Picture your perfect car. You’re probably imagining something that strikes the perfect balance between comfort and performance, between style and substance. The Bentley Continental GTC V8 is exactly that. It has more than 500 horsepower and the means to turn that power into speed with shocking ease. It has a farm’s worth of leather and vast slabs of varnished wood in the gorgeously trimmed interior. And at the same time it makes you feel special. 

Despite being a grand tourer, it’s a joy to drive. A look at its construction gives you clues as to why. The Continental GTC rides on the same platform as the Porsche Panamera, though the Bentley is slightly shorter and wider. In V8 form, it uses the same 4.0-litre twin-turbo engine as the Panamera Turbo. It makes 542 horsepower along with 770 Nm of torque from 2000 to 4500 rpm. With a redline at 6800 rpm, it’s actually the highest-revving engine ever put in a Bentley and it sounds fantastic too. 

As nice as the Continental GTC V8’s driving experience is, it’s easily matched by the gorgeous design. Over its life, the Continental GTC has gotten better and better looking, and this third generation represents a huge leap over its predecessors. 

It’s confident without being ostentatious. And as one of the only cars on sale today without an angry face; it is timeless. Refinement is exquisite, especially with the roof closed. So is the interior. So much so that it’s hard to write about it without resorting to cliches. So here goes: The leather is buttery, and all the detail work, from the stitching on our Mulliner driving specification equipped car to the Linen coloured seats with contrast stitching and piping. The optional, rotating display is present in the centre stack and offers three faces: a perfect infotainment screen, a trio of analogue gauges, or a stately wood panel. It’s a delight.  

This is a comfortable convertible first and foremost, but also one that engages, rather than isolates, the driver. It’s so good that it questions any “true sports car” out there. It is indeed the perfect car. 

View our Bentley Continental GTC V8 here