Powered by a 4.0-litre twin turbo V8, the 2023 Bentley Continental GTC S delivers an earth-shattering 404kW of sweet, sweet power, and 770Nm of ballsy torque through an 8-speed dual clutch automatic transmission. It’s one epic machine.
The S is the performance-focused offering and it’s paired to an all-wheel drive setup that has the ability to transfer power between the front and rear axles at the touch of a button. It produces a life altering driving experience.
The suspension system sports three chamber active dampers as well. In real terms, that ensures this 2,800kg car feels a lot lighter than you would expect, and in Sport mode, is positively alive.
We reckon you could almost take it to the track and run some laps if you so desired (a Continental GT has one at Bathurst after all). When you see the front brake rotors for the first time, your jaw genuinely drops to the floor too.
There’s 420mm discs paired to 10-piston front callipers up front, while at the rear, it’s 380mm discs and 4-piston callipers. These brakes come in especially handy after you’ve primed up a 0-100km/h run.
That’s something the drop-top Bentley can deliver in just 4.0 seconds flat. It does it all with ravishing good looks, pairing sleek design and tradition. The diamond design headlights are a nod to the brand’s history, and its luxury status.
The gloss black grille and Bentley flying B hood ornament bring together the past and present, with an almost sinister edge. The long doors and wider rear haunches of this 4.85m long body only add to that, with the 22-inch wheels the final component.
The luxury continues inside with stunning milled aluminium switch gear making every input a smile maker. The steering wheel is modern yet understated, but includes heating and flappy paddles.
The seats hug you like you are strapped to an angel, while the LED lighting and sporty yellow highlights remind you that this luxury vehicle is also a beast. The seats even have a glitter in them that at night shines like diamond dust as you splash light over them.
The back row feels much the same, but while they’re a cocoon of comfort, they’re not made for taller humans, with barely enough rear leg room. With a 235-litre boot you’ll only have enough room for two decent sized bags.
If you’re off on a golf trip and you have a bigger kit, you’ll be throwing the clubs on the back seat. That’s surprising given the sheer dimensions of the Bentley, but its design is very front-end focused. On the tech front, the infotainment system and other goodies are a mix of excellence and age.
The 12.3-inch touchscreen is part of a rolling tri-face panel that gives you the option of also choosing a black carbon fibre panel or the 3-dial Bentley traditional dash. It’s truly a stunning feature, as are the air-conditioning vents and an absolute array of real buttons.
The gear selector and start button with mode select are truly stunning to both look at and use. There is a weight and a sound to everything here, and it feels properly special.
The instrument cluster is digital, but also oddly looks traditional, which is not a bad thing, but it is different. Night vision (optional) is a real treat too, but where it falls down a little for us is the navigation system. It looks like it came out of a 10-year-old Audi.
The fact it comes with wired Apple CarPlay and not Android Auto just reinforces that almost dated feel. Overall though, the 2023 Bentley Continental GTC S (the C in GTC denotes it’s a convertible) combines luxury, class, and sports car performance.
It does this alongside a Zeus level aural experience from the exhaust system. Sport mode is grin inducing, in fact it will make you giggle, properly giggle, at just how thunderous it is.
Switch back to the far more subtle Bentley mode and it’s like it’s not even running, so quiet is it as you cruise down the street. Legitimately unique, it’s a car that could break all the road rules, or ferry you and your passengers around in luxury.
And it does it all with the top down, should you want to absorb some rays and feel the wind in your hair. At $667,806 plus on-roads (as tested), the 2023 Bentley Continental GTC S is not for the average Joe, rather it’s for the people who’ve made it big.
What sets it apart is the fact it’s not “out there” like say a Lamborghini or a Ferrari, but rather, it simply provides understated opulence in a package that can be switched into angry mode when you need it to.
It comes with a 3-year unlimited kilometre warranty and a range of capped price care plans. You can find out more on the Bentley website. If you’re keen on one and need finance, talk to CreditOne.
Our test vehicle was provided by Bentley Motors Australia. To find out more about the 2023 Bentley Continental GTC S, contact your local Bentley Motors dealer.
