph) in just 5.1 seconds.

The Continental GTC made its public debut at the 2006 New York International Auto Show and was subsequently introduced to the market later that year after serial production began on September 4.

The introduction of the Bentley Continental GTC added a new dimension to the Continental GT lineup, offering the exhilaration of open-top motoring while maintaining the performance and luxury associated with the Continental brand.

The first generation of the Bentley Continental GTC, along with its coupe counterpart, laid the foundation for Bentley’s modern grand touring legacy, combining style, speed, and luxury in one remarkable package.