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A novel world relay, marking 20 years of the Continental GT, has reached its conclusion with the arrival in Crewe of the specially-made Twentieth-anniversary baton. The baton’s lap of the world included stops in Europe, the Center East, China, Asia Pacific, the US, and the UK, visiting 20 journalists and content material creators within the course of as a part of 20 memorable drives – one for annually of Continental GT manufacturing. The launch of the first-generation Continental GT in 2003 marked a seismic change within the fortunes of Bentley Motors. The primary all-new Bentley of the trendy period, the primary with all-wheel drive and the primary to function the progressive W12 engine, the Continental GT swiftly propelled Bentley to its present standing as probably the most sought-after luxurious automobile model on the planet.
The design of the Twentieth-anniversary baton was developed within the Crewe design studio and acquired the identical degree of meticulous refinement as any manufacturing mannequin function. Completed in Cypress Inexperienced (the outside end of the first-ever manufacturing Continental GT) the baton has an intriguing, asymmetrical twist, just like the blade of an plane propellor. A knurled cap, modeled on the Continental GT’s drive mode selector, permits entry to the baton’s inside the place the scroll is carried.
Head of Bentley Design Collaborations, Chris Cooke takes a deep dive into the main points: “Each factor of the baton sculpture was impressed by the Continental GT, and there may be function in each kind. For instance, the top cap exhibits a simplified graphic of the Continental GT with its three function traces; the Bentley powerline from the entrance wheel arch alongside the automobile’s flanks; the flyline of the roof; and the muscular ‘haunch’ over the rear wheel. Maintain the baton horizontally, and as you flip it in your arms you will notice every of these traces within the contours of the sculpture.” Within the subtlest of touches, every profile additionally traces up completely with its corresponding line on the cap graphic.”
The 20th anniversary baton will now discover its dwelling in Bentley’s Heritage Storage, along with the very first Continental GT, as a extremely important 12 months within the firm’s historical past attracts to an in depth.
On the time of its launch in 2003, the first-generation Continental GT supplied a novel mixture of beautiful design, supercar efficiency, and unequalled craftsmanship. It was hailed because the quickest real four-seat coupé on the planet with a high pace of over 190 mph (300 km/h), and a 0-60 mph time of 4.7 seconds (0-100 km/h in 4.8 seconds). With no comparable rivals at its worth level, the Continental GT grew to become a world sensation, defining a brand new market sector.
Now in its third era, the Continental GT and its stablemate the Continental GTC proceed to garner awards and accolades. In 2022 the Continental GT Velocity gained the revered Robb Report Automobile of the Yr award; remarkably, the Continental GT V8 S succeeds it as Automobile of the Yr winner for 2023. The Continental GT additionally achieved back-to-back wins on the Auto Motor und Sport awards in February 2023, successful the posh class import class for the second 12 months in a row in a ballot of greater than 101,000 readers.
Bentley celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Continental GT household with a six-month program of occasions and launches, starting in April on the Shanghai Motor Present with the debut of a one-of-one Continental GT S. Bespoke Mulliner options of this mannequin, which was completed in Magnetic darkish gray metallic, included commemorative badging, inlays and a Twentieth-anniversary design motif comprising superposed silhouettes of the first- and the third-generation Continental GT.
2023 can also be the 20th anniversary of Bentley’s mighty 6.0-litre twin-turbo W12, the engine that powered Bentley to world success over the previous twenty years. July’s Goodwood Competition of Velocity noticed a transferring showcase of W12-powered Bentleys, together with the Continental GT Le Mans Assortment, a bespoke Continental GTC Velocity, and the 750PS restricted version Batur by Mulliner.
Throughout the Atlantic at Monterey Automobile Week in August, one other one-of-one Continental GT Velocity by Mulliner was revealed. Its Cypress Inexperienced end, Saddle leather-based inside, and Burr Walnut veneer had been impressed by the primary manufacturing Continental GT from 2003, and that very automobile – VIN 200001 – was displayed alongside it.
In the meantime, the Twentieth-anniversary baton continued its progress world wide, permitting 20 visitor drivers to expertise a succession of fashions from the Continental GT steady. After their time behind the wheel, every signed the scroll as a report of a novel journey earlier than passing it on to the subsequent participant.
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