The must-have car among those with bank accounts that resemble the national treasury has for more than a year been the Bentley Continental GT, a stunningly good-looking coupe that has some serious performance.
Its six-liter, twin-turbo 12-cylinder engine makes 560 horsepower and can propel the sleek two-door to 190 mph – an impressive accomplishment for any car, much less one that weighs in at more than 5,200 pounds.
Add to that an interior that’s about as luxurious as an upper-crush English gentleman’s club – think yards of the finest leather and a hushed atmosphere – and it’s not hard to see that the Continental GT, even at a price of $162,000, is a very desirable vehicle.
Now comes word that a convertible version of this luxo-supercar will be arriving on U.S. shores in 2007. It’s almost certain that this new model will quickly become the gotta-have-it car of pro athletes, actors and rap stars everywhere.
Bentley says that the convertible, dubbed the Continental GTC, will have the same chassis and engine as the coupe. It will have a soft convertible top and a glass rear window that, when retracted, will hide under a flush-mounted hard cover.
Said Bentley’s design director Dirk van Braeckel: “”With the Continental GTC we set out to achieve a style that is both contemporary and elegant but with the sporting stance of a true performance car. We also wanted to ensure that the Continental GTC looks just as beautiful with the roof up as it does when it’s down.’’
No word on pricing, but it’s likely the sticker will be close to $200,000, and to be first on your block with one you’ll probably have to pay a hefty premium over that.
