Bentley has expanded its hybrid line-up with a new variant of its twin-turbo V8 plug-in system – now available across the latest Continental GT, GTC, and Flying Spur. It’s not the range-topper – that space is already taken by the Ultra Performance Speed derivatives – but at 671bhp and 636lb-ft (930Nm), this latest setup still outpaces the old W12 Speed on torque, power and acceleration.

The 0–60 mph time falls to 3.5 seconds in the GT coupé, with the Flying Spur just three-tenths behind. Figures for the heavier GTC are marginally slower, but the underlying package is the same: a 4.0-litre V8 working with a PHEV system tuned to massage both outright pace and daily duties. There’s no official word yet on battery capacity, but Bentley quotes an electric-only WLTP range of up to 53 miles in the coupé and 51 in the convertible. CO₂ drops to an impressive 29 g/km for the GT – not bad for a two-tonne plus grand tourer.

The architecture beneath remains shared with the Speed variants – Bentley Active Chassis, rear-wheel steering, e-LSD, and configurable drive modes are all standard – but the tuning here leans toward composure over outright dynamics. The handling is still rear-biased when called upon, but now calibrated for broader appeal.

Trim levels follow a new three-tier structure: Standard, Speed, and Azure. The standard cars retain the familiar gloss-black grille with chrome accents, 22-inch alloys, and straight-fluted leather inside – hand-stitched, naturally. Azure brings the comfort brief into sharper focus, with Bentley’s Wellness seating tech, open-pore walnut, and quilted door inserts. A panoramic roof is standard on the coupé – GTC buyers get the brand’s neck-warmer system instead.

While the performance numbers continue to inch forward, this release isn’t about outgunning the flagship. It’s about range breadth – a platform with more torque than any W12 ever built, paired with enough electric range to slip through urban low-emissions zones without drawing attention. The noise and drama are still there when needed, but there’s now a quieter, sharper layer beneath the surface.

Prices for the new Continental GT start at £202,400 in the UK, with the GTC and Flying Spur expected to shadow their Speed equivalents. As ever, options will stretch the numbers, but even in standard form, this latest hybrid variant sharpens Bentley’s grand touring brief – cleaner, and quicker than the W12 it quietly leaves behind.