Not for nothing did The New York Times call Bentley’s newest baby, the Continental GTC, ‘The World’s Fastest 4-Seat Hair Dryer’. After all, this drop-dead gorgeous set of wheels can hit a mean 195mph with the top up, making it the world’s fastest four-passenger convertible according to Bentley officials.

But then, the company has been in the business of manufacturing very sporty and superbly handcrafted cars since the 1920’s. The Bentley R-Type Continental of 1952 was the fastest four-seater coupe in the world at the time and today, despite having changed hands and nationality (VW owns the marque now) but not tradition, the company still makes very desirable cars ? notwithstanding Ettore Bugatti’s disparaging remark about Bentleys being the fastest trucks in the world.

Of course, remember that he was talking about the racing machines. Unlike BMW-owned Rolls-Royce, which stuck to one model for a very long time, and Maybach, which has versions of the same car, Bentley has been expanding its product line-up in a measured manner. The recently launched Continental GTC will soon join a range that already includes cars for the discerning gentleman and lady ? namely, the Arnage, the Continental GT that was rolled out in 2003, the Continental Flying Spur that appeared in 2005 and the Azure. The Continental GTC is expected to go on sale internationally later this year and fans of the car can expect it to hit Indian roads soon too courtesy its dealer, Exclusive Motors in New Delhi.

So what’s the Continental GTC all about? Its top speed is 195mph. With the roof down, it falls to 190mph. The performance comes from a 12-cylinder engine that gels well with a combination of an all-wheel drive system, air suspension with continuous damping control and a very stiff body structure. According to the Chairman of Bentley Motors, Dr Franz-Josef Paefgen, the new car is designed to appeal to more than one type of customer. It will try to snatch people away from true-blue sports cars, people who want to move up in life and people who want to make a statement about what they drive ? in other word, those who are given to showing off.

The Continental GTC is actually a 2+2 version of the Continental GT coupe. The cabin is very British and very Bentley, making the most of expensive leather and wood veneer. Gone are the days when while driving a convertible and hitting wet weather meant stopping quickly and trying to get the hood on, which more often than not would obstinately refuse to oblige.

It’s not just the Mercedes SLK that has an automatic roof these days but also a far more humble Peugeot city runabout like the CC or CoupeCabriolet. The Continental GTC has a soft fabric roof with three layers that is supported by seven bows and operates electro-hydraulically. The result is that besides keeping the cabin dry in the rain, it also acoustically seals the cabin, so road and tyre noise is kept out. Moreover, the roof is available in a variety of colours, both internally and externally. So while the exterior matches the car body colour, the interior forms an extension of the cabin just like in a hardtop car. These are the small details that make all the difference.

The Continental GTC’s engine is a 6.0litre W12, so one can imagine the bags of torque it comes packing ? 650Nm to be exact at just 1600rpm. It is also twin-turbo-charged, which results in a power output of 552bhp. So while the power takes care of speed, thanks to the torque, the rated 0-60mph time is 4.8 seconds. And for those who prefer the metric system, the 0-100km/h time is 5.1 seconds.

That’s in a car that weighs 2,495kg, which is just a little less than what four Maruti 800s weigh together. The weight is dictated by the fact that it is a convertible and so compensating stiffness has to be built into the body. However, the weight increase is 110kg over the Continental GT coupe. Moreover, to ensure passenger safety, the Continental GTC has a rollover protection system under the rear headrests. If the car is about to roll during an accident, onboard sensors ensure that two reinforced steel hoops are deployed, which together with the windshield frame protects passengers in both front and rear seats.

The interior of the Continental GTC is what ultra-luxury cars are all about, even if it is a performance one. Burr walnut wood veneers abound on the fascia, the upper door trim and the front console. For an alternative, there is a choice between Birds Eye Maple, Madrona, Piano Black and dark-stained Burr walnut. Leg space is ample thanks to the scooped out rear surface of the front seats.

The seats themselves as well as the door panels and the fascia are upholstered in premium leather, which can be any one of 17 colours. The carpets and seatbelts match the colour of the leather hide ? but naturally. Even the multi-function steering wheel and the gear selector are trimmed in hide. Electronic climate control system and an infotainment system that includes a DVD satellite navigation system with route guidance and post-code entry is just par for the course.

Moreover, there is a range of Mulliner options available so that a customer can personalise his or her new Continental GTC. These include aluminium fascia panels, contrast stitching for the seats and door panels and the word ‘Bentley’ embossed on the seat. Also, one can specify lambs wool rugs for the front footwells and luxurious deep-pile carpet mats with hide trimming. Now that’s the life!

As in the other models in the range, the full features list is almost entirely standard, so that customers don’t have to pay extra for what are options on lesser cars. For example, twin bi-xenon headlamps with integrated washer jets and high-intensity LED tail and stoplights with discrete high-level stop-lamp are integrated into the body. While 19-inch, 5-spoke sports alloy wheels are standard equipment, one can go for 19 and 20-inch wheels, but you will have to fork out extra cash for these.

With the Continental GTC, the Bentley model range now stands complete. Now there’s a Bentley for everyone, provided he or she has a meaty bank balance. Like the Phaeton, Bentleys are all about the interior and the rear seat, because that’s where Mr. Moneybags will usually be found. You’ve been warned ? Force Bentley from Crewe is about to hit the world, which may not remain, as we know it for long.

Road rage

Monojit Dutta
musician

What really irks me while on the road is the ill behaviour of private bus drivers and conductors. I detest foul language and almost all the bus drivers and conductors believe in constantly hurling abuses at others on the road. In fact, even when they speak to one other, abusing is involved.

Another major issue is that they don’t care about smaller vehicles on the road. They never hestitate to cut in front of a smaller car and block its path. They don’t even stop for kids crossing the street. Even if a woman is alighting, the driver barely brakes for a second. They just don’t care for the passenger or the pedestrian.

However, I must say that things in my area ? Hazra ? have improved. Railings have been erected on the pavements, the roads are smoother and cleaner, and even though the road has been widened, the pavements are broad enough to walk on. Traffic is also well controlled in the area.