Bentley Continental GT Speed: How Bentley Britishizes Porsche technology

Two different coupes, the same drivetrain, yet a completely different approach to driving. The new Bentley Continental GT Speed borrows the technology from the Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid, but interprets it in a completely unique way. What sounds like an attack in Porsche becomes an expression of quiet power in Bentley. A case of British craftsmanship.

Underpinnings, both models are almost identical twins. A four-liter twin-turbo V8 combines with a 190 kW electric motor, which, together with the dual-clutch transmission, develops a system output of exactly 782 hp and a maximum torque of 1,000 Nm. The technical components come from Porsche—but the feel is British.

Where the Panamera charges forward with a brisk dash, the GT Speed feels its way through traffic more like a well-trained butler. The acceleration is just as brutal, but the handling is significantly more refined.

A start button, a quiet whir – that's all the GT Speed needs to get moving. Up to 140 km/h, the Bentley remains in all-electric mode, at which point the V8 kicks in almost unnoticed. Even under heavy load, the acoustic level remains subdued, aided by expansive acoustic glazing. The sound? More sonorous than sporty, more bass than turbo soprano. While the Panamera flexes its muscles, the GT Speed wears a tailored suit and cufflinks. The drivetrain remains the same.

Two-chamber air suspension, new adaptive two-valve dampers, a self-steering rear axle, and active roll stabilization – the technology is almost identical to the Porsche on paper, but the setup follows a different philosophy. The Bentley rolls over bumps as if they had been smoothed out beforehand. Even in Sport mode, it remains composed, controlled, and quiet. While the Panamera transmits every bump to the seat, the GT Speed filters out disturbances like premium headphones in traffic.

The difference is evident in every fiber of the interior. Where Porsche emphasizes sportiness, Bentley demonstrates elegance. Alcantara, finely quilted leather, rotating gauges, and precision air vents transform the GT Speed into a moving salon.

The seats are ventilated, heated, and have a massage function. The controls are deliberately slowed down, with a rotary push-button control for the modes and a real zoom wheel for navigation. Those who come from a Porsche background will experience Bentley as a counterpoint—not better or worse, but different.