The second `Continental GT` does not reinvent the concept, but it improves it everywhere the first car could feel a little too massive. The shape gains elegance, the cabin moves further upmarket and the handling becomes easier to read, especially once the `4.0-litre V8` arrives with a lighter nose and a livelier character. Bentley keeps the idea of a very fast grand tourer while making it less intimidating in daily use.
Choosing between `W12` and `V8` genuinely changes the personality of the car. The `W12` remains the aristocratic heart of the range, while the `4.0 V8` makes the car feel more mobile and is often the better used buy. The `ZF 8` gearbox is also a real step forward over the first generation. A Maserati GranTurismo still feels lighter on its feet; the Bentley answers instead with crushing cruising pace, stronger build quality and the sense that it flattens the road.