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2005 Bentley Continental GT Road Test

Pretty as J.LO with the Personality to Match

Seattle, if youve never been, is one of Americas most engaging cities, especially when the sun shines as it was during a recent press event held by Bentley. The occasion? Nothing less than the opportunity to test drive the legendary marques new 2005 Continental GT coupe and Arnage T Mulliner sedan.

As far as luxury brands go, few can rival Bentley when it comes to all out jaw-dropping prestige. While Mercedes-Benz Maybach division attempts to do so, outside of the small inner circle of automotive enthusiasts who have actually heard about its larger than life 57 or even more expansive 62, people just dont recognize the brand. Rolls-Royce, of course, is among the worlds best known marques, yet theres a level of aristocracy that goes along with the nameplate that makes anyone driving one, or more exactly being driven

The opportunity to test drive the new Bentley 2005 Continental GT coupe in Seattle was an event I wouldnt have missed for the world. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

in one, somewhat unapproachable. Combined with its controversial styling and stratospheric price point, the Phantom is a poor seller, a reality that has seen the luxury marques second CEO since BMW took over ownership, Karl-Heinz Kalbfell, resign within five months of the resignation of longtime R-R executive Tony Gott.

Not to slag the downtrodden, but it must truly burn the execs at Rolls-Royce when they see how successful Bentley has become this year. The fact that the Volkswagen-owned luxury

Few can rival Bentley when it comes to all out jaw-dropping prestige. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

division will eclipse its previous 1986 record year by more than a thousand units in 2004, has to stymie BMW-owned Rolls, now stuck with a brand that seems desperately out of pace with the times. The boys from Goodwood cant blame poor sales results on a down economy either, once again bitten by Bentley.

So why has the previously Rolls-Royce-owned luxury marque done so well while its two main rivals flounder? Its a no-brainer really. Bentley has delivered a car equal to the best in the class when it comes to build quality and performance, and priced it at near half of what its previous Continental coupe sold for.

Bentley has delivered a car equal to the best in the class when it comes to build quality and performance, and priced it at near half of what its previous Continental coupe sold for. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

How can they do it? It comes down to economies of scale. The Crewe-England outfit acquired the best components from its German parent, shared some top-tier architecture with Volkswagens sensational Phaeton luxury sedan, and in the end created an all-new model thats more traditionally Bentley than anything its built in decades.

Say what? More traditional than an Arnage?! If you look way back into Bentleys past, the marque first started on the racetrack, winning at Le Mans no less than five times throughout the 20s and 30s with its fabulous Blower Bentleys and Speed Sixes. Needing to separate its more recent boulevardier

This all-new model is actually more traditionally Bentley than anything the brand has built in decades. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

Rolls-Royce-owned past from how the luxury marques executive team sees the future of the winged-B badge, a duo of low-profile Bentley Speed 8 racecars pulled off a 1, 2 finish at the storied Le Mans, France track last year, the first number 7 car driven by Guy Smith followed closely by David Brabham in the number 8 car. It was an exciting event, in which Team Bentley Dindo Capello and Guy Smith won maiden Le Mans victories and Tom Kristensen joined Derek Bell and Jacky Ickx as the only drivers to have won the grueling 24 hour race more than four times.

Derek Bell was on hand in Seattle to usher in the new era of Bentley production cars, a charming Briton who truly seemed to enjoy whiling away the hours with what was little more than a sorry lot of

I know of no rival carmaker that does a better job fitting panels, trim and components than Bentley. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

wannabe racers - or maybe I should just speak for myself. Nevertheless, we picked his brain for hours, mostly about how challenging a 24 hour race can be, and he took the opportunity to entertain us with hilariously painful stories of muscle fatigue and his unique ability of staying awake and alert behind the wheel of a car.

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