Global Press Event, Scotland

We went to Scotland to drive the new and improved 2015 model year Speed, and having driven the previous model quite extensively in Germany a couple of years ago, it was hard to believe that Bentley could actually improve it.

We left Cameron House on the edge of Loch Lomond to drive the 105 miles to Cambeltown. On this journey we took in some of the most beautiful scenery in Europe, the sun shone, we got the roof down on the convertible, drove up into the hills, past the Lochs and eventually down the coast road, all of it was just magnificent.

The new model year Speed has gained some subtle and unique styling features. For example the Mulliner styling specification which includes a suite of exterior enhancements; matching the front splitter, side skirts and rear diffuser to the body colour. It now has as standard dark tint 21 inch Speed wheels, dark tint headlights and tail lamps. It has subtle “Speed” badging on the front wings, interior fascia and stitched on the front and rear headrests. It also has some very eye-catching red brake callipers. 

The power comes from a W12 6.0 litre petrol engine that produces 635ps, up 10ps from the previous model. It accelerates from 0-60mph in a very rapid 4.0 seconds and a crazy top speed of 206mph. The W12 engine is hand-built at Bentley’s home in Crewe by a team of skilled engine technicians; each engine takes 30 people to build it over 12.5 hours. 

After the drive up the coast we went to an old RAF base near Cambletown which has a 1.7 mile runway, possibly the longest in Europe. It was certainly long enough for the NASA Space Shuttle to land in an emergency. Under close supervision and in extremely safe conditions we hurtled up and down the runway, and the best effort was 182mph, a way off the 206mph maximum, but still plenty quick enough for us. The most amazing thing was the fact as to how quiet it was, how effortlessly it got to that speed, and the fact you were doing it in a very luxurious coupe, and not an uncomfortable, noisy racing car.

On the small roads and villages in Scotland the GT Speed was as docile as the smallest engine car available, it acts like a true gentleman, and behaves itself impeccably. If the GT was a person, it would be one of the nicest people you could ever wish to meet, it does everything right, but I doubt this person would be a member of the Green Party.

All Bentleys are built in Crewe to the highest standard, where quality really does count. The first brick of the factory on Pyms Lane in Crewe was laid in July 1938, and was built as one of the British Governments “shadow” factories, in response to mounting conflicts in Europe. By November 1938, the Rolls Royce Aero Division started production of the Merlin engines. Over the next seven years 26,000 of the 27 litre V12 engines were produced to power the Spitfire, Hurricanes and Lancaster planes. At its peak 11,000 workers were employed at the site. After the cessation of hostilities, the factory was converted to car production, which commenced in May 1946. Volkswagen purchased Bentley in 1998 and invested over £500 million in the Cheshire HQ.

The GT Speed, like every other model produced in Crewe just oozes luxury, it is everywhere, no expense is spared, and the materials used throughout are just magnificent. Every GT uses 9 bull hides in the coupe and 8 in the convertible, and each hide is carefully selected. The wood, the leather, the metal, everything in a Bentley is better than first class.

We did not check the mpg we achieved while driving it, but it would not be great. The official combined figure is 19mpg, but you would have to drive it very slowly and carefully to get anything like this. Any environmentally friendly people can look away now, as we reveal the CO2 figure: 338g/km for the Coupe and 347g/km for the Convertible, ouch I hear you say….

We drove both the coupe and convertible, but the favourite has to be the soft top, probably due to the fact it was a hot sunny day and I had a red face with white bits where my sunglasses had been after driving it, which made a few people laugh.

The price of the coupe starts from £157,845 OTR and the convertible from £173,545.00 OTR, but it is very easy to add on another £30,000 for a few nice options.

Bentley sum up the GT Speed quite nicely: “The chassis and powertrain with renowned Bentley refinement to create two cars in one, a dynamic and engaging supercar and a relaxed, comfortable and refined Grand Tourer” – we couldn’t have put it better.

Martin Ward, Manufacturer Relationship Manager