Bentley Continental GT V8 Review: Bentley's 8th wonder

What we like:

Epic exhaust note

inspiring performance

surefooted handling

sportier looks than the W12

unsurpassed luxury of handcrafted interior

What we dislike:

Can make do with further dieting and weight shedding

With the V8, Bentley has added a touch of sportiness into the Continental GT’s superbly crafted cabin. There are still sumptuous leather and exquisite materials like wood and aluminium trim. Unique to the V8 is the new dark Fiddleback Eucalyptus veneer and the Eliade cloth headlining and pillar trim. The seats offer superb comfort and support while the driver is further spoilt by a chunky three-spoke steering wheel that is wrapped in sumptuous leather. The V8’s interior also differs from the W12 in the form of its short centre console while the W12’s is a through-console that runs through to the rear in between the rear passengers.

The car in the pictures here is the exact one that I drove – its Thunder grey exterior hue perfectly compliments the two-tone interior with the Linen-coloured main hide and the secondary hide and carpets in a bluish-grey shade called Brunel. Obviously, one can go crazy with the customisation of a Bentley thanks to its extensive Mulliner customization program. From the Breitling clock on the dashboard to the knobs to open and close the air vents, everything in the Bentley shout craftsmanship, exquisiteness and class. The interior’s unsurpassed luxury and quality certainly makes the Continental GT feel more bespoke and special when compared to its nearest rivals.

The V8’s more exhilarating driving experience and sportier looks will undoubtedly appeal more to the enthusiast driver rather than gentlemen type who might prefer a GT that has a more elegant look and feel like the W12. Bentley hopes that the V8’s sportier and more dynamic character will win them conquest sales from buyers who might otherwise go for models like a Maserati GranTurismo, Aston Martin Vantage S or even a Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG. Judging by my drive of the V8 in Spain, the new Bentley will undoubtedly impress even the most demanding of sporty coupe buyers.

Credits: Story by Raymond Lai in La Rioja, Spain Photos by Bentley