Bentley Continental GT Convertible S

There are cars you drive, and there are cars that bring the road to life. The new Bentley Continental GT Convertible S undoubtedly belongs to the latter category. With it, a journey is no longer simply a means of getting somewhere; it becomes a suspended moment in time, where the pleasure of driving meets elegance, power and that unique sensation of setting off on an adventure. A test drive by helvet magazine, with the wind in our hair.

Founded in 1919, Bentley was born on the racetrack, with the ambition of building cars capable of winning races, before becoming one of the most iconic names in British grand touring. This is where the Bentley signature can be found: the uncompromising alliance of performance and refinement. The Continental GT is its finest expression. Since its creation in the early 2000s, the icon has redefined the codes of the modern GT, capable of devouring miles with effortless ease, while revealing its performance credentials the moment the road becomes more demanding.

Performance in the service of luxury
Under the bonnet, Bentley has opted for controlled excess: a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged petrol V8 combined with an electric motor, delivering a combined output of 680 horsepower and 930 Nm of torque. The 0–100 km/h sprint takes just 3.7 seconds, while top speed reaches 308 km/h in this Convertible version. The car can travel up to approximately 80 kilometres in electric mode, depending on conditions. And it has to be said: thanks to its hybrid powertrain, the car can set off in almost monastic silence before awakening its V8 at the slightest touch of the accelerator.

The S designation is not simply a matter of styling, nor is it solely about sportiness. It reflects a more dynamic philosophy for the Continental GT Convertible. Bentley equips it with its Performance Active Chassis, which combines four-wheel steering, an electronic limited-slip differential with torque vectoring, and the Bentley Dynamic Ride system. Together, these technologies deliver a remarkably precise balance between the comfort of a luxury saloon and the agility of a sports car.

From Nyon to Le Brassus, with the sky as our roof
That morning, the reason for the journey had four wheels, a sculpted silhouette and a roof that was unlikely to remain closed for long. The new Bentley Continental GT Convertible S was waiting patiently, as my editor-in-chief handed me the key. Imposing, certainly, but never ostentatious. It has that distinctly British elegance that does not seek attention at all costs. You have to sit behind the wheel to understand that beneath this understated exterior lies a considerably more assertive character.

Destination: Le Brassus. From Nyon, the road winds gently towards the Jura. At a relaxed pace, the Bentley reveals an exceptional smoothness, with every movement feeling effortless. Then the first bends of the Col du Marchairuz appear. I press the accelerator and the V8 makes itself heard. We grin like excited kids simply at the sound becoming more pronounced through the exhausts. The four-wheel steering contributes to a wonderfully light-footed sensation, one that comes as a surprise: given the car’s imposing dimensions and 2.4-tonne weight, one might expect it to feel heavy, but nothing could be further from the truth.

In Le Brassus, the Bentley returns to its role as a supremely comfortable grand tourer and takes us to the Hôtel des Horlogers, where we stop for an exceptionally elegant lunch. We receive a wonderfully warm welcome. Like the Vallée de Joux itself, the hotel cultivates a sophisticated dialogue between contemporary design, nature and watchmaking precision. A fine meal, far from the bustle, and then we set off again.

Now, speed no longer matters. We take in the landscape of the pastures, try out the latest gadgets – the massaging seats, the audio system, the magnetic key on the dashboard, the roof opening and closing mechanism – and find ourselves driving with an almost carefree nonchalance, such is the ease with which the Bentley covers the road.

And perhaps that is the finest compliment one can pay a Continental GT Convertible S: after several hours behind the wheel, you simply wish the road would keep going.

Did you know?
The Bentley logo is asymmetrical. When Walter Owen Bentley asked artist F. Gordon Crosby to create the brand’s emblem in 1919, he designed the famous winged “B” with ten feathers on the left and eleven on the right. This asymmetry was intentional, making the logo unique and helping to distinguish it from counterfeits. In the 1930s, following Bentley’s acquisition by Rolls-Royce, the logo became symmetrical, with ten feathers on each side. Then, with the arrival of the first Continental GT in 2002, Bentley chose to revive its historic asymmetry. In 2025, Bentley unveiled a new generation of the Winged B, replacing the upper feathers with more graphic, sharper wings inspired by the peregrine falcon.

At Bentley, even the smallest details have a story.

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