The world’s first carbon neutral factory for luxury car production has just produced the 80,000th made-to-order Bentley Continental GT. It’s a right-hand drive Continental GT V8 in Orange Flame that was handcrafted in Crewe, England.
The predecessor to the modern Continental, the Bentley R-Type Continental, made its debut in 1952. It was a Mulliner-bodied coupe with a top speed that was just shy of 120 mph. At the time, it was the fastest four-seater car in the world.
Fast forward to 2003 when the Continental GT was launched. It was the first car of the modern Bentley era, taking inspiration from the ’52 model and establishing a new market segment – modern luxury Grand Tourer. Now, nearly 5,000 models each year leave the Crewe plant destined for customers across the globe.
The 80,000th Bentley Continental GT Is flanked by its brothers outside the Crewe factory.Photo courtesy of Bentley Motors
Over the last 18 years, Bentley has continuously upgraded the Continental GT. It now has 27 percent more peak horsepower than it did a decade ago while also achieving a 48 percent decrease in carbon dioxide emissions. The third generation of the car saw an upgraded platform that allowed for a fresh stance and raised the bar on dynamic ability.
At its launch in 2003, Bentley redefined the modern grand tourer with the revolutionary Continental GT,” said Adrian Hallmark, Chairman and Chief Executive, Bentley. “Now in 2021, the GT continues to be the ultimate luxury grand tourer, encompassing the latest technology, performance and style. This success is a testament to the skills of our designers, engineers and craftspeople here in Crewe.
“I had the pleasure of launching the original GT in 2003 in my first stint at Bentley, and being here for the launch of the latest generation – and the iterations that have followed – has been a source of great pride for me personally. It will continue to be the iconic backbone of the Bentley business for years to come, even as we transition to the world’s leading provider of sustainable luxury mobility.”
There are currently a total of 17 billion ways in which a customer can specify a Continental GT. Beyond that, by utilizing the services of Bentley Mulliner – Bentley’s in-house bespoke division – the only limitation is the imagination of the customer.
